Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-05

We follow Paul and Barnabas who.
on leaving the Island Of Cyprus, sailed
for the strategic centers of population
in Asia Minor. In view OF the fact
that navigation in those days opened
in March, it was probably at that sea-
son of the year when they took ship
that would carry them about 100 miles
in a northwesterly direction through
the wide bay Of Alfalfa. or the Pam
the Cestrus River and landed at Perga
John left the party here to return to
Jerusalem, while the others pushed
right on, not stopping in this prosper
Gus commercial center, possibly because
malaria was prevalent at that season,
or they had an opportunity to Journey
with travellers who were bound for An
tipch in Pisidia. It was only 40 miles
away but 1t took a week Tor those on
foot to go through the dangerous LOFTY
mountain passes that were torn py Oor-
rents and frequently blocked by snow.
Reaching Antioch, in Pisidia, Paul
Probab bly, secured work at his trade. while
waiting for an opportunity to preach
in the synagogue of the Jews, who were
a large element in the city's popula-
ton When given the privilege OF
speaking in their synagogue, Paul dellV-
cred a message which Is the Irst re-
corded address that has come down
to us from the Apostle. Although only
the interest outline of his sermon has
been preserved for us, yet we have IN
it evidence that proves it to have been
a great message. One feels his intense
purpose as he draws from the nations
history and prophecy his arguments 10
persuade the Jewish hearers that Jesus
was their long expected and promised
Messiah.
Paul understood from his own atti-
tude and experience before his CONVEX
sion that he had to make his hearers
realize that the law lacked power to
save them. He had to prove to them
that Jesus of Nazareth, who had been
rejected by their leaders and crucif1ed,
! fulfilled in His life the prophecies con-
corning the Messiah. He spoke with
evidently divine power as he unfolded
the foundation Of his faith in Jesus as
the one who fulfilled the nations hope.
He graphically traced the leading events
in their history as a people up to the
period of David, "at which time he
skilfully introduced Jesus as the prom
ised seed of David and savior of men"
The immediate influence was seen In
the number who had accepted his ar
guments, followed the two missionaries
to their lodgings and sought to learn
more about Jesus. They urged him TO
preach again the next Sabbath. The
synagogue was crowded when Paul
preached again. He faced bitter OPP
position. This did not intirn1date either
Paul or Barnabas, who, seeing the de-
faint attitude of the Jews, deliberately
turned and commenced preaching the
Gospel to the Gentiles.
Preaching TO Gentiles.
Pointing out that they were follow
ing the prophecy of Isaiah by turning
to the Gentiles and were literally fol-
lowing the commandment of God, they
cited how Jehovah had said through
the prophet: IT have set thee to be a
light to the Gentiles, that thou shouldest
be for salvation to the ends of the
earth" The Gentiles were delighted to
learn low God had planned for their
salvation through the Jews and accepted
the offer presented to them by the two
missionaries willingly and joyfully, so
that the Lord added daily to the church
such as were being saved through faith
in Christ Jesus.
The Jews of Antioch were not unlike
many of the profeSSed Christians OF our
day They desired to keep Gods revel-
alton for their own nation and race.
like those profeSsed followers OF the
Lord Jesus who claimed that they have
no IOIc1Bll 4l1SolO1lo, GA
though Christ placed the responsibility
upon us of winning the world for Him.
When they saw the Gentiles accepting
the gospel they we're filled with envy.
The next thing we see Is the break
ing out of a persecution, which ended
with the Apostles leaving Antioch.
When the chief people of the city. in
Guiding some prominent women, COM
menced to agitate against the strang--
%Ioi, doctrine ~ YpQrhpH
the Romans who were opposed to relig-
ious agitation. They were easily per-
suaded that Paul and BarnabaS were
disturbers of the peace OF the city, ana
so they were cast out beyond the from
tiers
The gospel had been preached
throughout the whole country. The
progress of missionary work throughout
the nations of the earth, from the day
that Paul and Barnabas turned to the
Gentiles, has been tremendous. In their
decision our own salvation was involved.
The destiny of America and the nations
of our day were included in that an
nouncement that Christ was the ap-
pointed Savior Of all men. Paul was
a great strategist and he laid deep the
foundations of faith for generations OF
heroes and heroines of the Cross, not
then born. 1t was the first proclama-
ton by a minister of Christ that His
gospel provided a universal salvation for
all men. The enemies of the mission
aries thought they had defeated the
work of Paul and Barnabas when they
were forced to leave, but their work has
stood the test of time, while Antioch
has persisted and become mass of
ruins.
A Universal Gospel.
When Paul and Barnabas left the city
as a result of the persecution, they fol-
lowed an old Jewish practice of "shak-
ing the dust off their feet" just as
Christ had commanded them to do. 1t
was a symbolic act, not of anger, but
of judgment - equivalent to saying.
your blood be upon your own heads
1t marked a complete break between
the two different forces. Although the
two missionaries left the city, due to
persecution. they left body of believ-
ers in the city who were filled with JOY
and the peace of the Holy Spirit, due
to their acceptance of Jesus Christ.
Paul, in the section taken from the
Romans expressed his obligation to
preach the gospel to all mankind. He
was ready and DESTROYS of proclaiming
it to every creature, but the desire to
win the Roman Empire for Christ IS
apparent in the willingness to preach
the gospel in Rome, the center of the
known world. When he spoke of it as
the power of God unto salvation, Paul
knew that 1t was more than means of
spiritual salvation, for wherever the
message of the gospel has gone 1t has
changed the character of men and the
destiny of nations. The Joy of Chris
tianity comes in sharing our possess
sion of the divine message with others.
Paul gave his whole life without re-
serve to Christ and sought in every
way possible to extend the Kingdom of
God among men. Have we been as
faithful and true to Christ? Are we
ashamed of His gospel, which is the
power of God unto salvation for not
only America but the whole world. Our
modern civilization is the result of