Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-14

Il AANeSN - L
Acts, KILLS.
We conclude our studies in the life
of Paul as missionary upon the an
niversary of two of the epoch-making
events in connection with missions in
the history of our country. In 1906.
125 years ago to q day, a group OF
Christian students at Williams College
under the leadership of Samuel j. Mills
spent the day in fasting and prayer
at the side of a large stack of hay
considering the question OF missions,
that had for some time been burden
upon the heart of Mills. He found
that the spirit of God had kindled the
flame in the hearts of his fellow stu
dents that had been burning for some
time in his heart. The haystack prayer
meeting was the origin of the mission
airy movement in this country. con-
fury later. under the leadership OF John
B. Sloman and Samuel w. Woodward,
outstanding leaders in the washington
Y. M. c. A. and the Christian activt-
ties of the Nations Capital, the men
and religion movement was started in
New York City
Christian history shows close vital
connection between the spirituality OF
the churches and the origin OF all mis-
Sionary movements. 1t Is appropriate
that upon the day that the American
people will celebrate throughout the
Nation the two events in their mis-
sionary history which have had an
epoch-making character that We should
consider in our Sunday school lessons
the closing events in the career Of, Paul
as a missionary of the cross. In this
moment, when the great missionary
forces of our various churches face the
opportunity for their greatest advances,
there is danger of retreat and re-
trenchment, because the followers OF
the Lord Jesus in our land lack the
world vision that dominated the daunt-
less ambassador to the gentiles.
Courageous Missionary.
No history surpasses that Of missions
in its records of heroic personalities.
Among all the men whose souls have
been filled with the passion of the Loro
Jesus, none has surpassed the Apostle
Paul. The passage assigned for our
study reveals how, following the riot in
Ephesus he started to draw his third
missionary journey to close by secur-
ing from the churches that he had es-
tablished a large offering for the poor
in the Jerusalem Church. In that con-
nection he visited the churches in Mace
donia and Greece, where, learning of
pIOJ against IliIIl, ne QCClQ6Q w .IildhC
his return trip by way of Macedonia.
He was accompanied by Sopater. from
the Berean Church; Aristarchus and
Secundas, from the Thessalonica con-
gregation; Gaius of Derbe and Timothy,
as well as by Tychicus and sTrophimus
of Roman Asia. These messengers from
the churches visited Philippi, Troas and
Asses, where Paul joined them, having
proceeded from Troas to this port over
land. Brief stops en- route at Mitylene,
Chios, Samos and Miletus were used to
advance the cause of Christ at these
ports. At Miletus they stayed long
enough for a conference with the OFF,
Gals of the church in Ephesus. There
upon the seashore he delivered fare
well message, which revealed his heart
to them and babe them good-by, because
he assured them that he would never
see them again.
Their journey toward Jerusalem
touched at Cos, Rhodes. Patara and
Phoenicia. They passed Cyprus. the
scene of his first Missionary endeavors,
on their voyage to Tyre. Here during
his weeks stay the apostle was warned
Ptolemais, and were entertained at
Caesarea by Phillip. who had been
elected q deacon by the Jerusalem
Church While there Paul was warned
by Agabus, a prophet, of the peril he
would face in Jerusalem. The cour-
ageous apostle, probably recalling how
his Lord had refused to heed similar
warnings when He made His last visit
to Jerusalem, declined TO change his
plans While at Caesarea he arranged
for the entertainment of his party in
Jerusalem, at the home Of Mnason, a
Cypriot Jew.
Jerusalem Reception.
Luke passed over many details of
Paul's reception by the church in Jeru-
salem, who accepted the generous gifts
that he brought them from the mission
airy churshes that he had organizer FOR
there is not word Of appreciates Of
his efforts or gifts. Probably they nay
officers arranged for public hearing by
the church to permit Paul to tell of his
work. There was a division about his
efforts with the gentiles among the
members Of the church. Some were evil
IDENTIFY displeased by his success and
showed their displeasure. Others re-
joiced In his victories for Christ.
James and the other leaders pro-
posed to Paul that he could remove the
division within the church if he would
prove his loyalty to the law by public
performance of a levitical ceremony.
Their proposal revealed their confidence
in Paul and did not call for him to
violate any principle for which he had
commended. He was asked to demon
strate his devotion to the law by paying
the cost Of several poor persons who de-
sired to participate in the levitical
ceremony of publication Paul agreed
to their suggestion, hoping that he could
at least demonstrate that he was an
observer of all the requirements of the
law by keeping this ordinance.
Attack, Arrest, Address.
We do not know whether the
apostles concession had the desired
effect upon the church or not Some
Greek Jews, possibly from Ephesus
started a tumult in the temple, where
he was fulfilling his VOW. They had
seen a gentle with him in Jerusalem
and made that the basis CT claim
that he had carried one into the for
hidden part of the temple. The bar
rier, that warned gentiles of their
danger, is now in museum in Con-
stantinople, where 1t was taken when
found by the Mohammedans, in Jer-
usalem. Paul knew the law and would
not have permitted any gentle Chris
tan to go beyond that barrier.
Without investigating the truth, the
temple was socn filled with the cries of
a mob, who made an attack upon Paul
and probably would have killed him
then and there, except for the fact
thai they were within the temple area.
Int noise of the shouting crowd
brol. sht the Roman guards, VINO saved
Pau from the mob. While they were