Evening star., 1925-09-12

during the war fortified and made it
the center OF their operations when
they took it from the Turks, who had
controlled it since 1890
Paul passed by several prominent
cities during his two-day trip from
Philippi to Thessalonica, which was
famous city ever since 1t was named
after Therma, the sister Of Alexander
the Great. The travel-stained mis-
sionaries differed in appearance from
the invaders OF later days, yet 1t is
doubtful If any left a mere perma-
nent impression upon its life than did
Paul and his companions. He built
so we'll that 1t remained for centuries
a great bulwark of Christianity. AL
though 1t was captured by the Sar-
acens in e04 AID. then taken by the
Crusaders in 1884. and became sub
ject to the Moslems In 1880. the city
has always contained a large Chris
tian element in it's population, SO that
in the early middle ages 1t was Chris
tianity's strongest force In the East.
1t has always contained a large num-
ber of Jews in its population. who
extended a welcome TO Paul and
placed the synagogue at his disposal
stay in Thessalonica.
Synagogue Services.
Judiism prepared the soil for the
introduction OF Christianity in Thes-
salonica. Paul, following his Gus
tom of presenting the gospel mes
sage to his countrymen, assembled
in their synagogue, sought to convince,
convict and convert the Jews Of the
city by his expositions OF the Old Tes-
lament. He argued with them in an
endeavor to prove three propositions:
First, the Scriptures show that the
Messiah must be a sufferer: secondly,
the Messiah must rise from the dead,
and, thirdly, the historic Jesus did suf-
fer and rise from the dead and. there
fore. He is the predicted Messiah" "
Paul clinched his expositions of the
Scriptures by his personal testimony
as an eye witness of the reality of the
Christ being risen from the dead, be-
cause he had seen Him after His res
direction from the grave.
After three weeks services in the
Jewish synagogue the differences of
views concerning the teachings Of the
Old Testament resulted in transfer
ring the meetings evidently to the
home of Jason. His letters prove he
continued his ministry for some time,
winning great multitude of both
Jews and devout Greeks by his rea-
sonable answers to the questions pro-
pounded to him by the people whom
he had interested in his views OF
Christ Jesus. The gospel message pro-
duced such an effect in the life or the
converts that when the charges were
preferred against the Christians they
were accused of turning the world up
side down by the hostile Jewish ele-
ment, who were ringleaders in secur-
ing a mob of rascals. drawn from the
loafers of the market place. when they
sought in their anger to persecute
Paul.
Reasonable Charges.
1t is not to be wondered at that the
Jews. who did not believe in PauPs
teachings, should be stirred up to an
ger and even persecute him. Argu-
ments over religious questions are apt
to be marked by such spirit. There
was a jealousy in their dinerence, due
to the fact that he was winning away
from them many of the devout-mfnded
Greeks, who had been strong support
ers of the synagogue and champions
of Judaism. When the rabble had
stirred UP a mob and Jason was ar
rested. they preferred treasonaole
charge against him. They declared
that the Christian prisoners acted
CONTRARY to the DEGREES OF Caesar,
saving that there was another king,
one Jesus. They deliberately turned
the spiritual sovereignty of the Lord
Jesus into a specious lie that poisoned
the mind of the people, but failed to
influence the court, "who, under the
eve of the resident pro-consul. did not
bend themselves to any irregular pro-
ceedings like the Philippian praetors. ;"
was a free city, enjoying
self government. which, is
indicated by the title given to their
citv rulers, Politarchs Is a rare title