Evening star., 1925-08-22

the apostle made that night in response
TO that Macedonian call for help. Tn
questionably his decision. changed the
future of America and Europe and the
history of civilization and Christian
tty. Wrapped up In Paul's answer
was the worlds light and liberty
all that has been meant by western
civilization"
Great names of warriors. philoso-
piers and scientists are found upon
the pages of European history, yet
their permanent influence upon the
ruling nations of the modern world
has been insignificant compared with
that of the single apostolic mission
AIRY who was called from his efforts to
evangeliZe Asia to win Europe for
Christ and His church. Paul's sue
cess with the Galatians, who were
a western race, of Gallo and Celtic
origin" appears to have been prep
aration of his spirit, so that he was
sympathetically ready to follow the
leadership of the Holy Spirit to that
continent which was the center of
the worlds intellectual and political
life. XerXes, a mighty Persian mon
arch. had endeavored 400 years previ-
ously to conquer Europe with an
army Of two and a half million men.
He failed, but the apostle, with his
persons. triumphed. because He was
guided by the Spirit of God.
DivineIy Guided.
Ramsay says that this is in many
respects the most remarkable para
graph in Acts" Three times within
four verses we have the record of the
guidance Of God being manifested IN
three distinct ways, leading up to the
door being opened up by providential
direction for the first proclamation of
the gospel in Europe" The presence
of the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of
Jesus. was a reality to Paul. He knew
His voice, as all who walk in the
Spirit and live in the Spirit" and
lied by the Spirit" come to know the
voice Of the unseen God, who walks by
their side to guide them in the way of
the Lord.
1t is clear that Paul planned TO
preach in Asia, which was one Of the
richest and most important provinces
Of the Roman Empire. 1T embraced
included Lydia, Mysia and Caria. It's
capital was Ephesus." that the apostle
longed to win for his Lord. He had
to pass through Mysia to reach Troas,
but was prohibited from preaching in
that city, possibly by a return Of his
old, chronic ailment. Bithynia. lying
to the northward, and on the Propon-
tis and Black Sea, might have appealed
to Paul as a promising field. with its
higher, more salubriOus climate" In
which to labor during his GONZALES
cence. But against his own will he
was brought to TroaS, which Is located
on the northwestern coast of the
Aegean Sea. Paul had set out at his
own instance to visit the churches
that he had organized. The work was
done, and, following the guidance OF
the Spirit, the apostle reached Troas
where he faced the alternative OF
either crossing the Hellespont to Eu.
rope or returning home. 1t was dur
ing this period Of restlessness and un'
certainty that Paul heard the Macedo-
Europe tor Christ.
Called to Europe.
1t is at this point that Paul added
another member to his missionary
band, who was destined to share
herceforth the trials of the apostle
and become his personal physician
and helper. While Eusebius tells us
that Luke, the beloved physician. was
native of Antioch and a gentle by
birth, yet there is evidence in the les
son for this week that Phillip was
the home of the historian whose rec
ords we are now studying. There Is
much in the narrative to indicate that
the, man of Macedonia was none other
than the writer of the Acts. While
we do not know how Luke came tc
know Paul, the suggestion that he
was called in to attend the apostle
because he was again Ill with an acute
attack of the same illness which he
| had suffered in Galatia Is worthy Of
! consideration. Paul never missed ar
opportunity Of speaking to a man
when alone, about Jesus Christ. He
| won his medical attendant for the
Lord. Luke became attached to the
apostle He became attached to the
| apostle; he became a member OF his
! missionary band so that he could
minister to the much suffering and
| frail body of Paul at all times. In al
probability 1t was Luke who planted
| the germ of the Macedonian mission
/ in the apostles mind, which the visior
| brought to maturity. 1t is fascinat
| ing conjecture that he was the person
whom Paul knew as the Macedonian
who appeared to the apostle in visior
| and called him to come over into
Macedonia and help u.s." and was the
| beloved physician, but it lacks any
| foundation as fact.
Paul's obedience to the call changed
the civilization of the world and oh
tanned for him crown. He recog
nized that the pagan world had trav
the cry for help. That request wa.
a confession that Greek culture (s
culture the world has never surpassed)
with it's art, literature, science ant
philosophy, was a failure. That ap