The Bible Story Part 270

What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this set I forth unto you. The G.o.d that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and he made of one people every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek G.o.d, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he is not far from each one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said,--

'For we are also his offspring.'

Being then the offspring of G.o.d, we ought not to think that the G.o.dhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by {408} art and device of man. The times of ignorance therefore G.o.d overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: inasmuch as he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given a.s.surance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, "We will hear thee concerning this yet again."

Thus Paul went out from among them. But certain men were drawn to him, and believed: among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

V

TENTMAKING IN CORINTH.

_A Roman Officer Champions the New Faith_.

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth. There he found a certain Jew named Aquila, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He became acquainted with them; and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they worked together; for by their trade they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

RUINS AT CORINTH.

Photograph taken by Rev. Frank L. Goodspeed, Ph.D., of Springfield, Ma.s.s., and used by his kind permission.

"By virtue of her situation on 'the bridge of the seas,' Corinth became the common resort and the universal market of the Greeks. Her population and wealth were further augmented by the manufactures in metallurgy, dyeing, and porcelain, which grew up in connection with her commerce. The wealth, luxury, and profligacy of Corinth were proverbial in the ancient world."

[End ill.u.s.tration]

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But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul gave attention to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment, and said unto them, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles."

And he departed thence, and went into the house of a certain man named t.i.tus Justus, one who worshiped G.o.d, whose house was close to the synagogue. And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee: for I have much people in this city."

And he dwelt there a year and six months, teaching the word of G.o.d among them.

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul, and brought him before the judgment seat, saying, "This man persuadeth men to worship G.o.d contrary to the law."

But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, "If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villainy, O ye Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you: but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; I am not minded to be a judge of these matters."

And he drove them from the judgment seat. And they all laid hold of Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and {412} beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of these things.

And Paul, having tarried after this yet many days, took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchreae: for he had a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. And when they asked him to abide a longer time, he consented not; but taking his leave of them, and saying, "I will return again unto you, if G.o.d will," he set sail from Ephesus.

And when he had landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and saluted the church, and went down to Antioch.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE VALE OF TEMPE.

On the slopes of Olympus.

From a photograph belonging to Smith College, and used by special permission.

"The shepherds on the heights above the vale of Tempe may have watched the sails of Paul's ship as it moved like a speck over the waters of the Thermaic Gulf."--_Howson_ [End ill.u.s.tration]

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Map of land around the Mediterranean Sea showing Paul's journey.

[End ill.u.s.tration]

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THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

After brief visits at _Jerusalem_ and _Antioch_, Paul started by the land route for Galatia. After revisiting the churches there he came through central Asia Minor to _Ephesus_. For two years Paul made this great city the center of missionary effort. After the great riot in _Ephesus_, which interrupted his plans, Paul set sail on a coasting vessel for _Macedonia_, changing ship at _Troas_. Thence he sailed for _Philippi_ and remained three months with the Macedonian churches. Then he went to _Corinth_, where he stayed three months more. At the opening of navigation in the spring he sailed again for _Macedonia_, visiting _Philippi_. From Philippi he started on a long and tedious voyage by coasting vessel, bound for Jerusalem. He touched on the voyage at _Troas, a.s.sos, Mitylene, Samos, Trogyllium, Miletus, Cos, Rhodes, Patara_. These are towns on the islands and along the coast of Asia Minor. The ship made slow progress, doing a coasting trade no doubt, and waiting for favorable winds. At Patara they found a big merchantman bound directly for Tyre, calling only at Myra. Before the strong west wind the ship made a good run out of sight of land from coast to coast except when the southern sh.o.r.es of Cyprus were pa.s.sed. After a few days'

stop at Tyre, the ship went on to _Caesarea_, stopping at _Ptolemais_.

Then Paul went up to Jerusalem, and the great third missionary campaign was over.

Companions: Various disciples.

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I

FAR AND WIDE BY LAND AND SEA.

"_I Must Also See Rome_."

After having spent some time at Antioch, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, stablishing all the disciples.

And it came to pa.s.s, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having pa.s.sed through the upper country came to Ephesus. His preaching here had great effect. And not a few of them that practiced curious arts brought their books together, and burned them in the sight of all: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.

Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had pa.s.sed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."

And having sent into Macedonia two of his companions who ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

II

A RIOT IN EPHESUS

"_Great is Diana of the Ephesians!_"