John Fleetwood

“ Paul and Barnabas being driven from Antioch, retreated to Iconium, the metropolis of Lycania, a province of Lesser Asia, where they made many converts, both Jews and proselytes. But though they had gained a considerable part of the city to the faith, yet many continued in their infidelity: the old leaven of Jewish malice began again to ferment, and the unbelieving Jews, having stirred up many Gentiles against the apostles, at last prevailed on the multitude to stone them. ”

“ Every thing being ready for their journey, St. Paul and his companions departed from Lystra, passing through Phrygia and Galatia, where the apostle was entertained with the greatest kindness and veneration, the people looking upon him as an angel sent from heaven; and being by revelation forbidden to go into Asia, he was commanded by a second vision to repair to Macedonia, to preach the gospel. ”

“ The divine patience hath been too much exercised already with such gross abuses in religion, but now expects a thorough reformation, having sent his Son Jesus Christ to make him known to the world, and at the same time to inform them that he hath appointed a day of general judgment, when the religion of mankind shall be tried by the test of the gospel, before his only-begotten Son, who is appointed sole judge of the quick and dead, and whose commission to that high office hath been ratified by the Almighty, in raising him from the dead. ”

“ The controversy concerning the observation of Jewish ceremonies in the Christian church being decided in favour of St. Paul, he and his companions returned hack to Antioch; and soon after Peter himself came down. On reading the decretal epistle in the Church, the converts conversed freely and inoffensively with the Gentiles till some of the Jews coming thither from Jerusalem, Peter withdrew his conversation, as it had been a thing unwarrantable and unlawful. By such a strange method of proceeding the minds of many were dissatisfied, and their consciences very uneasy. ”

“ Tarsus, the place of the apostle’s nativity, was the metropolis of Cilicia, and situated about three hundred miles distant from Jerusalem; it was exceedingly rich and populous, and a Roman municipium, or free corporation, invested with the privileges of Rome by the two first emperors, as a reward for the citizens’ firm adherence to the Cæsars, in the rebellion of Crassns. St. Paul was therefore born a Roman citizen, and he often pleads this privilege on his trials. ”

“ But lest the behaviour of unbelievers should discourage Paul, our dear Redeemer appeared to him in a vision, and told him, that notwithstanding the bad success he had hitherto met with, there was a large harvest to be gathered in that place; that he should not be afraid of his enemies, but preach the gospel boldly and securely, for that he himself would protect and preserve him.
About this time he seems to have written his first epistle to the Thessalonians, Silas and Timothy being lately returned from thence, and delivered the message for which he had sent them thither. ”

“ Saul having obtained a thorough knowledge of the science cultivated by the Jews, and being naturally of a very hot and fiery temper, became a great champion of the law of Moses, and the tradition of the elders, which he considered as zeal for God. This rendered him impatient of all opposition to the doctrine and tenets he had imbibed, and a vehement blasphemer and persecutor of the Christians, who were reputed the enemies of the Jewish economy. ”

“ But the apostles, having timely notice of their design, fled from the city, and travelled to Lystra, where they preached the gospel to the inhabitants, and those who dwelt in the adjacent country.
Among the converts at Lystra was a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb, and never had walked. Paul, perceiving that he had faith to be saved, cried in an audible voice to the man, Stand upright on thy feet. ”

“ But the malice of the Jews still pursued the apostles; for some of these bigoted Israelites coming from Antioch and Iconium, exasperated and stirred up the multitude; so that those very persons who could hardly be restrained from offering sacrifice to them, now used them like slaves, stoning them in so cruel a manner, that Paul was thought to be dead, and as such they dragged him out of the city; but while the Christians of Lystra were attending on his body, probably in order to carry him to the grave, he arose and returned with them into the city ”

“ Soon after their arrival, they entered the synagogue of the Jews, on the Sabbath-day, and after the reading of the law, Paul being invited by the rulers of the synagogue, delivered himself in the following manner: “Hearken all ye descendants of Jacob, and ye that fear the Almighty, to the words of my mouth. The God of Israel made choice of our fathers, and loved them, when they had no city of their own to dwell in, but were strangers and slaves in Egypt, bringing them from thence with a mighty hand, and a stretched out arm ”

“ After leaving Italy, Paul, accompanied by Timothy, prosecuted his long intended journey into Spain, and according to several writers, crossed the sea, and preached the gospel in Britain. He continued in these western parts for eight or nine months, after which he repaired to Sicily, Greece, and Crete. He afterwards went to Rome, where, with Peter, he was cast into prison, in the general persecution raised against the Christians, under pretence that they had set fire to the city. ”

“ On his arrival there, he preached the gospel in several places, even as far as Illyrieum, now called Sclavonia. During this journey he met with many troubles and dangers, without were fightings, and within fears; but God revived his spirits by the arrival of Titus, who gave him a pleasing account of the good effect his epistle had produced at Corinth. Titus came thither with contributions from the church at Corinth, and from the example of those liberal Christians, St. Paul stirred up the Macedonians to imitate their charity, intending to assist the poor Christians at Jerusalem. ”

“ The storm of persecution against the church being thus begun, it increased prodigiously, and the poor Christians of Jerusalem were miserably harassed and dispersed. In this persecution our apostle was a principal agent, searching all the adjacent parts for the afflicted saints, beating some in the synagogue, inflicting other cruelties, confining some in prisons, and procuring others to be put to death. ”

“ After being fully instructed in the faith by Aquila and Priscilla, he passed over into Achaia, being furnished with recommendatory letters by the churches of Ephesus and Corinth. He was of the greatest service in Achaia, in watering what Paul had planted, confirming the disciples, and convincing the Jews, that Jesus was the true Messiah, promised in the Scriptures.
While Apollos was thus employed, St. Paul returned to Ephesus, where he fixed, his abode for three years, bringing with him Gaius of Derbe, Aristarchus, a native of Thessalonica, Timotheus and Erastus of Corinth, and Titus. ”

“ Paul, who being desirous of finding the speediest passage into Macedonia, took ship with Silas, Luke, and Timothy, and came to Samothracia, an island in the Ægean Sea, not far from Thrace; and the next day went to Neapolis, a port of Macedonia. Leaving Neapolis, they repaired to Philippi, the metropolis of that part of Macedonia, and a Roman colony, where they stayed some days.
In this city Paul preached in an oratory of the Jews, which was much frequented by devout women, many of whom became converts. ”

“ The true God is he that made the world, and all things therein; and who being Lord of all, dwells not in temples made with hands, nor is to be worshipped in lifeless idols. As he is the creator of all things, he cannot be confined to the workmanship of man, whether temples or statues ”

“ Paul being now determined to return into Syria, in order to convey the contributions to the brethren at Jerusalem, set out on his journey; but being informed that the Jews had formed a design of killing and robbing him by the way, he returned back into Macedonia, and came to Philippi, from thence he went to Troas, where he stayed seven days. ”

“ But while they were performing the public exercises of religion, it was revealed to them by the Holy Ghost, that they should “set apart Barnabas and Saul” to preach the gospel in other places; which was accordingly done, and they were immediately deputed for that service by prayer, fasting, and imposition of hands.
The first place they visited was Saleucia, where they did not continue long, but sailed for Cyprus; and at Salamis, a great city in that island, they preached in the synagogue of the Jews. ”

“ This man having called all the artists together, represented to them that the ruin of their gainful employment was inevitable, if Paul was suffered to bring their temple and goddess into contempt, by persuading the people that they were no gods which were made with hands. ”

“ But on their desiring a king, he placed over them Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who reigned about forty years. After his death, he placed David on the throne of Israel, giving him this testimony, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.’ And according to his promise the Almighty hath raised up to the sons of David, a Saviour, Jesus, which is Christ the Lord: the baptism of repentance having been preached before his coming by John. ”

“ The people who beheld this miracle well knew that it was not wrought by any human power; but having been initiated in the superstitious customs of the heathens, they cried out, The Gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. Accordingly they called Barnabas Jupiter, because of his venerable gravity, and Paul Mercury, from his eloquence. ”

“ Here the apostle was joined by Silas and Timothy, who assisted him in preaching to both Jews and Gentiles. Among the converts to the faith in this city were Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and Gaius, and Stephanus, who, with their families, were baptized, and admitted members of the Christian church. ”

“ We must also consider his trade of tent-making as a part of his education; it being a constant practice of the Jews to bring up their children to some honest calling, that, in case of necessity, they might provide for themselves by the labour of their own hands. ”

“ Having thns escaped from his malicious persecutors, he repaired to Jerusalem, and on his arrival addressed himself to the church. But they knowing well the temper and principles of the persecutor, shunned his company, till Barnabas brought him to Peter, who was not yet cast into prison, and to James, bishop of Jerusalem, informing them of his miraculous conversion, and that he had preached the gospel with boldness in the synagogues of Damascus ”