the Jews saw that the whole city was thronging to hear Paul, they were moved with envy, they contradicted Paul and "blasphemed." Then Paul boldly declared his intention of turning to the Gentiles and defended his course by an apt quotation of Scripture. By the Gentiles his message was gladly received, yet not by all. Luke intends his readers to understand that in no place will there be universal acceptance of the gospel, either by Gentiles or Jews; only "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." Even the apparent popularity of the missionaries was but temporary. The Jews aroused the whole city against the apostles and they were compelled to flee to Iconium; but they went with joy. Opposition and persecution are the continual experiences of missionaries, but the Lord is with them, and they rejoice that sinners are being saved.

c. Paul at Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Ch. 14

1 And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about: 7 and there they preached the gospel.

8 And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. 9 The same heard Paul speaking: who, fastening his eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, 10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked. 11 And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter;

and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes. 14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: 16 who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 And yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.

19 But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Inconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, 22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. 24 And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia; 26 and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. 27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And they tarried no little time with the disciples.

The course of Paul at Iconium illustrates two points of missionary strategy which might have been noted earlier in connection with this memorable journey: first, Paul went to the larger cities and there planted churches, de

signing to reach the outlying districts from these chief centers of influence; secondly, he moved along the line of least resistance and entered every open door, going first to his own countrymen in their synagogues, but when rejected turning to the Gentiles. Here at Iconium the opposition was more severe than it had been at Antioch, and here by contrast the manifestation of divine power was greater, and "signs and wonders" were done by the hands of the apostles. This has often been the experience of Christian workers; when difficulties increase, there is a comforting revelation of the grace and mercy and goodness of God.

When a plot was formed against their lives, Paul and Barnabas fled eastward to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe. Is this the proper course for missionaries to take in the face of danger? This only circumstances can determine. At times it is best to suffer as martyrs; at other times to seek safety and to resume work when the storm is spent.

At

At Lystra, Paul gives an admirable example of the necessary adaptation of the missionary message to the people to whom it is presented, not in altering its essence, but in the method of approach. This second reported sermon of Paul's must be compared with the first. Its occasion is remarkably similar to that of Peter's "second sermon." In each case a cripple, hopelessly lame, is instantly cured, and the miracle attracts a wondering multitude. Lystra the people are so impressed that they are about to offer sacrifices to the apostles as to gods; Paul they suppose to be Mercury, and Barnabas, Jupiter. To this excited throng of pagans Paul addresses himself. He does not begin now by appealing to Scripture, of which his hearers are of course totally ignorant, but by telling them of God whose power and love are manifested in the works of nature and providence. In view of the goodness of such a living and true God, Paul calls his hearers to repentance, and prepares the way for his message concerning Christ the Saviour.

His message, however, is allowed to have little effect. A mob of jealous Jews from Iconium arrive on the scene

and stir up the pagans to make common cause with them against the apostles. Paul is stoned, and dragged out of the city and left as dead; but as his faithful followers stand by, they are rejoiced to see him rise and return fearlessly to the hostile city. On the morrow, however, he leaves with Barnabas for Derbe, where his preaching results in the establishing of a Christian Church.

Luke now sketches hastily the return of the apostles, as they retrace their steps through Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, and Perga, and as they sail from Attalia to report to the home church by which they have been sent forth. He pauses, however, to lay stress on one essential point of missionary strategy, namely, the careful organization of the churches which have been formed on the field. Evangelization, in the case of Paul, did not consist in a mere, superficial, hasty heralding of the gospel, but in establishing a permanent work. At great personal risk he revisited the new converts, comforting them, instructing them, and seeing that "elders" were appointed for them "in every church." A proper missionary program has as its aim the establishment on the field of self-governing, self-sustaining, self-propagating churches. This was ever the purpose and the practice of Paul.

2. The Council at Jerusalem. Ch. 15: 1-35

1 And certain men came down from Judæa and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.

6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them,

Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.

12 And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying,

Brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 After these things I will return,

And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen;

And I will build again the ruins thereof,

And I will set it up:

17 That the residue of men may seek after the Lord,

And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,

18 Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.

19 Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God; 20 but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: 24 Foras