The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-08-28

of instruction following Pauls ar
rival, and Il seat Of philanthropy
as seen in the relief funds sent tc
the famine-sufferers in Jerusalem
and vicinity. 1t was not, therefore
singular that in this great church
there should have arisen a mum
Der of prophets, speaking author
tatively and perhaps fOretelline
events. and also teachers who
carefully instructed the people II
the ways of truth and righteous
ness.
The names of several of these
urophets and teachers are preserV-
ed to us. Barnabas heads the list.
and naturally, for he had won the
place of leadership in the chnrcn
by his faithful !abors and great
success. Of Simon, whose sur
name was Black, we only know
what is involved in his registration
here. Lucius from the North
African province of Cyrene was
possibly a kinsman of Paul and
one of the founders Of the church
at Antioch. Manaen had the dis
tinction of having been brought
up at court as the playmate and
foster-brother of Herod AntlraSl
who disgraced his reign by mur-
dering John the Baptist. The list
closes with the name of Saul, who,
though probably the last to ION
the company, soon rose to first
place in the missionary work OF
the church.
While these leaders and doubt
less their co-workers were minis
tering unto the Lord in prayer
and in the spiritual exercise OF
physical fasting they received :
distinct revelation from the Holy
Spirit. And the revelation was {
singing out for special work OF
the two most brilliant and belov'
ed men in the entire church: Sep
arate me Barnabas and Saul tol
the work whereunto l have callec
them" Barnabas and Saul-coulc
the church spare them from It's
work? Yet the Spirit had now
called them to be missionaries as
truly and as distinctly as he hao
called them to their special minis:
trv in Antioch. And the will OF
the Spirit must prevail. So the
church, acting affirmatively on
the Spirits suggestion, designat'
ed Barnabas and Saul for the for
eign field and held an impressive
ordination service which included
fasting and prayer, the laying on
of hands, and the benedictory
farewell. Never has there beer
such a significant setting apart OF
chosen workers for chosen fields.
MISSION To CYPRUS (Aets l3)
The CHARACTERIZATION of Mission
Field, was undertaken on the. tour
of the Island of Cyprus, the ma
tive country of. Barnabas, the resi-,
dence of perhaps number OF
Paul's acquaint2nces from nearby
Cilicia, the home of many Jew:
and of some Christians who hac
teen converted at Pentecost. The
Missionaries began work in the cit!
of Salamis. AS was wise at the
moment and customary afterWard
the point of contact was through
the Jews who were so numerous
| in the city as to have a number
of synagogues. In these syna
gogues the Word of God wa
preached by Barnabas and Paul
and possibly also by John Mark
'who was their attendant on the
tour How long they stayed anc
what success they had are no
recorded; but on leaving they be
gan a thorough canvass of tn
country, not proceeding directl!
through the island its length o.
$50 miles, but zigzagging across
lit, visiting many important points
until they reached Paphos, the
seat of government on the west
ern shore. Here was won the frs
convert under PauPs ministr.
whose name is given. He wa
none other than the Roman Pro
consul Sergius Paulus who wa
the governor of the province a
that time. 1t appears that a hang
er-on at court, and one who ha(
| great power over the proconsul
was the professed Magian AM
pretended prophet known as Ely
mas, but who was a Jew bearing
the name of Bar--jesus. The gov
ernOr rs a man of intelligence
wished to hear from Barnabas AM
Paul the Word of God. But whel
he summoned the missionaries be
fore him, Elymas opposed then
in the distinct and spiteful effor
to prevent the governor from &C
cepting their message. However
Paul being filled with the Hol.
Spirit, and fastening his eyes up
on the sorcerer, called him, il
righteous anathema a son of tn
| devil and an enemy of all that
right; and he also pronounced up
on him a temporary BLINDNESS
which would lay bare his falsit
and authenticate the missionaries
| AS the pretender with eyes dark
ened and hands stretched on
cropping for a guide turned away
| the truth set forth by Barnaba
| and Paul found its way to tn
heart of the proconsul who beliey
led in Christ and received witt
Glad amazement the doctrines o
the gospel. The climax and clos