Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-04

Christianity reached the cross
roads of it's history with the events
recorded in this week S lesson. They
rank next to Pentecost in their in
fluence upon the history Of the apos-
to1ic church. The church had been
brought into the world and Graded
within Judaism. In its beginning the
new faith appeared to be a new sect
Of the ancient faith of their fathers.
The steps that marked the separation
were gradual, but it required super
natural guidance to sever the two
faiths and introduce the new brother
hood of Christian believers.
The separation started with the
teachings and martyrdom of Ste
phen. The persecution that followed
upon the death of the first martyr
ended with the conversion of the chief
prosecutor 1t had scattered the Cos
pei in all directions. When peace was
restored, the apostles visited the new
interests and tried to build up the
spiritual life of the newly organized
churches. While Peter was engaged
in making an official visit to the
brethren in LYDIA, he was summoned
by the death of Dorcas to Joppa,
vision, that demonstrated that Christi
anity was not intended for Jews only,
but for all mankind. Philips preach
ing in Samaria to the Ethiopian Off
cial, and in Caesarea, together with
the establishment of the church in
Antioch, which events followed each
other in rapid succession, brought in
full view with Peters commencement
of mission work among the Gentiles
the relationship that should exist be-
tween Christians and Jews.
God used His own methods Of ex-
tending His kingdom and removing
the shackles of prejudice, that had
prevented the carrying out of Christ's
commands to evangelize the whole
world with His gospel of brotherhood.
The Masters missionary program was
implied in Gods promise to Abraham.
Previous to the exile the Hebrews did
not possess any racial or religious pref
udices that would separate them com.
pletely from all other people, except
the orders against their having fell
loWship with the Canaanites when
they entered the Promised Land.
These were issued to prevent their alb
sorption by them and their becoming
licentious worshipers of the pagan
cults OIL LHelT uelSnDOfS.
Visions Changed History.
Two epochal and providential visions
brought Cornelius and Peter to-
gether. In both cases, it was while
they were communing with God in
prayer that the Holy Spirit directed
them concerning their individual parts
in connection with the opening UP of
the new era. Cornelius, the pious,
praying Roman centurion, had a
vision and was told to send three mes
sengers to Peter, who was a guest of
Simon. the tanner, 80 miles away
from Caesarea in the ancient seaport
of Joppa. He was fitting the noble
Roman soldiers to accept Christianity,
lust as he was guiding Peter to omen
the door of the church to the GentiIes.
By accepting the hospitality of
Simon, the tanner, who belonged to a
despised and comparatively outcast
class. the apostle made a decision that
was destined to play an important
part in extending the spiritual
brotherhood of the church of Christ.
Back of that decision was God. who
works in accordance with psychology
ical laws with men. Peter was un-
conscious of the part that the place
would have in opening a new epoch
in Christian history. The view from
the house-top of Simon's home {now
used as a Mohammedan mosque), of
the Mediterranean by its vastness
would influence him. From that port
Jonah. because of his antagonism to
the heather; had shipped on a vessel