1. Will you give a brief outline of Paul's life thus far?

2. How far did the followers of Jesus that were scattered abroad by the persecution that followed the death of Stephen go? Acts xi. 19.

3. Who took part in that persecution? viii. 1–4.

4. To whom did most of those that were scattered abroad confine their preaching? xi, 19.

5. How did some who were from Cyprus and Cyrene show a more liberal spirit? 20.

6. When news reached Jerusalem that the gospel was preached with success in Antioch, who was sent there? 22. 7. What account can you give of Antioch?

8. What did Barnabas do when he had been some time in Antioch? 25.

9. How long did Paul and Barnabas teach here? 26. 10. What name was here given to the followers of Jesus? 11.. By whom is it probable that it was given to them? 12. Was it first employed as a term of honor or of derision? 13. For what purpose were Paul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem? 27-30.

14. What is said of their return to Antioch? xii. 25.

ANTIOCH. There were sixteen cities of this name; but the Antioch in Syria is here meant. It was built by Seleucus Nicator, about 300 B.C.; and stood on the left bank of the river Orontes about twenty miles from the sea. It had peculiar advantages for trade both by land and by sea, and became one of the chief cities of the world. At the beginning of the Christian era it had not less than half a million inhabitants. It was surrounded by walls fifty feet high and fifteen feet thick. "The streets, symmetrical and regular, were flanked by colonnades and decorated with statuary; and the main street, or Corso, built by Herod the Great, more than a league in length, and ornamented with four ranges of columns, formed two covered galleries, with a wide avenue in the midst. There were immense public buildings and wonderfully beautiful statues, the noblest specimens of Grecian art." Its population, though gathered from every quarter, was chiefly composed of Greeks and Orientals, and celebrated for indulgence in luxury and vice. "It is probable that no populations were ever more abandoned than those of Oriental Grecian cities under the Roman Empire, and of these cities Antioch was one of the greatest and worst. Frivolous amusements were daily occupations, and vice the business of life. Though the terrible degradation did not sink into mere ugly vulgarity, it was none the less terrible because surrounded by beauty of art and the infinite charm

of nature. It was a city of races, games, dances, processions, fêtes, debaucheries, the fanaticism of the orgy, the most unhealthy superstitions, and the most unbridled luxury."

PAUL IN ANTIOCH. The gospel was first preached in Antioch by some of the followers of Jesus who had been driven from Jerusalem by the persecution which followed the death of Stephen. It is not mentioned that Paul visited this city until seven or eight years later, when Barnabas, who had previously gone there, went to Tarsus and summoned him to his assistance. Here they labored successfully for a year. They were then sent to Jerusalem with a contribution for the relief of the church there which was suffering in consequence of a famine. They soon returned and, as we shall see in the next Lesson, set out on a journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor. Antioch now becomes the point from which Paul departs on his missionary journeys. It soon became the capital of Christianity and maintained this position for more than two centuries.

THE NAME "CHRISTIAN." "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." It is certain that this name was not given them by the Jews, for they were accustomed to call them "Nazarenes," a title sufficiently opprobrious, considering the familiar proverb that no good thing could come out of Nazareth. Besides, "Christ" is but the Greek word for the Hebrew "Messiah," and the Jews never would have attached so sacred a name to those whom they hated so bitterly. It seems to be certain, also, that the name did not originate with the Christians themselves. It occurs but three times in the New Testament; once in this historical allusion to its origin, and twice as a name used by enemies. In the New Testament the followers of Jesus are called by such names as 66 disciples," "brethren," ," "believers," "saints." There can be little doubt that the appellation was given them by the Gentile population of Antioch, and that it was first employed as a term of opprobrium. "The inhabitants of Antioch are said to have been notorious for employing names of derision, and the probability is that this name was invented by the heathen of that city in derision of the central doctrine of the new sect, the redemption offered through Christ Jesus, but was accepted and made an honored name by the disciples."

HINTS TO TEACHERS. Speak of the history, situation, architecture, trade, and religion of Antioch. Paul as a persecutor indirectly caused the gospel to be preached in Antioch. Paul as an apostle afterwards made Antioch the centre of his labors. Jerusalem now ceases to be the capital of Christianity, and Antioch rises to that position. The origin of the name Christian."

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REFERENCES. Conybeare and Howson (Ch. IV.); Farrar (Ch. XVI.); Neander (Bk. III., Ch. II.); Renan's "Apostles " (Ch. XIII.); "Bible for Learners" (Vol. III., Bk. II., Ch. V.); "Footsteps of St. Paul" (Ch. VI.) ; "A Year with St. Paul" (Sixth Sunday). For a fuller list of references see Lesson V.

PAUL IN CYPRUS.

Acts XIII. 1–52.

Forth went the heralds of the cross,
No danger made them pause;
They counted all the world but loss,
For their great Master's cause.

GOLDEN TEXT: The son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. — MATT. xx. 28.

1. In what city did we leave Paul and Barnabas in the last Lesson?

2. What were you told about Antioch last Sunday? 3. Will you show on the map where Antioch was?

4. To what island did Paul and Barnabas now sail? To the island of Cyprus.

5. Will you find Cyprus on the map?

6. What was the religion of the people of Cyprus? Some of them were Jews, but the most of them heathen.

7. For what purpose did Paul and Barnabas go there? To preach the Christian religion.

8. Where did they go when they had gone through the island of Cyprus from east to west?

They went to the city of Perga.

9. Will you find Perga on the map?

10. In what country was it?

11. To what city did Paul and Barnabas next go?

To Antioch in Pisidia.

12. Will you point out this city on the map?

13. What did the Jews in this city do when Paul and Bar

nabas had preached in the synagogue two sabbath-days? They drove them from the city.

1. What account can you give of the life of Paul thus far? 2. Where did Paul and Barnabas go soon after their return from Jerusalem to Antioch, mentioned in the last Lesson? Acts. xiii. 4.

3. Who went with them, and for what purpose? xii. 25; xiii. 5.

4. What can you say of the island of Cyprus?

5. In what city of Cyprus did they preach first? 5.

6. When they had gone through the island where did they preach? 6.

7. What account can you give of Paphos?

8. What is said about their visit to this city? 6-12.

9. What change in the apostle's name do we notice here?

10. How is this change to be accounted for?

11. Where did Paul and those with him go next? 13.

12. What can you say of Perga?

13. Who forsook Paul and Barnabas at this place? 13.

14. To what city did they go next? 14.

15. What can you say of the country through which they passed?

16. What perils does Paul at a later period in his ministry say he had experienced? 2 Cor. xi. 26.

17. Which of these perils may we feel sure beset him in going from Perga in Pamphylia to Antioch in Pisidia?

18. What account can you give of Antioch in Pisidia? 19. Where did Paul preach the first sabbath he was in this city? 14-16.

20. What effect did his preaching produce? 42, 43.

21. What happened on the next sabbath? 44-51.

NOTES. Acts xiii. 4. Seleucia. This was the port of Antioch, and sixteen miles distant from that city. - Cyprus. This is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Its extreme length is about one hundred and fifty miles, and its breadth about fifty miles. In the time of Paul it was a Roman province. Its inhabitants were chiefly Greeks; but there were many Jews and a considerable number from other nations. The soil was very productive, and this together with the location of the island gave it great commercial importance.

5. Salamis. This was the chief commercial city of Cyprus. It was on the eastern side of the island, a little more than a hundred miles from

Seleucia. There were many Jews here, and Paul and Barnabas preached in the synagogues. And they had also John to their minister. John, whose surname was Mark, by which name he is better known. "Minister" is here used in the sense of "assistant" or 66 attendant."

6. Paphos. This city was on the western side of the island, about one hundred miles from Salamis. It was the capital of the province, and the residence of the Roman pro-consul, "the deputy of the country."

9. Saul, who is also called Paul. This is the first intimation we have in the Book of Acts of the name Paul. In every instance before he is called Saul. "Why this change of name, and why does it take place at this time? The probability is that both names were borne by him from childhood, Saul being his Hebrew and Paul his Roman name, and that he from this time adopted the latter, partly to obtain the more readily the advantages which were afforded by his Roman citizenship, partly because it would better give him access to the Gentile world. The use of two names was common among the Jews, and may be traced through all the periods of Hebrew history. This explanation seems to be the most reasonable, and it partly explains why the change is introduced in the narrative, at the time of, and in connection with, the apostle's first missionary journey."

13. Perga. This was a walled town of considerable size, situated on the river Cestrus, about seven miles from its mouth. Here the apostles landed, but apparently made no stay.

14. Antioch in Pisidia. This city was directly north of Perga on the high table-land of Asia Minor. Though a much less important city than Antioch in Syria, it was the centre of much trade and had a large population, consisting of native Pisidians, Greeks, Romans, and Jews. The latter appear to have had but one synagogue, and therefore could not have been numerous. There are remains of the city still to be seen, consisting of three temples, a theatre, several churches, and an aqueduct, all of stone and well built. In 2 Cor. xi. 26, Paul speaks of many perils to which he had been exposed. Among others are "perils of rivers," and "perils of robbers." "These words express the very dangers which St. Paul would be most likely to encounter on his journey from Perga in Pamphylia to Antioch in Pisidia."

HINTS TO TEACHERS. The object of this portion of this series of Lessons is to give an outline of the life of Paul: many things in connection with his life must of necessity be omitted. In this Lesson we have not directed attention to Paul's encounter with Elymas the Sorcerer, nor to his address in the synagogue in Antioch. Aim to give the class a good general view of the great apostle's life.

REFERENCES. Conybeare and Howson (Chs. V., VI.); Farrar (Chs. XIX., XX.); Neander (Bk. III., Ch. III.); Renan's "St. Paul" (Chs. I., II.); "Bible for Learners" (Vol. III., Bk. II., Ch. V.); "Footsteps of St. Paul " (Ch. VII.); "A Year with St. Paul" (Sundays VII.-XI.). For a fuller list of references see Lesson V.