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Salamis in Cyprus, traversing the land from east to west. At Paphos, they en countered a Jewish sorcerer whom Paul rebuked and punished. The result was the conversion of Sergius Paulus, a Ro man proconsul who had been the patron of Elymas (Acts 13:6-12). They departed to Perga, where Mark deserted (Acts 13: 13). They journeyed to Antioch in Pisidia, where the first marked success of the Gospel occurred, with the bitter, opposi tion of unbelieving Jews (Acts 13:14-52). The leading incidents of the remainder of this journey were the miracle of heal ing a cripple at Lystra; attempt at wor ship of Paul and Barnabas by Lystrans and sudden change to hatred against them in the same place; stoning of the mission aries ; escape from death and return. to Antioch. 2. At the Apostolic Council, at Jerusa lem, the difference between Jewish and Gentile Christianity was discussed and adjusted. Paul was present as a living witness to his own success among the Gentiles (Acts 15). Second journey was undertaken independent of Barnabas, Mark being the occasion of their separa tion. Having visited his old churches in Syria and Cilicia, Paul proceeded, with his young convert, Timothy (Acts 16:1- 3), to establish new churches in Phrygia and Galatia. Intervention of the Spirit caused them to journey to Troas, when, in obedience to a vision, he crossed into Greece (Acts 16:6-12). Here he pro ceeded with great success. At Philippi, where the Gospel began in Europe, Lydia was the earliest convert. Here he came in contact with heathen superstition and was imprisoned with Silas, but miracu lously delivered. Luke seems to have been in the party from Troas to Philippi, where he probably remained until Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem (Acts 16:10; 17:1; 20:5). Thessalonica was the next point where he was persecuted by Jews, but he left a flourishing church to which his first epistles were written. While la boring at Berea, Jews from Thessalonica drove him away to Athens. There he reasoned with philosophers and delivered his Mars Hill discourse. Coming to Cor inth, his labors assumed a more settled character. He spent eighteen months here and built up a church despite great oppo sition. He returned by way of Ephesus, Caesarea and Jerusalem, to Antioch. 3. Towards the close of the same year, Paul went to Ephesus, laboring success-, fully-for three years. He then visited the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, re maining three months in Corinth and vi cinity. During this time he wrote Gala tians, Corinthians and Romans. 4. Paul’s last visit to Jerusalem was made for the purpose of carrying help to the poor Christians in Judaea (Rom. 15:25-26; cf. 1 Cor. 16:1-3). The route was through Philippi, Troas and Miletus (where he delivered his farewell to the Ephesian elders), Tyre and Caesarea. He arrived at Jerusalem shortly before Pen tecost, when the city was thronged with Jews. Following the scheme of leading Jewish Christians, Paul undertook a vow in the temple to prove the falsity of gos sip against him. An uproar was raised against him as a result. He was charged with profaning the temple and was drag ged out, to be saved by Claudius Lysias and his soldiers. After a stormy and fruitless session before the Sanhedrin and the discovery of a plot against his life,
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which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them, who love his appear ing’’ (2 Tim. 4 :7-8). — 6 — F acts A bout P aul His Hebrew name—S a u l —occurs in Acts up to chapter 13:9. Son of Jewish parents, tribe of Benja min (Phil. 3:5; 2 Cor. 11:22). Native of Tarsus, in Cilicia, a city of commercial and literary renown. By birth a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37; 22:28). Theological education received in the school of the famous Pharisee Gamaliel (Acts 22:3; 26:4-5; cf. 5:34). ' From Acts 26:10, where the word “voice” means “vote,” it has been inferred that Saul of Tarsus was a member of the Sandedrin when Stephen was tried. This would imply that he was married. But can this point be established on such slight evidence? Paul makes no allusion to it in Gal. 1:14. Appears first in New Testament narra tive as a young persecutor zealous for the death of the first Christian martyr, Ste phen (Acts 7:58; 8:1).
he was sent to Felix at Caesarea. He was here confined two years. When Festus succeeded Felix, Paul appealed to the Emperor. Having made a masterly de fense before Festus and Agrippa, he was sent to Rome. After a stormy voyage and shipwreck, he reached Rome and spent two years in easy confinement. Here he probably wrote Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians. 5. The account in Acts breaks off at this point. The usual view of the re mainder of his life, supported by tradi tion, is that he was released before the persecution under Nero (A.D. 64). He went to Ephesus where he left Timothy (1 Tim. 1:3), proceeding to Macedonia. He next went to Crete, passing through Troas and Miletus. A journey to Spain and even Britain has been supposed, but of this there are no historical traces. It is held that he was rearrested and, after writing 2 Timothy, during his second im prisonment, was executed at Rome under Nero. It was certainly just at the close of his life that Paul wrote: “I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
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