these things. And having taken satisfaction of Jason, and of the rest, they let them go.

But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea; who when they were come thither went into the syna

Berea.

gogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness, daily searching the Scriptures whether these things were so. And indeed many of them believed, and of honourable women that were gentiles, and of men not a few.

And when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was also preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, stirring up and troubling the multitude. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go unto the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there. And they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and receiving from him a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.

SECT. CLXXXIV. PAUL PREACHES AT ATHENS.

Athens.

Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry. He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews, and with them that served God, and in the market-place every day with them that were there.

And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics* disputed with them; and some said, What is it that this word-sower would say? But others said, He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods, because he

*The Epicureans and Stoics were rival sects of philosophers, who were in great repute at that time among the learned. They had each their own theory of the existence of the world, and the end of man and his consequent duties.

S

preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus,* saying, May we know what this new doctrine is which thou speakest of? For thou bringest certain new things to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean. (Now all the Athenians, and strangers that were there, employed themselves in nothing else but either in telling or in hearing some new thing.)

But Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are very godfearing. For passing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on which was written, To the unknown God. What therefore ye worship without knowing it, that I preach to you.

God, who made the world and all things therein, he being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is he served with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing it is he that giveth to all life and breath and all things, and hath made of one all mankind to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, determining appointed times and the limit of their habitation, that they may seek God, if haply they may feel after him or find him, although he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live, and move, and are; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the divinity to be like unto gold, or silver, or stone, the graving of art, and device of man. And the times of this ignorance God having winked at, now declareth unto men that all should everywhere repent; because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in equity by the man whom

*The Areopagus, or Hill of Mars, was a hill in the middle of Athens, overhanging the Agora, or market-place. From it the celebrated court of the Areopagus took its name; but it does not appear that St. Paul was brought before the court.

he hath appointed, giving faith to all by raising him from the dead.

up

And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked; but others said, We will hear thee again concerning this matter. So Paul went out from among them.

But certain men clave unto him, and believed, among whom was also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

SECT. CLXXXV. PAUL LEAVES ATHENS, AND FOUNDS A CHURCH AT CORINTH, A.D. 52. HE IS PERSECUTED THERE.

Corinth.

After these things, departing from Athens, he came to Corinth. And finding a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with Priscilla his wife (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome), he came to them. And because he was of the same trade, he remained with them and wrought (now they were tent-makers by trade). And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, bringing in the name of the Lord Jesus; and he persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was earnest in preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But as they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook his garments, and said to them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the gentiles. And departing thence, he entered into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house adjoined the synagogue. And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptised.

And the Lord said to Paul in the night, by a vision, Fear not, but speak, and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set upon thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city. And he stayed there a year and six months,* teaching among them the word of God.

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul, and brought him to the judgment-seat, saying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

And when Paul was beginning to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were some matter of injustice or a heinous deed, O Jews, I should with reason bear with you. But if they be questions of word and names, and of your law, look ye to it; I will not be judge of such things. And he drave them from the judgment-seat.

And all laying hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, beat him before the judgment-seat; and Gallio cared for none of those things.

SECT. CLXXXVI. PAUL LEAVES CORINTH AND GOES TO EPHESUS, AND THENCE TO JERUSALEM AND TO ANTIOCH.

But Paul, when he had stayed yet many days, taking his leave of the brethren, sailed thence into Syria (and with him Priscilla and Aquila), having shorn his head in Cenchra, for he had a vow.

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself, entering into the syna

Ephesus. gogue, disputed with the Jews.

And

when they desired him that he would tarry a longer time, he consented not; but taking his leave, and saying, I will return to you again, God willing, he departed from Ephesus.

*During this time St. Paul wrote the two Epistles to the Thessalonians; the first soon after Silas and Timothy arrived.

And going down to Cesarea, he went up to Jerusalem, and saluted the Church, and so came down to Antioch.

Antioch.

SECT. CLXXXVII, PAUL SETS OUT ON HIS THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY. APOLLO GOES TO CORINTH. PAUL REACHES EPHESUS, AND STAYS THERE ABOUT THREE YEARS, FROM A.D. 54 TO 57.

And after he had spent some time at Antioch, he departed, and went through the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, con- Phrygia. firming all the disciples.

Galatia and

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, one mighty in the Scriptures. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, spake and taught diligently the things that are of Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John. This man,

therefore, began to speak boldly in the synagogue, whom, when Priscilla and Aquila had heard, they took him to them, and expounded to him the way of the Lord more accurately. And whereas he was desirous to go to Achaia, the brethren, exhorting, wrote to the disciple, to receive him. And when he was come, he helped them much that had believed. For with much power he convinced the Jews publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Ephesus.

And it came to pass while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. And he said to them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? But they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost. And he said, In what, then, were you baptised? And they said, In John's baptism. Then Paul said, John baptised the people with the baptism of penance, saying, That they