is undoubtedly the line of the Via mental in the conversion of the SlaEgnatia.

vonians and Bulgarians. Thus it During several centuries this city received the designation of "the Orwas the bulwark, not simply of the thodox City;" and its struggles are later Greek Empire, but of Oriental very prominent in the writings of the Christendom, and was largely instrp- Byzantine historians.

ST. PAUL'S THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY; HIS ARREST AT JERUSALEM, AND IMPRISONMENT AT CESAREA.

60.

A.D. 54 TO A.D.

§ 1. Extent and duration of Paul's Third Circuit-His constant conflict with the Judaizers. § 2. Paul in Galatia-The Judaizing teachers-The Epistle to the Galatians written from Ephesus. § 3. The Church of Ephesus-APOLLOS and the Twelve Disciples, who knew only the baptism of John-Apollos at Corinth-Paul's arrival at Ephesus. § 4. He preaches in the Synagogue, and is rejected by the Jews-Preaches in the School of Tyrannus-Spread of the Gospel through proconsular Asia-The special miracles of St. Paul, and his conflict with the magical arts. § 5. Defeat of the Jewish exorcists-Burning of the Books. § 6. Paul prepares to leave Ephesus-Mission of Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia and Achaia-Change in the Apostle's plan owing to news from Corinth-State of the Corinthian Church. § 7. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians-Internal evidence of its Date and Place. § 8. Question of a former Epistle and of an intermediate visit to Corinth. § 9. Contents and spirit of the Epistle. § 10. Sequel of St. Paul's stay at Ephesus-The Riot raised by Demetrius. § 11. Paul sets out for Macedonia-His labors at Alexandria Troas-Disappointment in not finding Titus there-He proceeds to Philippi and meets Titus. § 12. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians-Its relation to the missions of Timothy and Titus-Question of an intermediate Epistle. § 13. Character and Contents of the Epistle-Questions about the particular offender and the opposition to St. Paul's authority

The peculiar spirit of the Epistle. § 14. The Apostle's labors in Macedonia and Illyricum-His arrival at Corinth-The Epistle to the Romans-Paul's views toward the West, now that his work in the East was done. § 15. Relation of the Epistle to the constitution of the Roman Church-Its mixed Jewish and Gentile character-The strong Greek element-Paul's personal relations to the Church-Spirit and Contents of the Epistle. § 16. Paul's journey from Corinth through Macedonia - Voyage from Philippi after the Passover-A week at Troas, and a farewell Sunday-Death and restoration of Eutychus. § 17. Voyage to Miletus-Discourse to the Ephesian Elders. § 18. From Miletus to Patara, and thence to Phoenicia-A week at Tyre, and another Sunday farewell. § 19. From Tyre to Cæsarea-Philip the Deacon and his daughters-Prophecy of Agabus-Journey to Jerusalem. § 20. Paul's reception by the Churches-Dangers from the Judaizers-Their calumnies-Paul joins four Nazarites in their vow— Is assaulted in the Temple, and rescued by the tribune Lysias-His defenses to the people and before the Sanhedrim-Plot against his life-He is sent to Cæsarea. § 21. His defense before Felix, and two years' imprisonment at Cæsarea-Felix superseded by Festus.

§ 1. It was according to the different views explained in the preceding chapter-either in the beginning, or toward the autumn, of A.D. 54, that Paul, after another considerable stay at Antioch,' started again upon his old track, and "went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, confirming the disciples," and also giving directions for the collection on behalf of the poor saints at Jerusalem. This Third Circuit included a residence of no less than three years at Ephesus; a journey through Macedonia, and probably as far as Illyricum, which brought the Apostle to Corinth, where he spent the three winter months of A.D. 57-58. To disconcert a Jewish plot against his life, he returned through Macedonia and embarked at Philippi after the close of the Passover, and rejoined the companions who sailed direct from Corinth at Alexandria Troas. Thence he pursued his voyage, the course of which we are able to trace day by day, along the coast of Ionia, Caria, and Lycia, and across the Pamphylian and Cilician seas, to Tyre, Ptolemais (Acre), and Cæsarea, whence he went up by land to Jerusalem, to the Feast of Pentecost, and was there arrested in the Temple. The duration of the whole circuit was (according to the two dates of its commencement) either a little more, or a little less, than four years. The companions with whom the Apostle started on this journey are not mentioned. It seems probable that Silas remained at Jerusalem, whence he had originally been sent as one of the bearers of the apostolic edict; and we next find him as the associate of St. Peter, and the bearer of his Epistle to the

1 Acts xviii. 23 : ἔτι προσμείνας ἡμέρας ἱκανάς.

21 Cor. xvi. 1, 2.

3

churches of Asia Minor. The Acts and Epistles contain abundant proofs that Timothy was with Paul during part of the circuit. Titus, though not mentioned in the Acts, appears in the 2d Epistle to the Corinthians as the Apostle's minister; and, to pass over less known names, Luke, who appears to have joined him at Philippi, furnishes the testimony of an eye-witness to the rest of the Apostle's career, down to both his imprisonments at Rome.

The whole proceedings and writings of the Apostle during this journey have the closest relation to that most important question with which his recent visit to Jerusalem was probably connected:-What was to be the relation of the new kingdom of Christ to the law and covenant of the Jews? Such a church as that of Corinth, with its affiliated communities, composed chiefly of Gentile members, appeared likely to overshadow by its importance the mother Church in Judæa. The jealousy of the more Judaical believers, not extinguished by the decision of the council at Jerusalem, began now to show itself everywhere in the form of an active and intriguing party-spirit. This disastrous movement could not indeed alienate the heart of St. Paul from the Law or the calling or the people of his fathers-his antagonism is never directed against these; but it drew him into the great conflict of the next period of his life, and must have been a sore trial to the intense loyalty of his nature. To vindicate the freedom, as regarded the Jewish law, of believers in Christ, but to do this for the very sake of maintaining the unity of the Church, was to be the earnest labor of the Apostle for some years. In thus laboring he was carrying out completely the principles laid down by the elder Apostles at Jerusalem; and may we not believe that, in deep sorrow at appearing, even, to disparage the Law and the covenant, he was the more anxious to prove his fellowship in spirit with the Church in Judæa, by "remembering the poor," as "James, Cephas and John" had desired that he would? The prominence given, during the journeys upon which we are now entering, to the collection to be made among his churches for the benefit of the poor at Jerusalem, seems to indicate such an anxiety. The great Epistles which belong to this period, those to the Galatians, Corinthians and Romans, show how the "Judaizing" question exercised at this time the Apostle's mind.

4

1 Peter v. 12. It is, however, doubted whether the "Silvanus, a faithful brother," of this passage, is the same person as the Silas or Silvanus of the Acts and Pauline Epistles. (See chap. xix. § 17.) 4 Gal. ii. 10.

§ 2. His sharp conflict with the Judaizers began in the churches of Galatia, which now showed a lamentable change from the spirit with which they had received the Apostle on his first visit. Their fickle minds had evidently been captivated by the description given by the Judaizers of the privileges of the sons of Abraham, till they even "desired to be under the law." When Paul found it needful to speak plainly of the bondage into which they were thus bringing themselves, their former impulsive love was turned to resentment, and he "became their enemy because he told them the truth." His stay among them was probably brief, as he had to redeem his promise to the Ephesians; and, when the restraint of his presence was removed, the Judaizing teachers no longer dissembled their personal hostility to the Apostle. Like the same class of enemies at Corinth, they assailed his apostolic authority, and represented him as having derived his commission from the older Apostles, whose views (those of Peter and James for example) they probably insinuated that he opposed. Such was the occasion of his writing, most probably from Ephesus (A.D. 55),' that short but pregnant Epistle to the Galatians, which contains the plainest possible statement of the leading doctrines of the Gospel, with a refutation of the Judaizing heresy, equally conspicuous for ingenuity and force of argument, for indignation against the false teachers, and compassionate love for the deluded disciples who were wronging themselves and him. He recalls to their minds the Gospel which he had preached among them, and asserts in solemn and even awful language its absolute truth." He declares that he had received it directly from Jesus Christ the Lord, and that his position toward the other Apostles had always been that, not of a pupil, but of an independent fellow-laborer. He sets before them Jesus the Crucified, the Son of God, as the fulfillment of the promise made to the fathers, and as the pledge and giver of freedom to men. He declares that in him, and by the power of the Spirit of sonship sent down through him, men have inherited the rights of adult sons of God; that the condition represented by the Law was the inferior and preparatory stage of boyhood. He then most earnestly and tenderly impresses upon the Galatians the responsibilities of their fellowship with Christ the Crucified, urging them to fruitfulness in all the graces of their the subject of much controversy. Some refer it to the Apostle's stay at Corinth.

ὥστε ἐχθρὸς ὑμῶν

"Gal. i. 6, iv. 11-20. 6 Gal. iv. 16. γέγονα ἀληθεύων ὑμῖν.

The date of the Epistle has been

8 Gal. i. 8, 9.