in Herod's sin, and incited him to proceed to violent measures against the prince of the apostles. Guardian angels. It is evident that the very earliest Christians believed in guardian angels, this being proved by the words which escaped from the lips of those assembled in the house of Mary, the mother of Mark: "It is his angel!" The depravity of paganism. The pagans of the Roman Empire had, at this time, sunk to such a depth of depravity that they paid divine honour not only to the emperors who were dead, but also to those who were living, and even to the favourites, dancers, and wrestlers of the emperor, no matter how debased and immoral they were. APPLICATION. You should learn from the example of the first Christians how great a duty it is for all the faithful to pray for their bishops and priests, and especially for the supreme head of the Church, our Holy Father the Pope. Our present Holy Father (Pius X.) is also surrounded by enemies. He is outraged, calumniated, hated, robbed of his possessions and liberty, and is virtually a prisoner. He needs the prayers and assistance of all his children. No CHAPTER XCIV. PAUL'S FIRST MISSION (A. D. 45—48). [Acts 13 to 14.] OW there were in the Church which was at Antioch (Fig. 95, p. 782) prophets and doctors, among whom were Barnabas and Simon, who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manahen, who was the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul1. And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: "Separate 3 me Saul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have taken them." Then they, fasting and praying and imposing hands upon them, sent them away. So they, being sent by the Holy Ghost, went to Seleucia, and from thence they 1 And Saul. Saul, having come to Jerusalem to see Peter, was after 15 days sent by the brethren to Tarsus, his native place (Acts 9, 30; Gal. 1, 21), and from thence he was after some time brought to Antioch by Barnabas in order to help in the work of the Church. There he taught a whole year with great success (Acts 11. 25-26). 2 They. i. e. the bishops and priests and deacons. sailed to Cyprus. 1 After they had preached throughout the whole island, the pro-consul, Sergius Paulus2, sent for them, that he might hear from their mouth the word of God. There was with Sergius a Jew, a magician, named Bar-Jesus. This man resisted them to the utmost, and endeavoured to dissuade Sergius from becoming a Christian. But Paul, full of the Holy Ghost, looked at him and said: "O thou, full of all guile and all deceit, son of the devil, enemy of all justice; thou dost not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord. And now, behold, the Hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." Immediately a thick mist came before his eyes, and he went about groping for some one to take him by the hand. The proconsul, seeing this miracle, believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. From Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas sailed 3 for Asia Minor. Having come to Antioch, in Pisidia, they entered into the synagogue 1 Cyprus. An island in the Mediterranean to the west of Antioch. 2 Paulus. The Roman pro-consul quite perceived the folly of paganism, and was sincerely searching for the true religion. 3 Sailed. They went by ship in a northerly direction to Asia Minor, stopping first in Pamphylia. From thence they passed, further north, to Pisidia. on the Sabbath-day, and preached to the people Jesus crucified and risen again from the dead, with the remission of sins through Him alone. Paul's discourse pleased the people1 so much that he was requested to come on the following Sabbath and preach again. But the Jews were filled with envy, seeing the multitude that came on the second Sabbath to hear Paul, and they blasphemed 2 and contradicted all he said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly: "To you it behoved us to speak first the word of God; but seeing that you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold! we turn to the Gentiles." The Gentiles, hearing this, rejoiced, and the Gospel was proclaimed throughout the whole land. The Jews, however, incited a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and they were expelled from that country. The two apostles, shaking the dust from their feet, went to Lycaonia, where Paul preached the Gospel in a city called Lystra. Among those who heard him was a man who had been a cripple from his birth, and had never walked. Paul, looking at him, perceived that he had faith, and said with a loud voice: 'Stand upright on thy feet!" The cripple leaped up and walked. The multitude, seeing this, cried out: "The gods, in the likeness of men, are come down to us!" And they called Barnabas, on account of his height, Jupiter, and Paul they called Mercury, because of his eloquence. And the priest of Jupiter, bringing oxen with garlands of flowers to the gate, would have offered sacrifice with the people to Paul and Barnabas. But they, seeing what was going on, rent their garments", and ran among the people crying out: "O men, why do ye these things? We also are mortals, men like unto you, preaching to you to be converted from these vain things to the living God, The people. These were Jews and "strangers who served God", or, in other words, those Gentiles who worshipped the God of Israel. 2 Blasphemed. Denying that Jesus was the promised Redeemer of all nations, 3 The dust. Even as our Lord had commanded His disciples to do (chapter XXXI). Lycaonia. To the east of Pisidia. Offered sacrifice. To them as gods. 6 Rent their garments. As a sign of pain and indignation at the heathenish abomination. 7 Vain things. From this vain worship of false gods. who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them: who in past generations suffered all nations to walk in their own way. Nevertheless, He left not Himself without testimony, doing good from heaven, giving rains and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.' Having heard this, many believed in the word of God. But some Jews who had come from Antioch and Iconium stirred up 1 the people against Paul. They stoned him until they thought he was dead, and cast him out 2 of the city. But while the disciples of the city, who had gone out, stood weeping around him, he arose and went back with them to the city. Then he and Barnabas, having announced the Gospel in Derbe, returned to the cities where they had already preached. They exhorted the disciples to persevere, ordained priests for them in every church, and with fasting and prayer commended them to the Lord. Finally, they returned to Antioch 5, and related the great things which God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. COMMENTARY. God the Creator of heaven and earth. "God", in St. Paul's words, "made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them." The Justice and Mercy of God. The avenging hand of God (Acts 14, 11) struck the sorcerer with blindness. He was deprived of the light of the sun, because he shut his eyes to the heavenly light of truth. God, however, showed mercy towards him as well as justice, for he was not deprived of sight for the rest of his life, but only "for a time". His blindness was intended by God to be the means of his salvation, and, having served for his conversion, was removed. The ordination of priests and bishops. Our Lord Himself called Paul to be an apostle, even as He had Himself directly converted him to the true faith. We have seen that, in spite of his conversion by the direct intervention of God, it was necessary that he should be baptized and received into the Church by one of her ministers; for which purpose our Lord sent Ananias to him. Now in the same way that Paul Stirred up. By bribery and calumny directed especially against St. Paul, who was the chief spokesman. 2 Cast him out. Bleeding from a hundred wounds, they did not even carry him, but threw out his body, to be devoured by the wild beasts. 8 Arose. Well and strong. A Went back. Full of confidence in God. |