Ancient Apostles - free ebook by David O. (David Oman) McKay

ANCIENT APOSTLES

WRITTEN FOR THE DESERET SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION By David O. McKay General Superintendent Second Edition Salt Lake City, Utah 1921...

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PREFACE

"Ancient Apostles" is written as one of the series of text books prepared for use in the Sunday Schools of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its purpose is to give a simple account of the leading incidents in the lives of the chief Apostles of Christ in the Holy Land, with the view of developing faith in the hearts of the children in the principles of the Gospel, and in the divine organization of the Church. Prominent traits of character in the different disciples are pointed out

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PART ONE Peter and His Associates

I. "Light-Fountains" II. Early Life and Surroundings John the Baptist, Andrew, John III. A Period of Preparation Jesus, James and John, Sons of Zebedec; Andrew IV. A Special Witness Names of the Twelve V. Peter's Faith Tested VI. Peter's Testimony VII. A Marvelous Manifestation Moses and Elias VIII. Lessons in True Leadership IX. On the Night of the Betrayal X. Out of Gloom Into Light XI. A True Leader and Valiant Defender Matthias XII. Peter and John Arrested XIII. Persecuted But Undismayed Gam

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PART TWO

XVIII. James, the Son of Zebedee Salome, Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of Jesus; the first martyr, Apostle...

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PART THREE John the Beloved Disciple

XIX. With the Redeemer XX. With Peter and the Twelve XXI. Closing Scenes of His Ministry...

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PART FOUR Paul and His Companions

XXII. Saul of Tarsus Gamaliel XXIII. Saul's Conversion Ananias XXIV. In Another School Barnabas XXV. Special Messengers to Jerusalem Agabus, John Mark ... XXVI. First Missionary Journey XXVII. First Missionary Journey— Continued At Lystia and Derbe Timothy, Eunice, Lois XXVIII. A Great Controversy XXIX. Paul Begins His Second Missionary Journey Silas, Luke XXX. At Philippi Lydia XXXI. At Thessalonica and Berea Jason XXXII. At Athens and Corinth Aquilla and Priscilla, Crispus, Justus XXXIII. Thir

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LESSON 1

"LIGHT-FOUNTAINS" "No man has come to true greatness who has not felt in some degree that his life belongs to his race, and that what God gives him He gives him for mankind." "If any man seek for greatness, let him forget greatness and ask for truth, and he will find both." "Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good, and partaking of God's holiness." Influence of Great Men. Everybody likes to read and to hear about great men. Children, and grown people, too, delight to learn how th

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SIMON'S NAME CHANGED

Simon Hears John the Baptist. Soon after Simon had grown to manhood there came a man from the wilderness of Jordan, clothed only in camel's hair and a leathern girdle about his loins, but preaching with such mighty power that people from "Judea and all the regions round about" came to hear him. This great preacher was John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. Among those who came to hear him was Simon, who, no doubt, rejoiced to hear this preacher of Repentance declare that the Son of Man was

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Home in Capernaum

Peter's Views of the Messiah. From the moment Peter met Jesus, his views of life were changed. Up to that time, he had looked for the coming of the King of the Jews as an event the indefinite future. With other Jews, he had anticipated that the Savior's coming would be marked by wonderful manifestations, and that, clad in purple robes, and attended by many angels. He would come in mighty power, and in one divine expression of His wrath, strike the Roman shackles from the conquered Jewish nation.

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A Lesson in Obedience

On Shores of Galilee. One beautiful morning, several months after the events narrated in the previous lesson, and a short time following His rejection from Nazareth, Jesus was preaching to a multitude on the shores of Galilee. Peter and Andrew were busy near-by washing their nets, after having spent all night on the lake in a futile attempt to catch some fish. "And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Jesus to hear the word of God, He stood by the lake of Gennesaret, "And saw two sh

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A MEMORABLE SABBATH.[5]

After Jesus had been rejected from His own city, Nazareth, He "came down to Capernaum, and taught them on the Sabbath days." Service in Synagogue. The last part of a service in the synagogue in those days was the expounding of the scriptures, and preaching from them to the people. This was done not always by an officer but by some distinguished person who might be in the congregation. Of course, Jesus was known all around by this time as a great teacher, a worker of miracles, and an able interpr

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Another Week of Preparation

Sunday Morning. Before daylight came, however, Jesus arose quietly, and walked out into the morning air, sought a quiet, "solitary" place, and there prayed. "His pure thoughts were borne Like fumes of sacred incense o'er the clouds, And wafted them on angels' wings, to ways Of light, to the bright source of all." Peter must have been surprised when upon going to greet Jesus with a bright "Good-morning," he found the guest-chamber empty. Perhaps he guessed where Jesus had gone; for we are

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AT MATTHEW'S FEAST

One day Jesus and the Twelve accepted an invitation to Matthew's house, a circumstance that made the Pharisees much offended because Jesus ate "with publicans and the sinners. While Jesus and the Twelve were still at the feast, and Jesus was answering the charge of the Pharisees, Jairus "Behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the Synagogue, Jairus, by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, and besought him greatly saying, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death; I pray thee,

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THE AFFLICTED WOMAN

Faith of an Afflicted Woman. "And much people followed him, and thronged him." [ 4 ] In this crowd was a woman who had been suffering for twelve years from a sore that could not be healed. The blood had wasted for so long a time that she was weak, and she was very poor, for "she had spent all she had" trying to get cured. She had heard of Jesus and of His power to heal the sick, and she had such faith that she said to herself, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be made whole." As Jesus pas

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JAIRUS' LITTLE DAUGHTER

Jairus' Daughter Dead. While Jesus was yet speaking to the now blessed and happy woman, and while Peter and his fellow councilmen and the multitude gazed in wonder, "there cometh one from the ruler of the Synagogue's house, saying to him, 'Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.'" Poor Jairus! He had hurried from the bedside of his little girl only a half hour or so ago to plead with Jesus of Nazareth to come and save his little daughter. The Divine Physician had started immediately, but i

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PETER'S FIRST MISSION

However, the time had come when he was sufficiently instructed to be able to go on a mission, "And Jesus called unto Him the Twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two;" [ 8 ] Peter's Commission. "And commanded them saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and as ye go preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out de

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A TEMPESTUOUS SEA

A Storm. During the night, while Jesus was yet praying, a great storm arose, which stirred the lake into a seething mass of billows. From the mountain Jesus could see His disciples battling with the sea, but unable to make much headway, although they could not see Him. When the ship was about thirty furlongs (four miles) from the shore, Jesus decided to go into it. It was now past midnight, and the disciples were still struggling in the midst of the heaving sea. Jesus on the Water. Imagine their

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ANOTHER TEST

In Capernaum. Next morning, the people in Capernaum who knew that Peter and the other disciples had left the opposite shore without Jesus, were very much astonished to see Him in their midst, and said, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? "Ye seek me," answered Jesus, "not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." Lord, save me. "Lord, save me." "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of

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TRIBUTE

An Ancient Law. In those days, there was a tax levied upon every male Jew of twenty years old and upwards for the maintenance of the Temple and its services. This law had been in force ever since the days of the children of Israel when the great lawgiver, Moses, said a "half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord." [ 1 ] Matthew tells us that "When they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money, came to Peter and said, "Doth not your Master pay tribute?" [ 2 ] "Yes," promptly an

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A LESSON IN FORGIVENESS

About this same time, Peter asked the question: "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?" [ 3 ] Perhaps Peter had already been required to settle some difficulty between angry men, or it may be that he had been provoked during a dispute that arose among the disciples as to who was the greatest among them. If some one had taunted him several times about his being the greatest, it is quite probable that his patience was exhausted. At any rate, he wanted

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THE REWARD OF SACRIFICE

The Rich Young Ruler One day Peter and others listened to a conversation between their Lord and a rich young ruler. He was a young man, rich, and, as painted by the old masters, very handsome. But with all, he had kept himself morally clean, and desired to get eternal life. [ 6 ] But his heart was set upon his riches; so when the Savior said, "Sell all thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me," the young ruler went away very sorrowful.

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A LESSON IN FAITH

It was probably on Tuesday of the last week that Jesus spent with His apostles, that Peter called attention to the result of a divine curse. The Barren Fig Tree. A day or so before this, Jesus had gone out of His way to get some figs from a tree that stood some distance off. When he found that the tree bore no fruit He said it should never bear fruit again. On this Tuesday morning as the disciples were passing by, "they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots." "And Peter calling to remembrance

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IN THE UPPER ROOM

On Thursday of the Passion Week, Jesus called Peter and John to Him, and said: "Go, and prepare us the passover, that we may eat." [ 1 ] The Passover. The Passover, you remember, is the name given to the feast established to commemorate the time when the destroying angel passed over the houses of the Hebrews, which had been marked by the blood of the lamb. At this festsival, a lamb was killed, and called the Paschal Lamb. It was on the day that "the passover must be killed" that Peter and John w

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LOYALTY AS PETER FELT IT

After the traitor went out into the night—oh such a night for him! Jesus continued to teach and to comfort the Eleven. Love One Another. "A new commandment I give unto you," He said, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Among other things, He said, referring to His approaching death, "Whither I go ye cannot come." This stirred Peter's love and he inquired, "Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now? I will lay down my life for Thy sake." [ 4 ] Peter to Be Trie

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LOYALTY AS PETER ACTED IT

Gethsemane. Later in the night, the company left the upper room, crossed the brook Kedron, and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, on the west side of the Mount of Olives. Bidding eight of the Eleven to remain together. He took the other three, Peter, James, and John, apart. His soul "was exceeding sorrowful even unto death." He said, "Tarry ye here, and watch with me." "Not My Will but Thine be Done." Soon He withdrew a little from them, and prayed. The Apostles could see Him, perhaps could hear

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WEAKNESS BRINGS MISERY

While Peter was standing by the stove warming himself, a girl came in, and recognizing him as one who had been with Jesus, said, "Thou, also wast with Jesus of Galilee." In a Moment of Weakness. "I know not what thou sayest," said Peter before them all. He then stepped out on the porch, perhaps to cool his burning conscience or to try to collect himself to know what best to do. A man seeing him there cried out, "This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth." "I do not know the man," said Simon; and

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THE FISHERMAN BECOMES THE SHEPHERD

On Sea of Tiberias. Several days after this, Peter and six other disciples were back on the sea of Tiberias, fishing. They were in Galilee, evidently waiting to meet the Lord there as He had promised. One evening, as if Peter had almost despaired of waiting, he said to the others, "I'm going a fishing." "We also go with thee," said they. They entered into a boat immediately, and let down their nets. They toiled all night, and caught nothing, just as some of them had done on a memorable occasion

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AN APOSTLE CHOSEN

A New Apostle Chosen. On one of these occasions, there were present one hundred and twenty people, "all engaged in prayer and supplication." Peter arose in their midst and said it was necessary to choose a man who had been faithful in following the Savior to take the place of the traitor, Judas, in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. There were two names suggested, Joseph called Barsabas, and Matthias. Knowing that the Lord should choose the men who were to be His special witnesses, they prayed, sayi

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THE DAY OF PENTECOST

The Holy Ghost. Before nine o'clock in the morning, ten days after the Saviors' ascension, and fifty days after the Passover associated with the crucifixion, the apostles held a memorable meeting. As they sat "with one acord in one place" "suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." Thus came the baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost as Christ had promised. The Comforter about which their Master had so often spoken had a

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THE MAN WHO HAD NEVER WALKED.

The General Meeting Place. About three o'clock one afternoon Peter and John were going up to the Temple to pray. Here they came every day to meet in one accord with the saints, and then visit "from house to house; breaking bread." Thus the Temple seems to have been the general meeting place for the first followers of the Redeemer. It was His house, and there they liked to gather to worship. The main entrance to the Temple was by way of "Solomon's Porch" through a gate that was called "The beauti

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DANGERS WITHIN THE FOLD

Unconverted. But these leaders had to contend not only with enemies outside the Church but with the scheming, dishonest people who stole their way into the fold. There were men and women who had not repented of their sins before they were baptized; so they did not receive the Holy Ghost. Two of these were Ananias and his wife Sapphira. Everybody who joined the Church had everything in common. Those who had land and other property sold it and brought the money to the apostles. There were no rich

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LESSON 14

A SPECIAL VISIT TO SAMARIA Deacons. As the membership of the Church increased, men were called and ordained to various offices in the work of the ministry. Besides the Apostles, there were Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Deacons, etc. Among the first to be chosen and ordained to a particular office of service in the Church were "seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom." Their names were, Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas. They are called Deac

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PART TWO—JAMES

JAMES, THE SON OF ZEBEDEE "Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well thy part, there all the honor lies." "Honor is not a matter of any man's calling merely; but rather of his own actions in it." Among the devoted women who followed Jesus in Galilee, who ministered unto Him, and watched with anxious care and sorrow the progress of the trials in Jerusalem, was a noble mother named Salome. With Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jesus and Joses, she stood "beholding afar off" the cr

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PART THREE—JOHN

WITH THE REDEEMER "Modesty is a shining light; it prepares the mind to receive knowledge, and the heart for truth." "Humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues." Modesty. In the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, we read that two disciples of John the Baptist heard their master bear witness to the divinity of Jesus. Said the Baptist, referring to Jesus walking alone in the distance, "Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." One of the two disciples

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PART FOUR—PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS.

SAUL OF TARSUS "Good company, and good discourses are the very sinews of virtue." A Benjaminite. At the time that Peter and Andrew, James and John were boys playing in Bethsaida, on the shores of Galilee, there was another bright, clever little lad playing and studying in a town about three hundred miles from them, whom they were to know in after years, first as a bitter enemy and afterwards as a friend and brother. This boy's name was Saul, and he lived in Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia. He was

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HIS FLIGHT FROM DAMASCUS

No sooner had he returned to the city of his conversion, than he began to preach again in the synagogues. Again the Jews began to dispute him, and again he confounded them. Day after day, and week after week the religious controversy continued until the Jews could stand it no longer, and "took council to kill him." Every Gate Guarded. Around the city of Damascus was a high wall, and no one could go in or out except through the gates. Therefore, when the Jews decided to kill Saul, the first thing

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WITH THE DISCIPLES IN JERUSALEM

Returns to Jerusalem. Three years before, he left Jerusalem as an officer of the Sanhedrin, bearing a special commission, and accompanied by attendants and officers. He left with enmity in his heart for every person who professed to believe in Jesus Christ. Now he journeys back alone, rejected by those whom he had served, a fugitive from the Jews who, a few years before, awaited to welcome him as a hero! But Saul is happier now alone as he is than when he went in pomp to arrest God's servants. A

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CALLED TO ASSIST BARNABAS

During the persecution in which Stephen was martyred, the Saints scattered to different places, and where ever they went, they preached the Glad Tidings of Great Joy. "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord." Christians. A large number of these converts gathered in Antioch and it was there as you already know that the Saints were first called Christians. It was first applied to them in derision just as the word "Mormon" was first applied to t

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LESSON 25

SPECIAL MESSENGERS TO JERUSALEM "God has so ordered that men, being in need of each other, should learn to love each other, and bear each other's burdens." "To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is God-like." Agabus. While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch, there came "prophets from Jerusalem," one of whom was named Agabus. He is thought to have been one of the Seventy chosen by the Savior; but just what priesthood and what position in the Church he held we do not know for certain. But he

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AT PAPHOS

Governor Hears Gospel. On the southwestern coast of Cyprus was the chief city of the island named Paphos. Here is where the Roman governor, or, as Luke says, the "deputy of the country," lived. As was their custom, soon after the missionaries entered the city they proclaimed their message to the people. When the governor, Sergius Paulus, heard about them, he "called for Barnabas and Paul, and desired to hear the word of God." Luke says he was "a prudent man," so we conclude that he was sincere i

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ELYMAS THE SORCERER

A Sorcerer Rejects Gospel. But there was living in the deptuy-house at the time a man who was not sincere, and who claimed to be a sorcerer. He rejected Paul's message, and opposed his teachings. Bar-Jesus was his right name, and he was a Jew, and a false prophet. Paul read his wicked heart, and knew that because of selfishness and love of money he rejected the Gospel. "Then Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him and said, O full of subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the dev

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IN PAMPHYLIA

A Missionary Returns. From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed northward to Perga in Pamphylia. At this place something happened about which we wish we knew more. All that Luke says about it is this: "And John departing from there returned to Jerusalem." We know that later, this circumstance became a matter of sharp dispute between Barnabas and Paul, but just why John wished to return we are not informed. Perhaps he had not intended to travel so far; or it may be that matters at home needed h

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IN PISIDIA

Through Mountain Passes. From Perga in Pamphylia, Paul and Barnabas continued north to Antioch in Pisidia. Day after day, these two missionaries traveled on foot through a mountainous region, where very few people resided. Sometimes, perhaps, they could find lodging with some shepherd, but more often, they would sleep in caves or among the trees. But they had a message of salvation in their hearts and so were happy. After about seven days of wearisome and dangerous travel, they reached Antioch i

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IN ICONIUM

Again in Synagogue. Filled with the joy that comes from true service to one's fellowmen, Paul and Barnabas began their preaching in Iconium. Entering the synagogue here, as they had done in the city from which they had just been driven, they spoke "boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands." Again Opposed. Jews and Greeks also rallied around the standard as unfurled by these great missionaries; but Jews and Greeks a

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LESSON 27

FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY—Continued AT LYSTRA AND DERBE "Outward attacks and troubles rather fix than unsettle the Christian, as tempests from without only serve to root the oak more firmly in the ground." "As sure as ever God puts His children in the furnace, He will be in the furnace with them." Among the Heathen. At Lystra, Paul and Barnabas found a people who were almost entirely heathen for they worshiped Jupiter and Mercury and other false deities, and knew little or nothing about the true

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THE QUESTION AGITATED

The Church Agitated. But there were many Jews in the Church who did not believe this, and the only condition on which they would accept a Gentile was that he should obey the Jewish religion also. When this class of Christians heard that Paul and Barnabas had baptized hundreds of Gentiles, they became very much agitated in their feelings, and some of them went to Antioch and began to preach, first privately then publicly, that unless the Gentiles obeyed a certain Jewish rite, they could not be sa

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MESSENGERS SENT TO JERUSALEM

Messengers to Jerusalem. So it was "determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question." The Church in Antioch evidently believed Paul and Barnabas to be in the right, for when they started on their journey they were escorted on their way by the Church. As they passed through Syro-Phoenecia and Samaria, and told the Saints who greeted them how the Gentiles had been converted, they "caused great joy unto all the

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IN COUNCIL WITH THE LEADERS

Titus. He first met in council with Peter, James and John, and received for the first time, so far as we know, "the right hand of fellowship" from John the beloved disciple. Titus was with Paul as an example of those who were Gentile converts. An Appeal to the Presidency. This visit was really an appeal to the Presidency of the Twelve, and confirms the belief of the members of the Church today that Peter, James and John were appointed leaders at that time just as three High Priests are now chose

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PAUL RETURNS TO ANTIOCH

Judas and Silas. Thus the controversy ended, and Paul's mission to the Gentiles was authoritatively approved. When he started back to Antioch he was accompanied by Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, "chief men among the brethren." It seems that John Mark went with them also. They carried with them the decree of the council to be read to the churches that had been so disturbed by the controversy. When they reached Antioch, the whole body of the church met together, to hear the decision of the cou

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PROBABLE VISIT TO PAUL'S OLD HOME

These two missionaries started by land northward through "Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches." They had with them, of course, the decision of the Council which no doubt, gave a great deal of comfort to the Christian Gentiles in these branches. Paul and Silas. Just what particular cities Paul and Silas visited in Syria and Cilicia, we do not know; but there was one which Paul certainly would not pass by. Paul and That was his old home town Tarsus. If he had succeeded in establishing a chu

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AT DERBE AND OTHER TOWNS

Derbe First. On his first mission, Paul and Barnabas visited in order Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, Now he and Silas approach these towns from the opposite direction, and come to Derbe first, then to Lystra, then to Iconium. Welcome at Lystra. At Lystra he was welcomed by that beautiful character Eunice who was a Jewess, the mother of Timothy. Lois, her mother, would also greet Paul, and extend the glad hand to his companion Silas....

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CALL AND ORDINATION OF TIMOTHY

Timothy True to Faith. From the brethren at Iconium and Lystra, Paul learned that these good women and their noble young son Timothy had been true to the faith. He already knew that Timothy had been instructed from childhood to repeat the scripture and to live a pure life. Timothy had been one who had stood by him when the mob dragged him from the city and left him for dead, and now he finds still in the young man's heart the "unfeigned faith which first dwelt in his grandmother Lois, and his mo

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LYDIA

First in Europe to Accept Gospel. In the group that listened to the wonderful message was "a certain woman named Lydia," who lived in Thyatira, but who was then in Philippi attending to her business connected with the dyeing trade. She sold purple dyes used by the rich and the nobility. The Lord gave her a testimony of the truth as Paul explained it, and she applied for baptism. She and "her household" were admitted into membership that day. If Lydia was the first one baptized, then she has the

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THE DAMSEL WITH THE SPIRIT OF DIVINATION

Evil Spirit Rebuked. One day when the elders were going out to the place of prayer, they met an unfortunate woman who caused them no little annoyance. She was a damsel who seemed to be "possessed by some spirit of divination" which her masters (for she had more than one) used for making money. When she would meet the elders, she would cry out: "These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation." After she had done this on several different days, Paul became

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SCOURGED AND IMPRISONED

The "Inner Prison." With their hands tied, and their backs bared to the whip, the elders were beaten "with many stripes." Bleeding and faint they were then taken to the prison. As the jailor received them, he was ordered to "keep them safely." Hearing this order and thinking the prisoners must be wicked men indeed, the jailor took them and "thrust them into the inner prison." The inner prison of a Roman jail was a dark, damp, gloomy dungeon. One writer calls it a "pestilential cell, damp and col

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HIS CONVERSION

An All-Important Question. Perhaps he had heard what the damsel had said, that "These men are the servants of the most high God;" it may be that he had heard them preach, or at least had been told by others what they preached. Probably the earthquake itself had convinced him that these men not only were innocent, but were servants of God. At any rate, he cried out: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" That is the question everybody should ask, and the answer, when truthfully given, everybody shou

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THE STORM GATHERS

A Mob. But when the unbelieving Jews saw great numbers accepting this new Gospel, they became very jealous and angry. They went among a low, ignorant class of the citizens, "certain lewd fellows of the baser sort," and told them that these Christians are setting the whole world in an uproar, and ought to be driven out of the town. So they gathered a mob, and surrounded the house of Jason where the elders lodged. Missionaries Warned. But, fortunately, Paul and Silas were not in, and could not be

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AT BEREA

Many Accept Gospel. Persecution and suffering could no more stop these inspired workers from preaching the Gospel than it could stop them from breathing; so as soon as they arrived at Berea, "they went into the synagogue of the Jews." The Jews here were more noble than those in Thessalonica, and would reason from the scripture, which was the Old Testament, kept in sacred rolls in the synagogue. So we conclude that the Bereans, not only listened attentively to what the missionaries told them but

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THE STORMS FOLLOWS THEM

As the Jews had gone once before from Iconium to Lystra, so they came now from Thessalonica to Berea, "like hunters upon their prey," and "stirred up the people." Silas and Timothy Remain. But the seeds of truth had taken root in the rich soil, and while the storm of persecution threatened to deluge Paul, it served only to strengthen and vitalize the Gospel field. Paul Escapes. Leaving Silas and Timothy to continue the work, to bless and encourage the Saints, Paul became once more a fugitive and

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AT THE CLOSE OF THE SECOND MISSION

Alone in Corinth. It is probable that Timothy joined Paul in Athens; but if so, he returned immediately to the churches in Macedonia. Thus it was that Paul sailed from Athens alone, and having landed at the seaport of Cenchrea, walked eighteen miles to Corinth. Here he found many Greeks and Jews. There were crowds also of strangers who came to see the great games and races for which Corinth was noted. Corinth, at that time, was a great commercial center, and merchantmen and other traders from fa

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APOLLOS

An Eloquent Preacher. While Paul and Timothy are visiting the churches in Galatia and Phrygia, let us hasten ahead of them to Ephesus; for there is a man there whose acquaintance we should make. His name is Apollos and he came from Alexandria. He was, undoubtedly, one of the most eloquent preachers of the Gospel in that day. But when he first came to Ephesus, he "knew only the baptism of John." He had accepted the message of John the Baptist, but he had not heard the Gospel as it had been taught

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THE HOLY GHOST GIVEN

Thus it was that when Paul arrived in Ephesus he met the twelve men who had been taught the Gospel as Apollos had known it. When they told Paul that they believed the Gospel, he asked them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost," they answered. "Unto what then were ye baptized?" asked Paul. "Unto John's baptism," they replied. "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance," said Paul, "saying unto the people, tha

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MEN WHO ACTED WITHOUT AUTHORITY

Sons of Sceva. Among those who witnessed these miracles were some vagabond Jews who made a living by deceiving the people by pretending to be magicians. When they saw Paul heal the sick in the name of Jesus, they thought they could do the same, and thus make a great deal of money. So one day these seven men who were sons of Sceva, meeting a man who was afflicted with an evil spirit, said, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth," to come out of him. "Jesus I know," said the evil spirit, "and

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A MOB GATHERS

Demetrius Demetrius, a sliversmoth, who made silver shrines for Diana, became very much agitated when he saw his trade interfered with. He called together all his workmen and said: "Sirs, ye know by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands." He continued to speak to them until they became thoroughly aroused and crie

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A LONG AND MEMORABLE MEETING

When Sunday came, all the disciples "came together to break bread," and Paul preached to them his farewell sermon. As he was to leave them in the morning, they persuaded him to continue his speech until midnight, which he did. The meeting was held in an upper room, the windows of which were all thrown open so the congregation could enjoy the cool of the evening. Eutychus Falls. Sitting in one of the windows was a young man named Eutychus who listened to the sermon as long as he could, and then f

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AT CAESAREA

At Caesarea the missionaries were entertained by Philip, the evangelist, one of the seven chosen deacons. A Prophecy. While they were there, Agabus, a prophet came down from Jerusalem and after greeting them all, took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, saying, "Thus sayeth the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." Hearing this prophecy, Luke and all Paul's company pleaded with him not

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BEFORE ANANIAS THE HIGH PRIEST

Next morning Paul was brought before Ananias the High Priest and the Council. Paul Smitten. "And Paul earnestly beholding the council said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." At this Ananias became so enraged that he said to those who stood by Paul, "Smite him on the mouth." "God shall smite thee, thou whited wall," answered Paul with sudden anger. "Sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?" Temper

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BEFORE FELIX

Five days after Paul had been put in the Judgment Hall, the high priest Ananias and some of his elders came to Caesarea to appear against him. They brought with them a lawyer named Tertullus. Felix, the Roman Governor, summoned the prisoner to appear before him to hear from the Jewish lawyer what things Paul had done. The hired lawyer began his speech by flattering Felix, to win his favor, and then charged Paul as follows: Paul Falsely Accused. "This man is a pestilent fellow, a mover of seditio

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BEFORE FESTUS

Another Wicked Scheme. Felix was succeeded by Festus, who was a more just and honorable governor. Festus remained in Caesarea about three days, and went up to visit Jerusalem. Then the chief priests and others tried to poison his mind against Paul, and asked that he might be brought from Caesarea to Jerusalem to be tried. It was their wicked plan to waylay Paul and kill him. But Festus answered, "This prisoner will be kept at Caesarea, and I will return there myself. Let some of your ablest men

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BEFORE KING AGRIPPA

When Paul was blind just after his vision, the Lord said, "He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel." Among the rulers to whom Paul preached the Gospel were King Agrippa and his sister Bernice. Agrippa, who ruled over part of the land on the east side of the river Jordan, paid Festus a visit; and the Governor took occasion to tell the King all about Paul, how he had been left a prisoner by Felix; how the Jews had accused him, but fa

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PAUL GIVES WARNING

As the sailing was dangerous, it being late in the season, Paul warned them not to leave, saying: Inspired Warning. "Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with injury and much damage, not only of the lading of the ship, but also of our lives;" and he urged them to stay where they were for the winter. But the owner of the ship, believing Paul didn't know anything about sailing, said it was alright to go; and the Centurion believing the owner of the ship had better judgment than Paul, consente

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THE POWER OF GOD MANIFEST

Luke says "the barbarous people showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us everyone, because of the present rain, and because of the cold." Bitten by a Viper. Paul was busy helping to feed the fire, and to make it more comfortable for himself and others, when something happened that startled the natives. A viper crawled from one of the sticks, and fastened itself on Paul's hand. When the people saw it, and knew how poisonous it was, they said: "No doubt this man is a

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LESSON 38

THE WORLD ENRICHED BY A PRISONER CHAINED "The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church." Anticipation vs. Realization. A few school boys, one day, met to debate the question, "Resolved, That there is more pleasure in Anticipation than in Realization." One on the side that tried to prove that Anticipation gives more pleasure, referred to every boy's experience at Christmas time, saying that the day before Christmas and Christmas Eve always give more joy than Christmas itself—"As soon as the

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