"Granny's Chapters" (on scriptural subjects) / The New Testament, with a Sketch of the Subsequent History of the Jews.

by Lady Mary Ross

Chapter XII.—ST. PAUL'S FIRST APOSTOLIC JOURNEY.

"And it came to pass in Iconium, that Paul and Barnabas went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren." Still the Apostles abode there for a long time, speaking boldly; the Lord bearing testimony to the truth of what they taught, by the miracles He enabled them to work.

"But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the Apostles." The result was, that the Apostles were in danger of being stoned, by the joint attack of the heathens, and the Jews and their rulers. But being aware of their danger, "they fled unto Lystra," a town to the S.E. of Iconium, "and there they preached the Gospel."

At Lystra there was a certain man who had been lame from his birth, and had never walked, being "impotent in his feet." "The same heard Paul speak," and believed. Paul, "perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet." The people, seeing such a wonderful cure effected at the bidding of the Apostle, immediately thought that he and Barnabas were two of their imaginary gods; and cried out, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter," who was their chief god; "and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker." Mercurius, or as we call him Mercury, was the god of eloquence; supposed to enable people to speak well: he was considered to be a constant attendant upon Jupiter. "Then the priest of Jupiter, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people," to the gods whom they supposed had honoured them with a visit. Oxen and bulls were sacrificed to Jupiter; garlands of flowers were placed on their heads, and the priests also wore garlands. Every heathen city was placed under the protection of some particular deity, called its tutelary god; whose temple or statue was set up before the city gate. The tutelary god of Lystra was Jupiter, the statue of "which was before the city."

The Apostles were dreadfully distressed at the idea of such things being done in their honour; and "they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you"; and then they went on to tell them, that they were come on purpose to teach all people to give up worshipping idols and believing in vain gods, and to turn instead to the One only God, who made all things, and caused the fruits of the earth to grow for the food of man; and Who, though in times past he had suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, had now sent His messengers, the Apostles, to teach men better things.

With difficulty the Apostles prevented the people from doing sacrifice unto them.

These people, who had been ready to worship the Apostles as gods, were soon led into a contrary extreme: for certain Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, who probably told the people of Lystra, that Paul and Barnabas were only magicians and sorcerers; and that though they had by their wicked arts healed one cripple, they were just as likely to do harm to their fellow creatures as good. These men, "persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city." The Lord had work for him to do, and now restored him to life. What had now happened, was a warning to Paul to remain no longer at Lystra; "and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe," another city of Lycaonia, not far from Lystra. "And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many," they, trusting in the protection of God, went again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, to strengthen the faith of those whom they had already converted to Christianity; "confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith"; and showing them that those who would enter into the kingdom of heaven, must expect many troubles upon earth. The Apostles then appointed elders to look after and direct the affairs of every Church, or body of Christians in those towns, and with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the protection and blessing of "the Lord, on whom they believed."

St. Paul and his company then journeyed through Pisidia and Pamphylia: "and when they had preached the word in Perga," the chief city in Pamphylia, "they went down into Attalia," a sea-port to the S. W. of Perga, "and thence sailed to Antioch," in Syria. This ended St. Paul's first Apostolic Journey, which had occupied rather more than one year. At Antioch they had been appointed to their work; and the protection and grace of God had been prayed for to enable them to perform it. They had now accomplished their work, and therefore they "gathered the church together," and told all that they had done, or rather "all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles"—that is, how, by their preaching, God had given to the idolatrous Gentiles an opportunity of becoming true believers, and members of the Church,—an opportunity of which great numbers had gladly taken advantage.

No doubt all the believers in Antioch rejoiced greatly when they heard of the success which had attended the Apostles' preaching; for all who know and love God themselves, are anxious that others should do so also.

St. Paul and St. Barnabas abode for some time with the disciples at Antioch: probably for about two years. Towards the end of this period, the Christians at Antioch were disturbed by the mistaken teaching of certain men who came down from Judæa. These men, who were Jews, had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, and though now converted to be Christians, they could not yet believe that all the ceremonial part of the Law of Moses was to be entirely done away with: therefore, when they were come to Antioch, they "taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved."