Evening star., 1925-07-04
Sunday School Lesson

for the new faith. Evidently they had
| approved the missionaries principles
that were to be guides In carrying
the message into new fields. They
believed that the Lords return was
imminent and they were to move on
| carrying the gospel into non-Jewish
| communities, where it had not been
preached by other evangelists.
They entered the field at an hour
similar to the one in which we are
dwelling. II was a time of religious
unrest. Old faiths, being national
religions, were crumbling. New cults
were coming in, especially the mys-
terry religions from the East. Cyprus
was the former home of Barnabas and
Luke, who went along as a minis
teriai apprentice. This probably ac-
counts for the selection of the neigh
boring island which was about 140
miles away from Seleucia. The
founders of the Antioch Church had
been natives of that island. 1t had
been plowed and planted with the
seed of the gospel and a rich harvest
was anticipated From their landing
at Saiamis up the end of their journey
or upwards of 100 miles. there is no
evidence that they met with either
success or opposition until they reach
ed Paphos. the residence of Sergius
Paulos, the proconsul. Here they
won notable victory over one of the
numerous religious charlatans. that
infested that age.
Summoned by the proconsul to his
resluence. they accepted 1t as an op-
portunity TO preach the gospel to the
governor of the province. Luke's ac-
curacy, as a historian, is seen in his
reference to the administrator of the
Island as proconsul. This man of
understanding" so Pliny says, was
an author of work on Cyprus. Gen.
Cesnole found an Inscription upon
the northern coast of the island, that
was dated ''in the proconsulship of
Paulos," which confirms Lukes his
torical accuracy. Among the members
or his court was a magician by the
name of Bar-Jesus, who fearing that
the influence of the two missionaries
would be detrimental to his interest,
tried to divert the mind of the pro-
consul from their message. Paul. who
before had been called Saul, stepped
forward and in a few words showed
up the fakirs s purpose and character
Recalling the benefit of his own days
or darkness, he pronounced punish
ment upon the man, who for the sake
of gain, had left his faith and refused
to heed the message of light. The
wizards loss of sight made a pro-
found impression upon all present. 1t
resulted in the acceptance of the Cos
pei by Sergius Paulos. which without
doubt Influenced many others to ac-
cept Christ Jesus.
Some have suggested that Paul
adopted his name out of regard to
Sergius Paulos In many bilingual
countries. Hellenistic Jews had two
names, one thoroughly Jewish and the
other represented the Nation with
whom they lived The important
thing in connection with the change
of names is the fact that henceforth
Pauls name is mentioned first, indi-
eating that with the change of name
he became the leader in place of Bar
nabas. There may have been a deep
er reason that Paul recognized that if
he were to win the Romans, he must
approach them as a Roman citizen
and not as a Jew. The change in
leadership may account for John
Marks decision to return home. 1t
took Paul many years to recover his
feelings of friendship for the one,
whom he classed as a deserter.
President Coolidge has pointed out
that the work started by these first
missionaries is the one that presents
to Christian churches and govern
ments their greatest responsibility
today. He says that 1T is one of the
most important, the most absolutely
necessary, movements in the world to-
day. We shall ourselves be the gain
ers, both spiritually and materially,
by our efforts in behalf of those whom
we shall thus help. The early Chris
tians fairly burned with missionary
zeal" If we are true to Christ, we
will meet by our lives, labor and love
the worlds challenge to America to
win it for Christ and His church.