 CHAPTER I OF THE LIFE OF ST. PALL. They had him now at last, this insolent follower of the crucified Nazarene who had dared to preach openly in the synagogue against their law. This was the result of Gamaliel's advice a short time since, when they had had Peter and John the very heads of this pernicious sect within their grip. If this be the work of man, he had said, it will destroy itself. If it be of God, you cannot thwart it. And they had taken his counsel and let them go with a caution not to preach in this name. They had replied insolently, these Nazarenes were always insolent. Judge ye, if it be better to obey men rather than God. And had gone their way bolder than ever. They had been wiser when they had crucified the leader of these men between two themes. There had been peace for a little while after that. And now here was this Stephen whom they had caught at last, thanks to the energy and determination of Saul of Tarsus. He had promised to be more troublesome than them all, for he was no ignorant fisherman, no unlettered tax-gatherer, but a man of culture and education, who spoke Greek fluently and was trained in the heathen learning. All the restless young men in the city had gone after this new teacher whose personal charm was so strong and whose preaching was so eloquent. Well, there should be no indulgence this time, they would see to that. Tear upon tear they sat in the great hall of the Sanhedrin, and tear upon tear of scowling faces looked down upon the young deacon, who stood as his master had stood not so long before, alone in the midst of his enemies. There was no sign of fear in the prisoner, and outsider brought suddenly into the court might have concluded from his joyous and noble bearing that the great council of Jewish doctors had met to confer some honor on the young man who stood before them. Witness after witness was called, always the same charge, in almost the same words. He had spoken constantly in the synagogues against the law and against the holy place. Are these things so? asked the judges. It was the usual formula and meant that the prisoner was at liberty to speak in his own defense. But Stephen was not thinking of his own defense. His time was near at hand, he knew it, and rejoiced. The palm of martyrdom was already within his grasp. But while life remained in him he had a message for the world. Were there any there who had ears to hear it? Amongst that great multitude was there one soul to be one for his master. The fearless eyes of the young deacon searched the faces round him for a sign that the spirit was alive within. Searching they rested for a moment on a face that was not to him altogether as the rest, though it belonged, as Stephen well knew, to one of the most bitter of his Lord's persecutors, through whose means he himself had been taken. The eyes of the prisoner and those of Saul of Tarsus met for a moment. And then Stephen spoke in answer to the witnesses who had declared him a blasphemer of the law. Men and brethren rang out the clear young voice. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham. Then launching forth as one inspired into his theme he set forth in glowing terms the mercy of God towards his chosen people. This was not altogether what the doctors of the law had expected. The scowl of hatred faded gradually from their faces. They sank back in their seats with self-complacent satisfaction and listened to Stephen's words. From across the great hall the dark eyes of Saul the Pharisee, watching, saw the face of Stephen as he himself told St. Luke years later, as the face of an angel. It was a strange thing, he said to himself, that radiant expression of joy in one who knew that he was facing death. He had seen it before in these Nazarenes. He had seen it even in women and children, when he had driven them from their homes, tracking them down like wild beasts, to deliver them to prison and to punishment. Not to death the Romans had watched too carefully for that. But times were changing. Tiberius was dead, Galligula his successor took but little interest in his foreign provinces. The Roman government was absent. An execution or two would certainly be overlooked at such a moment, and strong measures were needed if this sect were to be stamped out once for all as it ought to be. Stephen spoke on. Little did his hearers see whether the burning words of the young deacon were tending. Little did they notice how, in strong contrast to the glories of the chosen people of God's mercies towards them, he was setting their rebellious spirit, their hardness of heart, their treatment of the prophets, their earthly minded clinging to the letter of the law, whilst they ignored its spirit. Pausing at last he looked round at the assembled listeners. A universal expression of placid self-complacency was on every face. They had drunk inwardly all that flattered the pride of their race. The rest had passed unheeded. His words had struck against that wall that had resisted to the last the teaching of his master, the fairsayical pride that had nailed his master to the cross, and mocked at the all-holding in his agony. And he, Stephen, was about to follow in his footsteps. His heart leapt at the thought. Everything was short. Let them hear the truth once for all before he died. Ye uncircumcised in heart and ears. The fearless voice rang through the hall like a trumpet note. Always you resist the Holy Ghost, as your fathers did. Betrayers and murderers of the just one. You who have received the law from the hands of angels and have not kept it. An electric thrill ran through the assembly. In the space of a moment the stately council of the Sanhedrin had become a mob of howling fanatics. Stephen turned instinctively to the dark face of Saul, who stood erect and silent amidst the general tumult. His lips set with bitter determination, a smoldering fire of anger in his eyes. The young deacon's indignation died away in a passion of pity. Even upwards suddenly his face shone with a supernatural beauty, which for a moment held even his raging enemy spellbound. I see the heavens opened, he said. The awestruck sweetness of his voice falling strangely on the sudden silence. And the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. There were some there who had heard the same words before, not so long before, when a greater than Stephen had stood at their judgment seat. The savage tumult broke out again more wildly than ever. There was no question now of further trial or condemnation. With yells of rage they flung themselves upon the prisoner and dragged him forth from the precincts of the holy place to be stoned outside the gates of the city. According to the law the witnesses should cast the first stones at the criminal. In an execution where all else was unlawful it was well to be correct on one point. The witnesses therefore cast off their outer garments for greater freedom and laid them down at the feet of Saul of Tarsus, whose zeal for the law and whose tireless energy had been of such service to them in this matter. And they stoned Stephen. The young martyr fell stunned and bleeding, but soon struggled to his knees and raised his hands to heaven. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, he prayed, almost in his master's words. The mists of death were closing round him. Once more his eyes looking on his murderers with a divine forgiveness in their depths met those of Saul erect emotionless at his post. Lord lay not the sin to their charge. He cried in ringing accents. They were his last words. Sinking to the earth, Christ's first martyr fell asleep. And Saul was consenting to his death. The little band of the faithful with the apostles laid the shattered body of Stephen with love and reverence in his last resting place. A resting place offered them, tradition tells us, by that wise and gentle rabbi Gimelio, whose influence had prevailed with the Sanhedrin to let the apostles go free, lest perhaps, as he had said, ye be found to be fighting against God. The first martyr blood, which was to be the strength of the church, had been shed. The influence of the young deacon, who shines out to us for one moment like a radiant vision, was to endure in the words and deeds of others. Most of all, perhaps, in the words and deeds of that bitter enemy of Christ destined later to follow in his footsteps. Why was it that the events of that trial in martyrdom were burnt indelibly into the heart and mind of Saul of Tarsus? Why was the Christ in the blinding vision near Debascus to remind him that it had been hard to kick against the gold? What had the young martyr seen in the face of Saul behind the anger and hatred that were visible to all? Lest perhaps ye be found to be fighting against God. Was it the anguish of a fearful doubt? End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 of The Life of St. Paul. This is a LibriBox recording. All LibriBox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriBox.org. Recording by Larry Wilson. The Life of St. Paul by Francis Alice Force. Why Persecutus Thou Meep? The Roman Governor of Judea either ignored or chose to ignore the execution of Stephen. He was no doubt well aware that anyone who meddled with the Jews on a question in which their law was concerned was very likely to bring a hornet's nest about his ears. Pilate was at that very moment in Rome, whether he had been called to answer for his cruelty and putting down a Jewish rebellion in the provinces. It was safer on the whole to keep clear of these fanatical Israelites and to let them fight out their differences among themselves. The chiefs of the Sanhedrin grew bolder. A furious persecution in which Saul of Tarsus took a leading part broke out against the infant church. Scourging, torture and death were the fate of all who called upon the name of Jesus of Nazareth. The faithful fleeing from Jerusalem took refuge in the neighboring towns and cities. Wherever they passed they spread the news of the Gospel and the truth at last began to dawn on the persecutor. His passionate efforts instead of stamping out the Christians had as yet only resulted in the increase of their numbers. Even at Damascus, so the rumor reached him, they existed and were daily making converts. Let them take heed to themselves. They should find that the strong arm of the Sanhedrin could reach them even there. Going to the high priests, Saul proposed a plan for hunting down these Nazarenes who were spreading their blasphemous doctrines all over Judea. Then armed with letters to the synagogue at Damascus, authorizing him to seize on all the Christians he could find, both men and women. He set forth in state accompanied by the escort which would do to him as the legate of the high priest. Since the death of Stephen, Saul had given himself little time for reflection. But now riding through the quiet country in the heat of the day and the hush of the evening, the hours were long for thought and remembrance. He rode fast and pressed on in haste to his journey's end. But fear wist not to evade as love wist to pursue. The travelers were dry near their journey's end. They had crossed the dreary desert land of Iteria and were riding through the fertile valley in which Damascus, to quote the Syrian proverb, lies like a handful of pearls on an emerald carpet. The river rippled between his flowery banks beneath the palm and fruit trees that grew even to the borders of the sun-baked road. The perfume of the scented thickets made the noonday sweet with its fragrance, a breathless silence rooted overall. Suddenly a blazing light, more brilliant than the eastern sunshine, surrounded the travelers, in the midst of which, visible to the eyes of Saul of Tarsus alone, shown the vision of one ferret than the children of men. Before the glory of that face, Saul fell to the ground as one dead. While above his head there rang a voice, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me? Who art thou, Lord? He asked in trembling accents, did he guess the answer before it came? I am Jesus whom thou persecutist. It is hard for thee to kick against the gold. Ah, Saul knew that it was hard. He had measured his strength against the crucified and the crucified had conquered. My harness piece by piece, thou has hewn from me, has bitten me to my knee. I am defenseless utterly. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? He asked humbly. He Saul, who had been so sure of his own judgment. Rise up, King the answer, and go into the city where it will be shown thee. He rose unsteadily to his feet, for the darkness without was as great as the light within. The noonday sunshine, the scented orchards, the glittering river, the faces of his companions all had vanished. Saul was blind. So had God punished him for having fought against the true light that had come into the world to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of his people Israel. He groped without stretched hands for someone to lead him. Such was his entry into that Damascus to which he had come in pride and pomp as the representative of the Sanhedrin. His companions had seen the light and heard the voice, but the heavenly vision was for Saul alone. Awestruck and silent they guided their chief into the city, along the street called straight to the house of a man named Judas. Saul's spirit had been stirred to its depths. The very roots of his life seemed to have been torn up in that blinding vision on the Damascus road. One thought stood out amidst the tumult of conflicting emotions. I am Jesus, whom thou persecutist. The words seemed to have burnt themselves into his heart and soul, and in the light of them the events of the last few months arose before him. The radiant face of Stephen as he had seen it in the great hall, his dying look, his dying words, the still figure in his bloodstained raiment, piteous faces of men and women whom he had tortured to make them blaspheme their Lord shown out in the darkness. Most terrible of all through his suffering spirit. The thought of that face which he had seen for one blinding moment in his glory pierced him like a sword. Tender, loving, reproachful, the terrors of God's vengeance would have been easier to bear. His soul bowed down to the dust in an anguished prayer for pardon. In the bitterness of his remorse he called upon that name, the very sound of which had been hateful in his ears, called upon it with the despairing cry that never goes unheeded. Peace fell at last upon his troubled spirit. He saw in a vision one who touched him and gave him back his sight. It was good for him to await in silence the salvation of his God. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias, and he answered, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the street which is called Strait and seek in the house of Judas one named Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he prayed. Ananias was aghast. Well, did he know the name of Saul of Tarsus and on what mission he had come? With childlike simplicity, he explained the situation to his master. Go was the answer. This man is my chosen instrument. I will show him what great things he must suffer for my namesake. Ananias said forth at once, entering the house where Saul was, he greeted him as a brother, told him that he was a messenger sent by Christ, and laying hands on him, healed him of his blindness. Rise up, he said, and be baptized and wash away thy sins. And he baptized him in the name of Jesus. The rumor of this wonderful thing that had come to pass spread rapidly amongst the disciples in Damascus. They found it hard to believe, but Ananias was there to bear witness to the facts. They hastened to see the man whose very name but a short time since had filled them with fear. From them Saul learnt the story of the life and death of their Lord and his glorious resurrection. There were men there, perhaps, who had seen and spoken with the master who could tell of the words and deeds that were treasured forever in their hearts, for as yet the Gospels were not written. To Saul it seemed as if a lifetime had been crowded into those few days. He was still stunned by the revelation he had received. Feeling above all things the need for solitude and prayer, he went into the desert of Arabia, there to ask once more what his Lord would have him to do, and to learn the secret of his life's work from the Christ himself. We do not know what passed during those days in the desert, but we gather from the words of Saul in after years that he saw face to face the King and his beauty, and looked from him fully all that he had need to know. It was a new man who came back to Damascus at God's appointed time, a man on fire with the love of Christ and with zeal for his glory. He began to preach in the synagogues with a boldness and eloquence that astonished all who heard him, and that roused the Jews to fury. Rumors had already reached them of Saul's conversion, but they had refused to believe the tale. He had disappeared from the sight of men, and it was easy for them to persuade themselves that the story had been invented by the Christians. Now that they could no longer shut their eyes to the truth, they attacked him publicly, bidding him prove his words, and he, arguing from their own law and from the prophets, put them all to silence. He had beaten them on their own ground and shamed them openly. Their only thought was vengeance. This man was dangerous. He should be put to death. They plotted secretly, but God is over all, and warning reached the disciples in time. The Jews were guarding the city gates lest their praise should escape them. The soldiers at the ethnarch had been pressed into the service. There was need for prompt action. In the dead of the night, the friends of the apostles let him down in a basket from a window in the side of the wall. It was thus that he escaped, fleeing for his life into the darkness. The man who had ridden proudly out from Jerusalem, the trusted messenger of the high priest, no longer saw the Pharisee but Paul the apostle. End of chapter two. Chapter three of the Life of St. Paul. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by John Brandon. The Life of St. Paul by Francis Alice Forbes. Chapter three. Jesus is the Christ. St. Paul himself, in his epistle to the Galatians, tells us what followed on that hurried flight from Damascus. I went, he says, to Jerusalem to see Peter. You can imagine how great was his longing to see and speak with those who had been the dearest friends and the closest companions of the Master during his life on earth. More especially, St. Peter, the rock on which Christ had built his church and whom he had been feed his sheep when he, the good shepherd, should have ascended to his father. As Paul entered Jerusalem, which he had left three years before under such different circumstances, strange thoughts and memories must have crowded upon him. Few, if any, there knew of the wonderful events that had taken place at Damascus. Some indeed had heard vague rumors of the truth, but had almost forgotten the story, where nothing more had been heard of a young scribe who had been so strangely converted to Christianity. But the bitter persecution of which Saul had been the leader was still fresh in the memory of the faithful at Jerusalem, and when he appeared suddenly in the holy city, assuring them that he was their friend, all shrank from him in horror. What was the meaning of this? They asked themselves. Was it a new trick to spy upon them? That he might drag them to torture and to death? It was hard to believe that he was a disciple. To St. Paul's great heart and sensitive spirit, the trial must have been bitter indeed, bringing back to him afresh the memory of those years when he had kicked against the goad. In this dark moment, God raised up to him a friend, Joseph, surnamed Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, who took him by the hand and brought him to the apostles. There is a very old tradition that Barnabas and Saul had been students together in the school of Rabbi Gamaliel, and that Barnabas had long hoped for his conversion. However that may be, making himself Saul's spokesman, he poured out to the apostles the wonderful story of the vision on the Damascus Road and the events which had followed. St. Peter and St. James seemed at the moment to have been alone in Jerusalem. They welcomed Paul as a friend and brother and invited him to join them in the preaching of the Word. It was only three years ago since Saul of Tarsus had ridden forth to Damascus as the trusted legate of the Sanhedrin. The hopes of Israel had centered round the brilliant young doctor of the law who had seemed so full of promise. Then there had been a silence. He had disappeared for a while and strange rumors had reached them. Now there was no longer room for doubt or hope. He was back again in their midst as their enemy. In the very synagogues where he had disputed so hotly against Stephen and the Nazarenes, he was preaching that Jesus is the Christ. The zeal and the learning of which the Pharisees had been so proud were dangerous weapons when turned against themselves. His preaching must be stopped at all costs and at once Saul must die. But the faithful were aware of the danger from the sea with which it was connected by the river Arantes. Stately buildings of white marble glittered amongst the palm trees on the plain and refreshing streams flowed through the groves of Laurel and Myrtle that surrounded the heathen temples which were to be seen on every side. Half Greek, half Syrian in its population, chips of all countries thronged its harbor and men of all nations jostled each other in its streets. The hillsides were crowned with Greek and Roman villas standing in the midst of fragrant gardens. The aim and end of all this motley population was enjoyment and pleasure. Let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Surrounded by the corruptions of a pagan city, the Jews of Antioch, soul worshipers of the one true God had kept themselves unspotted from the world. The eyes of all who clung to any ideal of honor or of virtue turned instinctively to the synagogue. There were many Gentile proselytes who were ready to receive the word. If the teaching of Israel with all its minute observances of the law had seemed to them noble and pure, how much more the Christian faith with its message had once so simple and so sublime. Then came suddenly the news of Peter's vision at Joppa and how God had bitten him share the gift of life with the Gentiles. The brethren who brought the wonderful tidings were no longer content to speak to the Jews alone. They began to preach Jesus to the pagan Greeks. The moment was ripe. A great number were converted and the church at Antioch increased daily. In due time, rumors of what was passing reached Jerusalem. St. Peter still glowing with the revelation and the vision of Joppa was absent. The faithful grew uneasy. Were not the brethren at Antioch going a little too far? Was there no longer to be any barrier at all between Jew and Gentile? Uncircumcised pagan to rub shoulders in this way with God's elect, they resolved to send a trustworthy witness to Antioch to judge if the hand of God were really in the work. For this mission, they chose Barnabas, himself a Hellenist, as the Jews born in Greek cities were called by those of Judea. The state of things in Antioch filled him with joy and consolation, for God's Spirit was manifestly there. Jewish and Gentile Christians were as brothers, rivals in nothing but virtue. He remained there to help in the ministry and many more were added to the church by his preaching. What it was impossible for Barnabas to see the grace of God working thus amongst the Gentiles without thinking of Paul set apart as he knew by the Lord for this very work. Truly now was the appointed time. He determined to go to Tarsus, seeking out his friend he brought him back with him to Antioch, where they labored together for a year in a work that was abundantly blessed by God. The pagans of Antioch began at last to notice this new sect that had arisen in their midst and to distinguish it from the synagogue of the Jews. Hearing that Christ was the name of the God they worshipped, they coined in contempt the name of Christians, by which they called his followers. Thus it came to pass that the faithful were called Christians first at Antioch. Now about this time certain holy men having come down from Jerusalem, one amongst them named Agabus prophesied that there would shortly be a great famine in Judea. Knowing the poverty of the church in Jerusalem, the faithful at Antioch generously resolved to send help to their poorer brethren. Each gave what he could and Paul and Barnabas were chosen to carry the contributions to the holy city. They were accompanied by Titus, a young pagan convert. A little to the consternation of some of the faithful in Jerusalem who were inclined to look with horror on this wholesale association with Gentiles. St. Paul took care to consult the apostles about a matter on which there was evidently a division of opinion in the church. Conscious of their support and approval, he could afford to ignore the complaints of those who could not see that the faith of Christ was anything but in addition to the law of Moses. He was now in a very different position from that which he had occupied on his first visit to Jerusalem. The chosen representative of the Christians in Antioch selected with Barnabas to bear their arms to the church of Jerusalem. He was looked upon by all with respect. It is hardly likely that the Christians confined their charity to the brethren alone. Those of the Jews who were in any way connected with them would be likely to receive help also. And Paul, as one of the administrators of the relief, would have many chances of speaking to them of Christ. A door seemed to be open before him, but God's will was not there. Praying in the temple one day, he saw his Lord in a vision who bad him, make haste and depart out of Jerusalem. All pleaded to remain. The witness of one who had been such an open enemy he urged would surely bear fruit, depart, replied the master, for I will send a far hense onto the Gentiles. He returned to Antioch, there to wait in prayer and patience until his mission should be made known to him. End of chapter three, recording by John Brandon. Chapter four of the Life of St. Paul, this is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by John Brandon. A Life of St. Paul by Francis Alice Forbes. Chapter four by Land and Sea. The faithful at Antioch were preparing by a season of prayer and fasting for an approaching feast when the Holy Spirit spoke to the chief pastors amongst them. Separate me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I've called them was the heavenly message. Whereupon the elders laying their hands upon the two apostles in solemn consecration sent them forth to spread the faith of Christ. Taking ship in the harbor of Salucia, they sailed out on the blue waters of the Mediterranean to wear fan by soft sea breezes and crowned with a forest of cedar and cypress to which he owed her name. The island of Cypress lay midway between the shores of the Great Sea. Landing at Salamis, they preached in the synagogues throughout the island and so came a due time to Paphos on the western coast, famous as the seat of the Roman government and the center of the worship of Venus. The rumor that two distinguished strangers were giving public disputations throughout the island came to the ears of Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul. He sent a courteous invitation to Barnabas and Paul to discourse before him upon their new philosophy. The more educated Romans no longer believed in the pagan gods and goddesses of Greece and Rome, but the soul of man tends ever upwards and craves for something to satisfy its aspirations. Thus it had come to pass that the Roman governor had made a friend of a Jewish astrologer and magician named Bar-Jesus, who called himself by the pretentious name of Elimus or the wise man, a student of nature and learned in the uncanny arts of the Orientals. He used his knowledge to impress men with the idea that he possessed supernatural powers. The news of the apostles arrival filled him with alarm. If these men were once allowed to gain the ear of the proconsul, his influence would be in danger and he had no intention of losing his important position as friend and counselor at the Roman court. A large gathering assembled to hear the strangest discourse. Their opening speech made a visible impression on the governor. Once the arguments that Elimus brought forward against them failed altogether in their effect. Losing at last both his temper and his discretion, the wise man turning to his noble patron spoke hotly against the newcomers and declared their teaching to be entirely false. For Paul, God's moment had come. At Antioch and in the Jewish synagogues, he had been content to take the second place, but here in the court of the Roman governor, he, a Roman citizen and the chosen apostle of the Gentiles, felt the spirit moving him to speak. With flashing eyes, he confronted the man who was trying to turn a soul from the truth and denounced him as the tool of Satan. And now behold, he cried, the hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shalt be blind for a time not seeing the sun. A great fear fell upon the assembly as Paul ceased speaking and Elimus stretched out groping hands into the darkness for help. The power of God was visibly with the strangers and the proconsul himself was their first convert. Their ministry at Paphos ended. The missionary set sail for the province of Pamphylia in Asia Minor, which was to be the next stage in their journey. With a low-lying fever-stricken coast of Pamphylia, following closely on the strain of the conflict at Paphos, proved fatal to St. Paul, who was attacked by illness. It was resolved to give up for the present the idea of preaching in Pamphylia and to strike northwards into the Roman province of Galatia, where the fresh mountain breezes would give the invalid the best chance of recovery. This plan, however, seems to have been strongly objected to by Mark, who refused to go on with the apostles and return to Jerusalem. It was no doubt a serious undertaking to cross the mountains, infested as they were by robbers, into a wild and unknown country, and one might well have daunted a less enterprising spirit than that of St. Paul. Nonetheless, the leader of the little band was deeply hurt at what he considered the desertion of his companion, the looking back of one who had put his hand to the plow. Over hill and mountain journeyed the two apostles through the scanty pasturelands, broken here and there by a sheet of water, where the wild swans curved their shining necks to admire their own reflection, and the storks stood meditatively on one leg amongst the reeds. Here and there the flat-roofed huts of a miserable little village met the eyes of the travelers, or in the evening the distant glow of a watchfire on the hills surrounded by a cluster of shepherd's tents reminded them of the birth night of that master for love of whom they had left country in Kinsfolk to become homeless wanderers upon the earth. In perils of robbers, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in labor and painfulness, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness. At last they came to the stately city of Pisidian Antioch with its mingled population of Romans, Orientals, and Jews, and entering the synagogue upon the Sabbath day, took their places in the seats set apart for those who desired to address the congregation. The Jewish rulers were not slow to mark the presence of the strangers. Men and brethren, they said, if you have any word of exhortation to the people, speak. Then Paul arose, and claiming the attention of the congregation with the vivid gesture of the hand so often mentioned by St. Luke, preached to them the gospel of Christ. A breathless hush fell upon the assembly as he spoke. When the apostles left the synagogue, they were beset by a surging crowd thirsting for further knowledge. The Gentile proselytes spread the news among their pagan townsfolk. When the apostles made their next appearance in the synagogue, it could not contain the multitudes that had gathered to see and hear them. The rulers of the Jews were not a little vexed at the turn things were taking. They had succeeded in the course of many years in making only a few proselytes, and these mostly women, whereas the whole city was running after these strangers who seemed to think as much of the Gentiles as of the chosen people. When Paul began his exhortation, and they marked the deep interest and the wrapped faces of the congregation, their vexation developed into something warmer still. Rising abruptly from their seats, they contradicted openly the words of the apostle, hoping thus to put a stop to his preaching. The indignation shown by the congregation that this untimely interruption only served as a goad to their fury. Casting off all restraint, they broke out into blasphemies against the name of Jesus. Patience and endurance had gone far enough. Solemnly turning on their opponents, the apostles reminded them that the word had in the first place been preached to them. Since you rejected and deem yourselves unworthy of eternal life, they said, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. Shaking the dust of the synagogue from their feet, they left the building, followed by a rejoicing crowd, eager to embrace the faith. But the Jews were not in a mood to take their defeat calmly. They determined to ruin these men, whom they already hated with all the bitterness of their race. They found the tools they needed in the noble Roman ladies who had become their proselytes and who urged on by their persuasions undertook to prejudice the Roman rulers against the strangers. It was easy enough to suggest that such men were a danger to law and order, always a powerful argument with a Roman. In a short space of time, an order was issued banishing the newcomers from Antioch and the surrounding country. Paul and Barnabas therefore departed, but they left behind them a thriving Christian community, filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. In Iconium, the next Galatian city, which they visited, and where they remained for some time, the events of the city in Antioch repeated themselves. Their preaching was fruitful and the converts many. God showed his presence with his servants by several miracles. But as the little body of disciples grew, so did the jealous spite of the Jews, who would not receive God's message. A plot was set on foot to scourge and stone the apostles, who being warned in time, fled to Lystra and Derby, two cities in Galatia, in the district which was called Lyconia. Here where there were no synagogues, amongst a simple country folk who still believed in the ancient gods of Greece and Rome, it might be expected that the missionaries would be left in peace to pursue their ministry. For a time indeed it was so, but not for long. The apostles were preaching in Lystra. Among the crowd which had assembled to hear them was a poor man who had been a cripple from his birth. The eyes of Paul, searching the faces of the listeners for an answering gleam of faith, fell on the lame man lying before him. A rise, he said suddenly, stand upright on thy feet. And the cripple leaped and walked. The crowd broke out into cries of astonishment and wonder. The gods are come down amongst us, they shouted, deciding at once that Barnabas was Jupiter and Paul Mercury. Conscious of the tumult, but not understanding what was said as the people spoke in their own Lyconian tongue, the apostles withdrew quietly from the crowd, whilst the populace flocked joyfully to the temple of Jupiter outside the city to tell the good tidings to the priests. In all haste, the sacrificial bulls were brought out and decked with garlands, while the priests white-robed and flower crowned, led them in solemn procession to the gate of the city, there to offer sacrifice to the gods who had revealed themselves to men. The truth at last dawned on the apostles. Rushing out to meet the procession, they rent their garments in horror at the thought of the intended sacrilege. We are but men like yourselves, they cried, whose message to you is that you should give up these superstitions and worship the one true God. But the Listerans had no intention of giving up the festival and were in no mood to listen to their preaching. It was only with the greatest difficulty that the sacrifice was prevented, and the people dispersed, angry and sullen to their homes. It was at this moment that there appeared in Lystra a little band of Jews from Pasidian Antioch and Iconium, who had resolved to dog the footsteps of the apostles and to hinder a possible their mission. It was easy enough for them to work upon the discontent of the people, assuring them that the strangers were imposters. Their miracles nothing but a trick, and their teaching so mischievous that they had narrowly escaped a stoning at the hands of the respectable citizens of Iconium. Egged on by these bitter enemies of Christ, the people fell upon Paul and the streets of the city, and having stoned him cast his bleeding body outside their walls, believing him to be dead. But there were some in Lystra, in whose hearts the teaching of the apostles had found a quick response. Hearing the sad news, they hastened to the spot to perform the last rites for their beloved master. To their unutterable joy, they found him alive and able, with their help, to return to the city. There was one house, at least in Lystra, where Paul would ever be a welcome guest. It was that of Eunice, a Jewess, who with her mother, Lois, and her young son Timothy, had been amongst the first to embrace the faith. Lystra was no longer a safe place for the apostles, and in all haste they departed. Returning by the same way as they had come, they stayed for a time in every city where they had preached the faith, confirming the brethren, reminding them that through much tribulation they must enter the kingdom of God and ordaining elders to minister to the Christian communities which they were leaving behind them. Then, coming down to Purge in Pamphylia, they preached to the people of those parts also, after which, taking ship at Attalia, they set sail for Antioch in Syria, the starting point, and the end of their journey. End of Chapter 4, Recording by John Brandon Chapter 5 of the Life of Saint Paul This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Slick The Life of Saint Paul by Francis Alice Forbes The Old Law or The New The return of Paul and Barnabas was hailed with great joy by the brethren in Antioch, who, having listened eagerly to the account of their mission, gave thanks and glorified God. The rumor of how the Gentiles had flocked to embrace the faith spread rapidly throughout Syria and was received with great rejoicings. We have already seen how the Jewish Christians in Antioch had given the right hand of fellowship to those of the pagan Greeks who had received the word, treating them on a footing of equality with themselves. In this, the other churches of Syria had followed their example. Those of the Jews who had at different times gone out from Judea to settlement foreign countries, found themselves indeed in quite a different position from that of their kinsmen in Jerusalem. Forced as they were in the interest of trade to mix, to a certain extent with their Gentile neighbours, the minute observance of their law became well nigh impossible. Relaxing, therefore, the minor points of this observance, while holding fast to the worship of the one true God and the great precepts of morality, many of the Jews who were scattered abroad throughout the civilized world had begun to look upon the pagans as something other than unclean Gentile dogs to come in contact with whom was pollution. It was amongst these Jews of wider mind that Christianity was to find some of the most noble of its converts, whilst the zealots of the law remained to the end its bitterest enemies. In Judea, however, things were very different. For many years, the scribes and Pharisees had confined their teaching to the minor points of the law alone. They were content to centre all their energies in discussions, the only end of which was to make the perfect observance of the law an intolerable burden to the people. So little were the prophecies studied or interpreted that, full as they were of allusions to the Christ, he had come to his own and his own had known him not, but had condemned him to a felon's death. Arguments as to whether an egg laid on the eve of a feast day might be eaten or not, or whether in the offering of the tithes a tenth part of the stalks ought to be included with the grain, absorbed the interest of the doctors of the law. What wonder that the Lord of Justice had called them blind guides and hypocrites, binding burdens on men's shoulders that they themselves would not touch with one finger, neither entering the kingdom of heaven themselves, nor suffering others to enter. And yet our Lord himself, no less than the Twelve Apostles, was of the Jewish race born under the law. It was hard for Israel to grasp the truth that the Lord Moses was to disappear in the wider law of Christ. He himself had said that he had not come to destroy the law but to fulfill. They forgot that he had also said, ye cannot put new wine into old bottles. Many of the Christian converts at Jerusalem who, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, were Pharisees learned in the law, did not see how it could be possible for a man to become a Christian unless he first became a Jew. To embrace the faith of Christ, unless he first embraced the Lord Moses. The divine revelation to Saint Peter at Joppa had indeed opened the eyes of a few, but it was easy for others to apply it to the particular case of Cornelius, without accepting it for the Gentiles in general. Further, as an impenetrable barrier between Israel and the nations, stood the Jewish pride of race. They had grown so accustomed to the thought that they, the chosen people, were placed on a pinnacle above all other men, to draw back their weary garments from the polluting contact with the Gentile dog who passed them on the street. But the idea of the breaking down of the wall of separation filled them with dismay. The news, therefore, of the return of the two apostles and their missionary journey was much discussed in Jerusalem. Certain Jewish Christians made their appearance in Antioch and gave out, not without stretching the truth to its utmost limits, that they had come from James, the Bishop of Jerusalem, held in a universal veneration as the kinsman of the Lord himself. It was not given to these men, as it had been to Barnabas, the lawfully appointed delegate of the Church, to see the Spirit of God in the community at Antioch. They were, on the contrary, filled with horror at the sight of uncircumcised Gentiles associating with Jewish Christians on terms of equality. Saint Peter himself even sat at the same table with converted pagans, treating them as friends and brothers. Such behaviour seemed to these self-constituted critics to strike at the very foundations of the law. Assuming an authority they did not possess, they intimated to Saint Peter that his conduct in this matter was giving grave disedification. Let the Gentiles become Christians by all means, they said, but let them first be circumcised and observe the law of Moses, without which it would be impossible for the Church of Jerusalem to acknowledge them as brethren. For a moment, even the confidence of Saint Peter seems to have been shaken. By nature ready to throw himself into the most hazardous enterprises at a word from his Lord and apt to waver and mistrust his own conduct in cooler moments, he allowed himself to be so far influenced as to withdraw in some degree from his familiar intercourse with the Greek converts. Barnabas seemed inclined to follow his lead in the matter. Paul alone saw the danger and flung himself into the breach. The peace, nay, the very existence of his beloved communities in Galatia were at stake. His burning words of expostulation brought the great heart and generous mind of Saint Peter immediately to his side, strong in the conviction that his original line of conduct had been right, and ready to defend it to the atomos. The pretended envoys were discouraged for a time by the failure of their schemes, but Saint Peter, having left Antioch, their discontent broke out once more. They demanded that the case should be submitted to the Church of Jerusalem, and Paul and Barnabas, who heartily concurred in this suggestion, set out at once for the holy city, telling as they passed through Phoenice and Samaria, the good tidings of how God was calling the Gentiles to the faith. The Apostles and Elves in Jerusalem gave a warm welcome to the travellers, who lost no time in making known to them how God had blessed their work among the Gentiles. But the zealots for the law were only awaiting their opportunity, and the outcry arose that the Gentile converts must be circumcised, and keep the law of Moses. It was decided that the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church should meet in council to consider the matter. The fault-finders were the first to speak, and long and wary were their arguments. When at last they had finished, Saint Peter arose. Reminding them of the revelation at Joppa, he explained how the Holy Ghost had given testimony that, God purifying the Gentiles by faith had put them on the same footing as the Jews. Now therefore, he asked, Why do ye put a yoke on the necks of the disciples, which neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? In the hush that followed the words of the Apostle, to whom the Master had given the keys of his kingdom, Paul and Barnabas, who as yet had remained silent, rose to speak. They made known the signs and wonders that had accompanied their work amongst the Gentiles, visible tokens of God's presence and approval. The result of the council was summed up by James, speaking with authority as the Bishop of Jerusalem. To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world, he said, after having referred to the words of Saint Peter, which reminded them of the revelation by which God had made known his will concerning the Gentiles. Those who had turned to God were not to be circumcised, but they must accept four fundamental rules of purity. A concession having been thus made to the feelings of the discontented party, whilst the Gentile converts were delivered from the intolerable burden so much dreaded by Saint Paul, the decree was formally drawn up. Judas and Silas or Sylvanas, two members of the Church of Jerusalem, well known to all for their wisdom and holiness of life, were chosen to return to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas as bearers of the letter and degree of the Apostles. The letter was strongly worded. The apostles and the elders to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch and in Syria and Silasia greeting. For as much as we have heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no such commandment, it hath seemed good to us. Being assembled together to choose out men, and to send the man to you with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also by word of mouth tell you the same things. For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay no further burden upon you than those necessary things, that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, marriage within the degrees forbidden by the law, from which things keeping yourselves ye shall do well, fare ye well. The decree having been read to the brethren of Antioch amidst universal rejoicings, the two delegates from Jerusalem remained some time amongst them, preaching and exhorting them to stand fast in the faith. But when the time came for their return to Jerusalem, Judas alone went back to the Holy City, Silas remaining behind at Antioch. Sympathy for the wider views that prevailed there, the growing reverence and admiration for Saint Paul, which was so soon to unite him with the great Apostle of the Gentiles in his missionary work, may both have influenced him in this decision. Saint Paul was growing restless, and longing had arisen in his heart to revisit the Christian communities across the sea, and to see how they had prospered in his absence. He proposed to Barnabas that they should return and visit their brethren in every city where they had preached the name of the Lord. Barnabas agreed readily to the suggestion, but he was strongly of the opinion that his cousin, John Mark, whom they had met again in Jerusalem, should be of the party. Against this, Paul resolutely set his face. Mark, who had deserted them before, might do so again, he argued. The risks were too great. The discussion ended in the separation of the two Apostles, who were to meet no more in this world. Barnabas went with Mark to Cyprus, their native city, where he is said to have remained ministering to his fellow countrymen until his death. Paul, taking Silas, bade farewell to the brethren, and commended by their prayers to the grace of God, set forth upon his second missionary journey, end of the old law or the new, recording by Slick. Chapter 6 of the Life of Saint Paul This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Maria Fatima da Silva. The Life of Saint Paul by Francis Alice Forbes. Combats without fears within Passing rapidly through Syria and Silicia, where they made known the decree to the faithful, Paul and Silas crossed the sea and journeyed northwards to Lystra. Several years had now passed since Eunice and her household had been warned to Christ by the preaching of the Apostles, during which time Timothy had grown from youth into manhood. Paul, who in earlier days had been struck by the lovable qualities of the young disciple, could not fail to notice how the gifts of grace had completed the gifts of nature. In this young man, loved and respected by all the Christians in Lystra and Iconium, and already exercising a strong influence for God on all around him, he recognized the stuff of an apostle and at once appointed him to help them in the work. It was the beginning of a faithful friendship that was to last until death. To Paul, Timothy was to be ever his beloved son in the faith, more at one with him in heart and soul than any other of his companions. Whilst Timothy, ready to lay down his life for his beloved father in Christ, gave to Paul that devoted an understanding sympathy of which his sensitive and suffering spirit had often so great a need. From Lystra, Paul with his companions proceeded to Iconium and Pesidian Antioch, where having made known the decree to the brethren, he strengthened and confirmed them in the knowledge of Christ, and won by his preaching many new converts to the faith. His original plan had been to strike westwards into the Roman province of Asia, but checked by a revelation that search was not God's pleasure, the little band resolved to go northwards to Bithynia. Again, the divine guidance intervened, nothing remained for the travelers, but to strike across Misia, the northern district of the province of Asia, to the seaport of Troas, where they awaited the further manifestation of God's will. Not only was the field of their future mission to be made fully known to them in this seacoast city, but they were destined to meet there, one who was to be a most faithful friend of Saint Paul, as well as the historian of his travels. Was Paul suffering from an attack of that chronic sickness that had laid him low in Pamphylia on his first missionary journey, that stake in the flesh which seemed to him such a hintress to God's work, that he had thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from him? We do not know. It was in this way or in some other that he made the acquaintance of Luke, the beloved physician, known later as Luke the Evangelist. The intercourse between the two men resulted in the winning over of the Greek physician to the cause of Christ. Fired by the burning words of Saint Paul, he resolved to give his whole life to God's service. Wither was the spirit leading them, ships from many countries lay a tanker in the harbor of Troas, which was to bear them on the master's errand. In the silence of the night, he made known his will to his servants. There appeared to Paul in a vision a man from Macedonia seeking him without stretched hands. Come over into Macedonia and help us, and all doubt was at an end. Set in Seilat once, they landed at Neapolis, and crossing the hills which lay before them entered the beautiful city of Philippi, a thriving Roman colony. To the people of Macedonia, simple, honest and hardworking, the question of the immortality of the soul and the existence of the one true God had been for long subjects of the deepest interest. But Paul's rule had always been to preach first to the Jews. And having heard that the Sabbath meetings were held in a quiet nook by the riverside, there being no synagogue, and but few Jews in Philippi, he resolved to seek them out. The gathering was a small one indeed, consisting only of a few women who were engaged in prayer. The leader of the little group was a Gentile proselyte called Lydia, a woman of wealth and position who dealt in the purple dyed garments of Thyatura. The preaching of Paul found an immediate response in her heart, and she received baptism with all her household. Eager in her gratitude to do what she could, in return for the precious gift of the faith, she would not be content until Paul and his companions had promised to be her guests. And her house soon became the center of Christianity in the city. In the period of peace and calm which followed, the good news spread rapidly among the people, men and women of all classes, hastened to join the ranks of the Christians. But the house of Lydia was not their only meeting place. The apostles still preached in the quiet retreat by the riverside, known to all as the usual haunt of the Jews, which was visited by many who would otherwise have had no opportunity of hearing the words. Now it chance that they lived not far from this place, a slave girl possessed by a spirit which enabled her to foretell the future. She had come to be considered as a sort of oracle in Philippi, and her pagan masters made a great deal of money by her divinations. Meeting one day Saint Paul and his companions on their way to the place of prayer, she followed them. These men are the servants of the Most High God, who preached to you the way of salvation, she cried. And every day at the same time the sin was repeated. Such a testimony was not to the mind of the apostle, turning it last to the girl as she followed them. Depart from her, he said, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the spirit left her at his word. The poor slave was now in her right mind, but the power of foretelling the future was gone, and with it the wealth of her masters. Seizing in their fury upon Paul and Silas, they dragged them before the magistrates. To have told the truth would have been worse than useless. They therefore accused the apostles of preaching a new religion, and of teaching customs which were against the Roman law. The fact that Silas as well as Paul was a Romani citizen would have ensured them respectful treatment. But amidst the general tumult, it was impossible for them to make themselves heard. The enemies had been careful to state that they were Jews, for the Jews had lately come under the displeasure of the emperor, and had been banished from Rome. Without inquiring further into the matter, the magistrates ordered that the strangers should be first beaten with rods and then imprisoned. The scourging was inflicted publicly in the marketplace, after which Paul and Silas, bruised and bleeding, were thrown into a dungeon, their feet being so secured in the stalks that every movement of their aching bodies caused them pain. They had borne their sufferings bravely for the love of their Lord, and now in the weary hours of darkness, they comforted their sad hearts by singing hymns and psalms to his glory. The voice of praise was an unwanted sound in that gloomy prison, and one which filled the inmates with wonder. The thick walls were still ringing to the echoes of the sacred song when a sudden earthquake shook the building to its foundations, bursting open the doors and freeing the prisoners from their chains. The jailer rushing to the spot and seeing the open doors supposed that his charges had made good their escape. This grace and death would certainly be the penalty, it would be better to die at once by his own hand. As he saw it flush from the scabbard, a quiet voice spoke from out the darkness. Do thyself no harm, for we are all here. The keeper of the prison took courage. Calling for lights, he secured the other prisoners who had been probably too terrified by the earthquake to think of escape, for not one of them was missing. His duty done, he fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas, who alone had remained calm and steadfast. Masters, he cried, what must I do to be saved? By this time, the whole household had gathered together, and there was work to be done for the master. The two apostles, forgetting the pain of their wounds, spoke the words of life to these new disciples, who drank them with thirsty years. Taking Paul and Silas, whose pitiable state was visible to all, they washed and dressed their wounds at the fountain of water, where they in their turn received the sacrament of baptism. A feast was prepared in the jailer's house to which the apostles were brought by their new disciples, while the gladness of Christ reigned in the hearts of all. Thus ended amidst general rejoicings a night which had been so eventful. The magistrates, who in the meanwhile had had time to reflect on their hasty action, were in no comfortable frame of mind. The Christians of Philippi had very probably protested against the unjust man in which the prisoners had been treated, for there were people of influence amongst them. In any case, the representatives of the law decided that the wisest and safest course would be to get rid of the strangers as quickly and secretly as possible. The day had scarcely dawned when messengers appeared at the prison door to announce that the magistrates were graciously pleased to set Paul and Silas at liberty. The jailer greatly relieved hasten to tell the good news to the apostles, but Paul turned quietly to the lictors who were following. What, he said, after having caused two Roman citizens to be publicly beaten and cast into prison, do they expect to send them away secretly? No, let them come and bring us out themselves. The consternation of the magistrates can be imagined. These men were Roman citizens. What had they done? They might have to answer with their lives for yesterday's proceedings. It was contrary to the law to scourge a Roman, and these men had not even been tried. Let such a thing but reach the years of the governor of Macedonia and their career as magistrates would be forever at an end. It was not a moment for dignity. Hasten to the prison, they tremblingly besought the strangers to pardon their mistake and to leave the city at once. This the apostles agreed to do, but at their own time and convenience. Returning to the house of Lydia, they reassured the brethren who had been in great anxiety as to their fate. Then, having said all in order, Paul and Silas set forth once more on their travels, leaving Luke and Timothy in charge of the community at Philippi, that community which Paul was to speak of later as his joy and his crown. The proposed route lay through Anipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, a seaport city on the coast of the Aegean Sea, whose position caused it to become later one of the centers of Christianity. The chief industry of the town was its woven stuffs of brilliant hill and the course of fabrics of goat's hair which were used for tent coverings. Every Jewish boy, no matter what might be the wealth and position of his parents, was compelled to learn a trade so that he could, if necessary, support himself in later life. Now it happened that this very trade of tent making was the one which Paul had been taught in his youth and at which he worked for his daily bread when he was able to do so. His intention being to remain for the present at Thessalonica, he took a lodging in the house of a Jew called Jason, a weaver himself by trade, whose workshop would therefore offer to the apostle all that he required for the daily toil. There was a synagogue in the city and there on the Sabbath went the two apostles, eager to preach Jesus to the Jews. But the thought of a poor and humble savior dying for their salvation on the cross had no chance for these men. They looked for a messiahs who should come as a conqueror to restore the power to Israel and conversions were few. It was quite otherwise with the Gentile proselytes who listened eagerly and were baptized in great numbers. In course of time seeing the fruitlessness of their preaching to the Jews, the apostles left the synagogue and began to instruct their converts in the house of Jason where Paul could talk to them as he worked. The little community increased daily and it was not long before the Holy Spirit made known his presence amongst them by miracles and supernatural gifts. The Jews as usual saw the results of Paul's preaching with envy and vexation for nearly all their proselytes had deserted them. An opportunity of injuring those whom they chose to consider as their enemies soon presented itself. These men, they declared, were sowing treason against the Roman government. Had they not asserted that there was another king, one Jesus, to whom they owed allegiance rather than to Caesar. It was not difficult to urge the people to fury against them by such arguments as these. Egged on by the Jews, they attacked the house of Jason, whom in the absence of Paul and Silas they dragged before the magistrates. The governor of Macedonia who had his official residence at Thessalonica was in the city. The magistrates anxious to hush up the riot as quickly as possible bound Jason over to be surety for his guests and deferred the trial until later. In the meantime Paul and Silas had returned and the Christians were besieging them to seek safety in flight. Yilding at last to the entreaties of their brethren who conducted them with all precautions outside the gates of the city, they said a sorrowful farewell to these faithful disciples and took the road to Berea. End of chapter 6, chapter 7 of the life of Saint Paul. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Maria Fatima da Silva. The life of Saint Paul by Francis Alice Forbes. We preach Christ crucified. The Jews of Berea were a nobler race than their brethren of Thessalonica. In the light of the gospel preached to them by Paul, they studied the writings of the prophets and found in them the foreshadowing of a messiahs who should suffer and die for his people. Many believed and received baptism together with their Gentile proselytes amongst whom were several ladies of rank. A fruitful field of labor seemed to lie before the apostles but Satan was watching over his own interests. The news that Paul was preaching at Berea came to the years of the Jews in Thessalonica who determined to go there and repeat the process which had been so successful in their own city. Finding that their efforts to stir up the rulers of the synagogue against the new teachers were vain. They addressed themselves to the common people using the same arguments that had done so much mischief ahead. The situation became dangerous for Saint Paul and he was forced once more to seek safety in flight. Leaving Silas behind at Berea with Timothy who had again rejoined them to confirm and strengthen the new disciples he took ship to Athens. It was useless for the present to continue his work in Macedonia for the Jews in Thessalonica were resolved to dog his footsteps from city to city. In his absence the storm would have time to blow over and he could return again later. Though fallen from her ancient splendor Athens still retained to a certain extent under the Roman rule that reputation for learning and culture which had been hers when men called her the school of the world. In no city of the ancients had art attained to search perfection. The masterpieces of Phedias and Praxitels that have held the world breathless with wonder for 23 centuries met the eye at every turn. The great statue of the goddess Athene 60 feet high which stood guard over the city could be seen far out at sea her golden helmet and spearpoint sparkling in the sun. The worship of beauty had been the cult of the Greeks human beauty and human intellect. They did not know as yet that the beauty which is eternal and the wisdom which is divine had come to dwell amongst men. But now God's messenger was at their gates. The glory of Athens was indeed departed what remained to her was but the outer husk which concealed the emptiness within. It was this that struck the great apostle as he wandered through the streets and by ways of the city. He looked to Hymetus and the purple heather looked to Pyrrhasis and the purple sea and to him on fire with the living message of salvation the city seemed wholly given to idolatry. Having preached in the synagogue apparently without result Paul turned his attention to the gentile population light-minded and curious man. Saint Luke calls them whose only delight was in hearing and telling some new thing. Day after day he went to the agorah or market place the chief resort of the philosophers as well as of all the idolers in the city. Here a stranger who had any pretentious to learning would certainly be set upon and questioned an opportunity which Paul could be trusted not miss. The more light-minded of his hearers were ready to make fun of his teaching while in a few of the philosophers it aroused a languid interest. Others to whom there seemed something suspicious about this new religion laid hold of Paul and insisted that he should go up to the hill of Mars and explain himself more clearly for it lay with a great counsel of the aeropagus to decide in all questions of religion. To Paul it was a happy chance that forced him to speak in his master's cause before the most learned and eminent men in Greece. The flower of Athenian learning and philosophy had assembled ready to listen with good nature contempt to this oriental dreamer whose barbarous Greek fell so inharmoniously upon their ears. The humble ambassador of Christ standing alone and undaunted in their midst began his discourse by alluding to an altar which he had found in his wanderings in the city dedicated to the unknown god. What therefore you worship without knowing he said that I preach to you explaining to them at length the nature of the one true god who giveth to all life and breath and all things and the desire of man's heart to find him. He went on to speak of the resurrection of the dead but his audience was already growing weary. The thought of a crucified and suffering god outraged their sense of beauty and refinement and many scoffed openly at the suggestion we will hear thee again on this matter said the more courteous among them intimating gently that their patience and therefore Paul's discourse was at an end but in the hearts of a few out of that vast assembly a new life had sprung into being at the apostles words. Dionysius one of the members of the council of the aropagus and Damaris a woman amongst others believed in the Christ to Paul his mission in Athens seemed a hopeless failure heart sick and weary with no Timothy at hand to cheer his drooping spirit his eyes turned to the prosperous seaport of Corinth it was one of those commercial centers with a mixed population of Greeks, Syrians, Romans and Jews which had so often before proved a fruitful field for his labors. There that therefore he went and having made the acquaintance of a Jewish couple Aquila and Priscilla by name who strayed like his own was the weaving of tent cloth he lodged in their house and shared their toil. Aquila and Priscilla who had been driven out of Rome by the addict of Claudius were probably already Christians they were pouring goods but rich in virtue and their tender friendship did much to comfort Paul who seems to have been suffering in body as well as in soul at the time. He confined himself at first to preaching in the workshop of his friends and it was not until he had been some time in Corinth that he began to speak publicly in the synagogue. His hosts were poor like himself and the daily bread depended on their labors as it was he could preach only on the Sabbath the weekdays found him at his work but the arrival of Silas and Timothy with generous offerings from the churches of Macedonia set Paul free for the ministry. He had already Bowerhood the growing Christian community of which their former ruler was a prominent member it was distinctly trying and having appointed one Sosthenes in the place of Christmas they bided their time for vengeance. The moment seemed to them right when Gallio the new proconsul was appointed to govern Achaia this man would in all probability be anxious to begin his office by conciliating the Jews who were a powerful body in Corinth. Seizing the apostle unawares they dragged him before the judgment seat of the governor accusing him of teaching a new religion contrary to the Roman law. Gallio was an honest and upright man who had like most Romans a strong prejudice against the Jews. He was more over a good lawyer and in a few moments had sifted the evidence sufficiently to see that the accusers had no case at all against their prisoner. If it were a question of injustice or transgression against the Roman law oh Jews he said I would bear with you but since it is a matter of words and names and your law settle it amongst yourselves I will not be judged in such matters so saying he drove them from the judgment seat. The people of Corinth who had assembled out of curiosity and who themselves had no love for the Jews seized the opportunity to indulge in a little outburst of feeling. Falling upon Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue they beat him soundly in the very presence of the governor. This amounted to contempt of court but Gallio with true Roman hotness and perhaps a touch of amusement chose to ignore what they were doing and to treat the whole affair as beneath his notice. The Jews did not easily recover from their defeat and has forward the ministry of the apostles went on unhindled. Many men and women of ranking Corinth embraced the faith amongst them being Erastus treasure of the city. Stephanus keys and several members of the Roman colony the greater number however were people of the working classes and slaves. Corinth was amongst the most corrupt of the pagan cities and some of these neophytes had been rescued from a life that was worse than death to be washed from their sins in the cleansing waters of baptism. Three years had now gone by the church of Corinth was a strong and thriving body and a desire rose in Paul's heart to revisit Jerusalem and Antioch. Going down to the seaport of Sancria he set sail for the east accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla who hoped to find in Ephesus a better market for their work. Landing with them for the ship was to stay for a short time at Ephesus Paul preached to the Jews in their synagogue they besought him to remain with them for the time but this Paul could not do. I will return to you again God willing he said and left them sorrowing. End of chapter seven chapter eight of the life of Saint Paul this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Maria Fatima the Silver Life of Saint Paul by Francis Alice Forbes Strength in infirmity Having saluted the church in Jerusalem Paul came to Antioch the short stay which he made in the holy city was enough to convince him that he would find small sympathy for his work in the community that still clunk persistently to the idea that Christianity was but an extra adornment to the Mosaic Claw. Their cold piety struck a chill to the great heart of Paul but in Antioch he felt at home. Syria and the east were aglow with her light and her warmth the spirit of Christ was in her midst. The time of rejoicing was short he had determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified and for the faithful soldier of the cross the cross was ever waiting. Some of those false brethren from whom the apostle has suffered so much already had made their appearance amongst his beloved communities of Galatia assuring them that they were only half Christian and could never unless they consented to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses be considered as the equals of the Jewish Christians. Paul who had been their teacher was they declared but a subordinate and was in error on this point they had come directly from the 12 and were to be trusted. The Galatians were greatly troubled the work that Paul had accomplished at the cost of so much toil and suffering was in danger of being undone. Having written a letter in which he exhorted the communities of Galatia to hold fast to the truths that he had taught them though an angel from heaven should teach otherwise he dispatched it by a trusty messenger. The next thing to be done was to bring his business at Antioch to an end that he might go in person to confirm his wavering flock. Great was their joy and relief when Paul appeared once more amongst them from city to city he went setting all in order and warning the disciples against the false teachers who had so disturbed their peace. The men who had given themselves out as having come from the 12 disappeared suddenly on the news of the apostles arrival. It was easy to prove that they were imposters. The visit to Galatia completed Paul mindful of his promise crossed the province of Asia and came to Ephesus where he found his old friends Aquila and Priscilla. For three months he reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue many of them were one to Christ but the larger body of unbelievers soon made the synagogue an impossible preaching place and he was forced to look elsewhere. During the rest of his stay in Ephesus which was to last for two years he disputed daily in the school of one Tyranus probably using the lecture hall during the evening hours when the pagan teacher did not require it. His own daily work would then be done for with his own hands we are told he had finished what was necessary for himself and his companions. The hard day's work followed by the evening's preaching might well have exhausted a stronger frame than Paul's insulted and persecuted by the unbelieving Jews suffering in body worn with toil burdened with anxiety for his Christian converts in other lands his life as he himself expressed it was a daily death but it is under the shadow of the cross that the master's work thrives best and the faith spread not only in Ephesus but through all the cities of Asia. Miracles were many garments that Paul had worn or touched were laid upon the sick and they recovered evil spirits were cast out in this heathen city where idols were worshiped with abominable rites the devils seemed to have had great power and certain Jews who had been trying to cast out demons from possessed persons were very much astonished by the success of Paul and his companions. They concluded that the charm used by these men was more powerful than their own and they listened carefully to learn it. Entering the house of a maniac who was possessed by a demon they called upon the evil spirit come out of him in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches the result was not quite what they had expected the madmen leapt upon them furiously Jesus I know when Paul I know but who are you cried the devil bleeding and wounded they scarce escaped with their lives many who dealt in magic and sorcery for Ephesus was a center of superstition were struck with fear when they heard these things and were converted to Christ the church in Asia was increasing rapidly but Paul's labors there were destined to be brought suddenly to an end besides being the capital of the province and the great commercial center Ephesus was looked upon by the pagans as one of their sacred cities its temple of Diana was famous throughout the world for its beauty although the worship of the Ephesian goddess appealed only to what is lowest and basest in man the time for the great annual festival was at hand pilgrims were thronging from far and near to take part in the revelry the tradesmen of the city were want to reap a rich harvest at these times especially the sculptors and silversmiths who made little statues and shrines of Diana these were largely bought by the citizens to carry home with them or to present to the goddess in her temple now it happened in this particular year that customers were fewer than usual Demetrius one of the leading silversmiths of the city had watched the growth of Christianity with unfriendly eyes the slackness of trade was all owing to these teachers of a new religion he declared and to their preaching against the worship of the gods gathering together his fellow tradesmen he told them that not only would they themselves be ruined by Paul and his companions but that the great goddess Diana the glory of their city was in danger of being dishonored his words were greeted with cries of indignation greatest Diana shouted the tradesmen rushing into the street where they were joined by all the idlers and vagabonds of Ephesus the screaming mob swept onwards towards a great theater carrying with them Gaines and Aristarchus two of Paul's companions half of them did not even know why they were there but gathering from the shouts of their companions that it had something to do with the worship of Diana they swelled the herb by shouting her name the Jews who were anxious to make it clear that they had nothing to do with Paul and his preaching put forward one of their party to address the mob but the people were not in a condition to make distinctions he was greeted by a fresh outburst and for two hours without ceasing the frenzy populace shouted together great is Diana of the Ephesians Paul having heard of the capture of his companions was for hastening at once to the spot but he was forcibly detained by the disciples those of the rulers who were friendly to the Christians had in the meantime sent messages urging him not to show himself in the city the town clerk who doubtless knew the temper of an Ephesian mob let the people scream till they were tired when for sheer exhaustion they were forced to stop he addressed them quietly who had ever doubted the greatness of their goddess he asked them if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen had anything against any man the courts of justice were open let them accuse him there in the meantime there were likely to get into serious trouble with Rome on account of this day's uproar so but by these words the citizens dispersed to their homes and peace was apparently restored but the fire was only smoldering and might break out again at any moment the Jews who much to their disgust were included by the pagans in their ill feeling against the Christians were ready to seize any occasion to vent their spite on Paul the only way to prevent a persecution of the disciples was for the apostle to disappear until the storm had blown over his soul was heavy with sorrow for messengers had arrived who brought him sad news of his dear Corinthian community there were quarrels and divisions amongst them some had slipped back into the evil habits of their pagan lives others were treating the sacred mysteries of the faith with irreverence having poured out his heart to them in a burning letter in which he urged them to return to their first fervor he sent Timothy before him to prepare the way for his own coming which could not be at once for he purpose to visit the churches of Macedonia on the way it only remained to take a sorrowful farewell of the disciples at Ephesus after which he set out for Chowas where he expected to meet with Titus here he found work to be done for Christ and remained a while to preach the faith Titus was not there the clouds closed in about his spirit and bodily sickness weighed upon the flesh where was Titus well Paul knew that to all his fellow workers busy in God service the martyrs death might come at any moment in stripes in prisons in seditions in labors in watchings in fastings this was the life of those who labored for the gospel of Christ who knew it better than he how was it with the church in Corinth had his letter done its work had they received Timothy in charity and in faith these were the thoughts that harassed him but could not hinder that intrepid spirit in his work he was following a crucified master to me to live is Christ and to die is gain in Macedonia whether he hastened as soon as he could leave the new disciples at Chowas he was met by Luke and Timothy accompanied by Erastus the treasurer one of the most eminent of his Corinthian converts they're also for the faithful disciple of the cross the cross was waiting our flesh had no rest he wrote to the Corinthians in his second letter we were troubled on every side his old enemies the Jews were as active as ever the pagans were persecuting the Christian communities most of all those false brethren who had disappeared so suddenly on his appearance in Galatia had found their way to Macedonia and where their old mischievous work again be circumcised and keep the law of Moses they argued otherwise you cannot be are equals we come from Jerusalem we know one drop of comfort came to sweeten the bitter cup his letter had touched the Corinthians to the heart they were ready to do all that he asked at once he dictated a second letter to Timothy praising them for their loyalty and bidding them persevere in the faith my lips open and my heart swells with the love I bear you this is my joy that you give me grounds for hoping all things from you he wrote in the gladness of his heart a few months later he was to be with them himself and the god of love and of peace was to unite them all once more in a bond that could never be broken end of chapter eight chapter nine of the life of saint Paul this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the life of saint Paul by Francis Alice Forbes chapter nine the fellowship of his sufferings from Corinth Paul had arranged to sail to Jerusalem carrying with him the contributions that he had caused to be collected for the mother church in all the Christian communities which he had founded by obeying thus the injunctions of the apostles to be mindful of the church in Jerusalem he hoped that the brotherly union might be established between his new converts and the Christians of Judea but the Jews of Corinth had not forgotten their grudge against the Apostle Gallio was still governor there was no hope from that quarter they resolved to manage matters for themselves they had plenty of money and they knew from experience that the consciences of pagans were not over delicate Paul was about to set sail what could be easier than to bribe the captain of the ship in which he took passage to see to it that he did not land dead men tell no tales and the sea keeps her secrets well fortunately Paul was warned in time giving up all thought of the sea passage he determined to take the land route through Macedonia the little band of disciples who had been chosen to accompany him to Jerusalem were sent on to await his arrival in Troas while Paul accompanied by Luke went northwards through Baroea and Thessalonica to Philippi from thence they took ship and came to Troas where they remained for seven days to the joy of the little church founded there by Paul after his hasty flight from Ephesus it was the night before his departure and the brethren were gathered together in an upper chamber for the breaking of the eucharistic bread in one of the windows open to the cool night air that a young disciple named Oetius there were many lost injunctions to be given at this far well meeting many dangers against which the little community must be warned many exhortations to stand fast in the face of Christ the room was crowded the air heated by many lamps grew warm and close a sudden outcry interrupted the discourse Oetius overcome by sleep had fallen from the window into the court below he was dead hastening to the spot Paul stretched himself upon the lifeless form and prayed be not afraid he said his soul is in him rising he returned to the upper chamber while the disciples brought the young men alive and were not a little comforted the bread of life was broken to the faithful and the last instructions given the sun was rising over the sea when Paul bade far well to his little flock and set off alone on his way to Asos where he was to meet his companions down the coast they sailed past the islands of Lesbos and Kios till they came to Miletus Paul in haste to reach his journey's end had determined not to land on Ephesus but now finding that it was the intention of the captain to remain for a few days at Miletus he sent word to the Ephesian elders to meet him there reminding them at what cost and amidst what dangers he had preached to them the gospel of Christ he told them that the spirit was calling him to Jerusalem God had made known to him he said that suffering and afflictions awaited him there but such things held no fear for him if so be it he might do his master's work and now he knew that they the beloved disciples to whom he had preached the kingdom should see his face no more let them therefore watch and take heed of the dangers which beset the church of Christ let them guard the flock committed to their care commanding them with words of love and tenderness to the God whom they served he knelt and prayed for the last time in their midst their grief broke out in tears and lamentations falling on the neck of Paul they kissed him grieving most of all for the word that he had said that they should see his face no more we tore ourselves away from them says Saint Luke the last thing that met their eyes as they sailed away from Miletus was the sorrowful little group on the seashore straining their eyes in one long lost look at the beloved face which was vanishing forever from their sight in Venice the travelers found a ship that was crossing direct to Syria in which they took passage landing a tire where the vessel was to discharge her cargo they visited the Christians in the city the presentiment of coming evil had made itself felt there also but Paul was deaf to their entreaties to give up the journey to Jerusalem at Caesarea they left the ship for their intention was to continue the journey by land and spent some days in the house of Philip the Deacon the friend and companion of Saint Stephen hearing of their arrival Agabus the prophet who long years ago had foretold the coming of the famine came down from the mountains of Judea entering the assembly of the brethren he took Paul's girdle and was it bound his own hands and feet so said he shall the man who owns this girdle be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles the solemn repetition of a warning so often heard before made a deep impression on the disciples crowding round Saint Paul they besought him not to leave them of what use was it they asked to go open-eyed into the danger what are you doing he cried weeping and breaking my heart I am ready not only to be bound but to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus the will of the Lord be done they answered in sorrow they might break his heart but they could not move that said fast will it was of no use to fight against God one thing at least they could do to help him Manos on the Kiprian an old disciple had a house in Jerusalem he with a few of the brethren would go with them that they might have at least a safe lodging during their stay amidst sad forebodings Paul took leave of his friends in Caesarea and the little party set out in food the brethren received as gladly says Saint Luke Peter was absent probably in Rome and Mark and Silas were with him James alone of the twelve seems to have been in Jerusalem the elders having met together Paul told them in detail the results of his ministry amongst the Gentiles the pastors of the church rejoiced openly at the good news to them God's hand was manifest in the works that had been done and yet their hearts were troubled they knew too well that many of the Jewish converts in Jerusalem looked with envious and unfriendly eyes at Paul's proceedings even the little band of disciples who surrounded him were mostly converted Gentiles and would be a cause of offense to these men it was Saint James himself who suggested a plan by which he hoped to disarm these hostile critics let Paul do something to prove that he did not as his enemies asserted despise the law several of the poorer brethren having taken the necessary to owe were unable to pay for the sacrifices which were necessary in order that they might fulfill its obligations let Paul bestow on them the necessary means and so perform a charitable and pious action that was looked upon by every Jew as praiseworthy Paul was ready to do anything in reason to promote peace to be all things to all men that he might gain souls to Christ he agreed at once to the proposal losing no time he went next day to the temple with the four Christians and having purified himself made all necessary arrangements with the priests there he remained for seven days taking part in the prayers and sacrifices of his companions now it happened at this very time that there were in Jerusalem certain Asiatic Jews from those very synagogues whose persecutions had so embittered Paul's stay at Ephesus they had met him soon after his arrival in company with Trophimus one of his Ephesian converts and had passed him with a scowl of hatred catching sight of him at prayer in the court of the Israelites which it was death for a Gentile to enter they jumped to the conclusion that Trophimus was there also this Paul was capable of any insult to the law he had of course taken his Gentile convert with him into the holy place so at all events they choose to assume rushing into the outer court they raised an outcry that the temple was being profaned by this man who despises the law in a few moments the place was crowded with angry Jews who falling upon Paul and beating him furiously dragged him out of all the sacred enclosure it would have been all over with the Apostle had not Claudius Lysias the Roman tribune who was in command of the fortress of Antonia hearing the tumult hastened to bring a band of soldiers to the rescue having rescued Paul the tribune asked who he was and what he had done some shouted one thing some another kill him kill him they yelled pressing threateningly on the soldiers as they began to move towards the fortress carrying Paul with them when they had reached the foot of the staircase which led into the castle Paul bent towards the tribune who was marching at his side may I speak to you he asked in Greek Lysias was greatly astonished for he had concluded that his prisoner was an Egyptian adventurer who had lately caused a riot in the city who are you then he asked I am a Jew from Tarsus a citizen of no mean city replied Paul I beg you to let me speak to the people the tribune ascending he turned and faced his enemies for he was now in safety above the heads of the raging crowd brethren and fathers he said for he had caught sight of some of the members of the sun had reigned amongst them all listen I beseech you to what I have to say he had been he assured them as great a zealot for the law as any of them if he had changed his opinion it was through the revelation of God recounting his early life his conversion at Damascus and the events which followed he came at last to his mission to the Gentiles at this word the storm broke out again more furiously than ever the mob below went mad they tore their garments and threw dust into the air shaking their fists and riding their teeth at their enemy away with him they cried he is not fit to live the tribune hurried Paul into the fortress and having shut the door paid the soldiers scorch him is it lawful to scorch a Roman citizen asked Paul quietly of the centurion who was binding him to the stake the man's hands fell he hurried to the tribune and warned him to be careful Lysias was utterly at a loss he questioned the prisoner and found his statement to be true what was to be done the only way to get to the bottom of this affair he has last concluded was to bring his captive before the Sanhedrin he would guard him well however for he had had experience of the temper of the Jews the council therefore assembled and Paul was brought in it was easy to see what court to see injustice awaited him here strike him on the mouth cried Ananias the high priest as soon as he opened his lips a quarrel soon broke out between the Sadducees and the Pharisees somewhere against him some in his favor the discussion grew so furious that Lysias fearing lest Paul should be torn to pieces ordered the soldiers to carry him back again to the fortress the shades of night closed in on the city over which Christ had wept Paul lay on his prison bed heart sick and weary suddenly the darkness grew luminous and his lord stood beside him be of good courage he said as though has borne witness of me in Jerusalem so must though also do in Rome before the day had dawned 40 of the Jews meeting together had bound themselves by a fearful oath neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul a scheme by which they hoped to get the prisoner into their hands came to the ears of Paul's nephew who was in Jerusalem going straight to the castle the young man asked to see Paul who had him taken to the tribune the plot was revealed to Lysias who determined to get his prisoner away as quickly and as quietly as possible Felix the governor of Judea was at Caesarea he might be able to settle this troublesome matter having written him a letter explaining what had happened he sent Paul secretly away in the dead of night guarded by a large body of soldiers end of chapter nine