A life of St. Paul, for the young

Prefatory Note

This volume is a continued narrative, including in chronological order, scenes and incidents of the life of Paul, and such of his simple teachings as will enable the young to understand something of the noble greatness of the man, and the value of the truths he taught, and for which he suffered and died. While many Lives of this Apostle have been written and are of exceeding value to the scholar and adult reader, very few have been prepared for the young— none it is believed of recent date. While such are familiar with stories of heroism, patriotism, adventure and noble deeds, Paul is often known by them only as a famous name. The frequent interweaving of Biblical forms of expression is to aid in associating the facts here recorded with the Sacred Record from which they are chiefly derived.

The want of unanimity concerning the chronology of the Life of Paul, even among the twenty-six scholars who have made this a special study, suggests that the dates are only approximate. The table by Alford. is given at the end of the book.

With the aid of the four maps especially prepared to

2 Prefatory Note

accompany this volume, the young reader may be encouraged to follow Paul in his journeys; while the many illustrations will aid in giving reality to the scenes of his life. Visits to many of the places described have helped to make that life vivid and real to the author.

The full Table of Contents is prepared with reference to review by parents and teachers, thus adapting it for use as a text-book for special study, if so desired.

For facts and many suggestive thoughts, cordial acknowledgment of indebtedness is made to scholars who have contributed largely to the wealth of literature pertaining to the Life of St. Paul; especially Conybeare and Howson, Macduff, Farrar, Lewin, Stalker, Goodwin, and Gilbert.

G. L. W.

Philadelphia, June, 1899.

CHAPTER I i

The Homes of Jesus and of Saul — Plain of Cilicia — River Cydnus — Tarsus — Roman City — Saul a Roman Citizen — Civilized Nations — Jews — Gentiles — Greeks — Romans — Augustus Caesar — Pagan Religion — " The Boy the Father of the Man " — .Saul's Parents and Sister — The Tribe of Benjamin — The Name Saul — Language of Saul — Golden Texts — Sayings of Rabbis — Psalms — Old Testament Scriptures

Chapter II

SAUL THE SCHOOLBOY " A Vineyard " — " A Son of the Commandment " — Studies — The Messiah — The Land of the Jews — Gentile Schools — School Friendships — Barnabas — Pharisees — Some Good Pharisees — Jewish Boy in a Heathen City — Tentmaking — Trade Proverbs — Saul's Trade — The Boy in the Home — Views from the Roof — Boy Wanderings — Memory of Childhood Scenes — Games — In the Schoolroom

Chapter III

LEAVING HOME FOR JERUSALEM Four Universities — Plans for Jerusalem — Farewell to Tarsus — Storm at Sea — Lebanon — Villages — Carmel — Nazareth — Csesarea

Chapter IV

IN THE SCHOOL OF GAMALIEL Synagogue Schools — School of Hillel — Scripture Studies — Messiah — Saviour — Simeon — Simeon's Son- — Gamaliel, the Great Rabbi — The Bright Pupil — School Work — Barnabas and Saul — Saul and the Scriptures

Chapter V The Young Pharisee And Rabbi

i

The Temple School — The Boys Jesus and Saul — Other Boys — Saul the Young Pharisee — God's Laws and Jewish Traditions — Rab, Rabbi, Rabban — The Most Promising Y^oung Man — Great Changes to Come — Onkelos

Chapter VI Christ And Early Christianity

John the Baptist — Jesus the Teacher — Jesus the Miracle-worker — Jesus Rejected and Crucified — The Resurrection and the Great Command — Farewell in Jerusalem — Ascension — Meaning of the Word Gospel — Followers of Jesus in Jerusalem — A Strange People — Day of Pentecost

Chapter VII

ST. STEPHEN, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR

Church Deacons — Stephen — Synagogue of Cilicia — Three Great Questions — Saul in the Synagogue — Stephen in the Sanhedrin — "The Face of an Angel" — A Heavenly Vision — Stephen Dragged Out of the City — Memories of Olivet — Stephen Stoned — Saul the Guardian of Robes — Two Short Prayers — " A Friend and Witness Near " — Answered Prayer — A Lasting Impression — A Terrible Name

Chapter VIII Saul The Persecutor

Persecution — Saul a Leader — Mistaken Zeal — Cruelty — Christians Scattered Abroad — High Priest's Letter — Saul Starts for Damascus — Gibea — Bethel — Shiloh — Samaria — Sychar — Tomb of Joseph — Sea of Galilee — Busy Thoughts — Possible Doubts

Chapter IX Page

Contrasted Scenes — Leader of a Cavalcade — An Earthly Paradise — An Arab Prince — A Great Light — " Jesus of Nazareth " — The Great Change — Saul's Blindness — Damascus — Three Silent Days — Saul's Vision of Peace — Ananias' Vision — " Brother Saul " .61

Chapter X The Lone Fugitive In Arabia — The Return To Damascus And Jerusalem

The New Commission — In the Synagogues — Hatred and Danger — Needed Teaching — Arabia — Moses — Elijah — Return to Damascus — Again in the Synagogue — Plot to Kill — The Escape — Return to Jerusalem — Suggestive Scenes — Changed Circumstances — Relation to Christians 68

Chapter XI

THE NEW CONVERT IN JERUSALEM Tradition of Barnabas — Saul and Peter — The Two Visions — Saul and the Apostles — Trance in the Temple — Departure for Cilicia 74

Chapter XII

PETER AND THE GENTILES Joppa — Simon the Tanner — Simon Peter's Great Question — A Vision — Messengers — Cornelius' Vision — Peter's Visit to Caesarea — A Great Truth — Gentile Converts — Peter and the Jerusalem Church , . . 78

Chapter XIII

ANTIOCH IN SYRIA The Second Capital of Christianity — Description of Antioch — Statue and Temple — An Ignoble Queen — Apollo — Christians in Antioch — Barnabas — Sent for Saul — Saul in Antioch — The Name Christian — A Nickname — Changed Meaning . . 83

Chapter XIV Barnabas And Saul Sent To Jerusalem

PAGE

A Year in Corinth — Agabus and Famine in Judea — Christian Sympathy — The Delegates to Jerusalem — Herod Agrippa L — Martyrdom of James — The Three Favored Disciples — Legend of James — Imprisonment of Peter — Home of John Mark — Night Prayer-meeting — Peter's Angel — Claudius and Herod — " The Voice of a God " — Death of Herod — Return to Antioch with John Mark 87

Chapter XV

BEGINNING OF THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY Antioch — Simeon's Prophecy — Peter's Vision — Paul's Vision — Five Prophets and Teachers — The Holy Spirit's Call — The Consecration — The Departure — Orontes River — Seleucia — On the Sea — Cyprus — Salamis — Memorials of Barnabas — Barnabas and Saul — Paul and Barnabas — Paphos — Venus, Worship and Temple — Sergius Paulus — Elymas — Punishment for Blasphemy — Royal Convert 93

Chapter XVI

PERGA — "PERILS IN THE WILDERNESS" Perga in Pamphylia — Situation — Temple of Diana — Return of John Mark to Jerusalem — Supposed Reasons — Paul's Friendship — Mountain Travel — Scenery — Perils of Rivers and Robbers — Mountain Flowers — Plains — Dangers and Annoyances, 101

Chapter XVII

ANTIOCH IN PISIDIA — ICONIUM Antioch in Pisidia — Tentmaking and Preaching — Synagogue and its Worship — The Two Strangers — Paul's Address — Effect of Paul's Preaching — Solemn Farewell — Persecuting Women and Chief Men — Church Founded — Journey to Iconium — Its Situation — Persecution — Flight 105

Chapter XVIII Lystra

PAGE

Location — " The King of Pagan Gods " — Paul's Preaching Places — Cripple Healed — Mistaken for Gods — Jupiter and Mercury — Homage Offered and Refused — Changed Feeling — Paul Stoned — As from the Dead 109

Chapter XIX Timothy — Derbe And The Homeward Journey

Lois, Eunice and Timothy — The Wounded Apostle — Paul and Timothy — Derbe — Return Journey — Churches Visited — Sailing for Syria — Syrian Antioch — Report to the Church — Summary by Paul 115

Chapter XX Christian Jews And Gentiles

Jewish Treatment of Gentiles— Serious Question in the Christian Church — Mistaken Feeling in Jerusalem — Paul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem — Titus — A Private Meeting — A Church Meeting — A Happy Decision — An Important Letter — The First General Council — Paul and John 119

Chapter XXI Beginning Of Paul's Second Missionary Journey

Two Years at Antioch — Plan for a Second Journey — Trouble Concerning John Mark — Barnabas and Mark — Paul and Silas — Second Journey Begun — Route — Timothy a New Companion of Paul — At Antioch in Pisidia — Cybele — " Thorn in the Flesh " — Christian Sympathy — Troas — " The Beloved Physician "—First Sight of Europe — A Vision — Macedonian Cry 123

Chapter XXII Philippi

PAGE

Riverside Prayer-meeting — Lydia — A Slave Girl with an Evil Spirit — Cast Out by Paul — Arrest of Paul and Silas — Beaten — Imprisonment — Songs in the Night — Earthquake — The Philippian Jailer — Alarmed Magistrates — Paul a Roman Citizen — The Great Question and its Only Answer 131

Chapter XXIII

AMPH1POLIS — THESSALONICA — BEREA A Night in Amphipolis— Thessalonica — A Central City — Paul's Poverty and Labor — In the Synagogue — A Model Church — Jason — Paul and Silas Sent Away — Berea — Bereans — A Berean Study — Hunted Like Prey 140

Chapter XXIV

PAUL AT ATHENS Contrasts in Paul's Life — Piraeus — Heathen Gods — Statues — The Agora — Athenians — Acropolis — Parthenon — Minerva — Alone in Athens — Teaching — Epicureans — Stoics — Paul on Mars Hill— His Address— The Result 148

Chapter XXV

PAUL AT CORINTH AND THE SECOND JOURNEY ENDED Cenchrea — Corinth — Religion and Character of Population — Corinthian Entertainments — Heavenly Race and Crown — Aquila and Priscilla — -Their Relation to Paul — In the Synagogue — Crispus — Paul's Vision — The Home of Justus — The Church of Corinth — Gallio and Paul — The First Epistles — Farewell — Phoebe — The Fourth Visit to Jerusalem 155

Chapter XXVI

BEGINNING OF PAUL'S MISSIONARY JOURNEY — EPHESUS Galatia — Phrygia — Ephesus — Location — The City of John's Vision — Pagan Wickedness — Temple of Diana — Foolish Pride

Contents 9

PAGE

— Hidden Marble — Second Temple — Within the Temple — Idol Room — Image of Diana — " Ephesian Letters" — Impostures — Apollos — Disciples of John 162

Chapter XXVII

TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS IN EPHESUS Synagogue and Schoolhouse — Handkerchiefs and Aprons — Seven Deceiving Brothers — A Bonfire of Books — The Month of Diana — Presidents of Games — Entertainments — Views of the City — Mementos— Effect of Paul's Preaching — Demetrius — Effect of His Speech— The Mob— Paul's Farewell to Ephesus— The Capitals of Christianity — Summary of Paul's Trials, 170

Chapter XXVIII

THE CHURCH AND CITY OF EPHESUS IN GLORY AND FALL St. John and the Mother of Jesus— Graves on Mount Prion — Christianity and Mohammedanism — The Ruins of Ephesus — The Architect's Inscription — Alexander and Paul . . . .178

Chapter XXIX

PHILIPPI AND CORINTH REVISITED Troas — Church in Philippi — Paul's Memories of Philippi — Corinth — Contrast to Former Visit — Sad News from Galatia — Epistle to the Galatians — Christians in Rome — Epistle to the Romans — Paul's Great Subject — Phoebe 182

Chapter XXX

FIFTH AND LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM Plot in Corinth — Philippi — Farewell Meeting — Eutychus — A Lone Walk — Assos — Mitylene — Visit from the Elders of Ephesus — Meeting on the Seashore — Tender Farewell — Rhodes — Colossus — From Patara to Tyre — Paul's Cloak — Paul's Father — Another Farewell on the Seashore — Ptolemais — Ccesarea — Hand and Voice — Noble Words — Third Missionary Journey Ended 186 lO

CHAPTER XXXI Paul's last days in Jerusalem

i

Feast of Thanksgiving — Claudius Lysias — Christian Friends in Jerusalem — Enemies — Riot in the Temple Court — Mistaken for an Impostor — Speech on the Stairs — Saved from Scourging — Before the Sanhedrin — Insult Reproved — Vision in the Barracks — Vow of Forty Plotters for Murder — Defeated by Paul's Nephew — Under Guard to Caesarea

Chapter XXXII

TWO YEARS IN C/ESAREA Paul before Felix — Drusilla — Contrasts — Prisoner's Speech in a Palace- — Prison Visitors — Felix no Longer Governor — Festus in Jerusalem with the Jews — Paul before Festus in Caesarea — The Appeal unto Caesar — Agrippa II. — Noble Apostle before Ignoble Royalty — Reflections of Agrippa and of Paul — - Paul's Story of Himself — Agrippa's Response — From Palace to Dungeon

Chapter XXXIII

THE SHIPWRECK The Apostle Prisoner — Julius — Paul's Ship — Companions — Sidon — Contrary Winds — Passing Cilicia — Myra — Historic Vessel — Cnidus and Crete — Paul's Warning — Storm and Danger — Clauda — Leaking Ship — Hope Lost — Praying Passenger — Subject for a Painter — A Prisoner a Prophet — The Angel of the Ship — The Lord of the Sea— Human Lives a Gift to Paul — Dark Days and Nights — Breakers — Sailors' Selfish Plan — Paul's Protest — His Cheerful Assurance and Example — Unknown Land — Shattered Ship — Prisoners Saved for Paul's Sake

Chapter XXXIV

ISLAND OF MALTA — "TOWARD ROME" — IN PRISON The Certain Island— The Islanders — Paul Bitten by a Viper —

PAGE

Mistaken for a God — Ministry of Healing — " Castor and Pollux " — Syracuse — Rhegium — Buried Fires and Buried Cities — Puteoli — Appian Way — Appii Forum — Three Taverns — Approach to the City — Via Sacra — The Forum — Julius and Burrus — Prison Life — Roman Guards — Friends and Helpers — Liberty — Missionary Journeys 220

Chapter XXXV

The Burning of Rome — Nero and Christians — Arrest of Paul — Mamertine Prison — Friends — Letter to Timothy — Paul's Cloak — Parchments — Memorable Words — The Death of Paul — Nero — Summary 228

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

St. Paul

Guslave Dore

Nazareth Tarsus .

Hebrew Pentateuch

Numbers vi Jerusalem

Coming of the Holy Ghost at

Pentecost The Stoning of St. Stephen Damascus

Town and Lake of Tiberius Sechem or Sychar Saul's Conversion .

Damascus Gate Joppa ....

Caesarea

Antioch in Syria .

St. Peter Delivered from Prison Map of First Missionary Journey .... Cyprus .... From an Old Engraving St. Paul Preaching . . . . . Bida Elymas Struck with Blindness . From an Old Print Antioch in Pisiclia . . From an Old Engraving The " Book of the Law " . Oxford Bible Illustration Iconium . . . From an Old Engraving Paul and Barnabas at Lystra . . . Raphael Map of Second Missionary Journey St. Paul Expelling the Evil Spirit from the

Damsel of Philippi Paul and Silas in Prison . From an Old Print

From an Old Engraving From an Old Engraving

3 10 } O x f or d Bible Illustration

From an Old Engraving

j- From an Old Print

Gustave Dore From an Old Engraving From an Old Engraving From an Old Engraving Gustave Dore From a Photograph From an Old Engraving Prom an Old Engraving From an Old Engraving From an Old Print

| J. Opie

Frontispiece.

Facing Page IS

List of Illustrations

The Conversion of the Jailer St. Paul at Thessalonica Acropolis at Athens St. Paul Preaching at Athens Corinth Temple of

From an Old Print Gustave Dore From a Photograph Raphael

From an Old Engraving the Acronlede or ) E , „ 7 , .*

Minerva at Corinth . . \ From a Olograph

Map of Third Missionary Journey .... Temple of Diana at Ephesus, Oxford Bible Illustration Image of Diana . . Oxford Bible Illustration St. Paul at Ephesus . . . Gustave Dore St. Paul Raising Eutychus to Life, From an Old Print Farewell at Miletus . . From an Old Print

' | Gustave Dore

St. Paul Before Felix . . From an Old Print

Map of Journey to Rome

St. Paul Shipwrecked . . . Gustave Dore St. Paul Shaking off the Viper . From an Old Print

Facing page

'37

St. Paul Attacked by the Jews at Jeru salem .....

St. Paul Healing Publius

Puteoli ....

Appian Way .

Roman Forum in Ruins

The Colosseum

« Old St. Paul's " in Rome

St. Paul the Apostle .

From an Old Print From an Old Engraving From a Photograph From an Old Engraving y. L. Gerome From a Photograph Artist Unknown

.

Chapter I

Palestine lies on the east of the Mediterranean sea. Northwest of it, bordering on the same sea, is Asia Minor. Two thousand years ago a division of Palestine was called Galilee; and a division of Asia Minor, Cilicia. They were provinces of the Roman Empire; by which we mean that their people had been conquered and were governed by an emperor in the distant city of Rome. In Galilee was the town of Nazareth; and in Cilicia, the town of Tarsus. In Nazareth lived a boy Jesus; and in Tarsus the boy Saul, afterward known as Paul. Little did the people of Nazareth think that the most marvelous being of our world lived among them; and as little did the people of Tarsus think that young Saul was to be one of the most wonderful of men. In following Saul so far as we can, from his childhood to his death, we must remember some things about his country and home, the people among whom he lived, his education, and many other things which helped to make him what he became— the great apostle of Jesus Christ.

In Cilicia the Taurus mountains run parallel to the Mediterranean coast. Between the range and the sea is a fertile plain, whose great heat in the summer drives most of the people to the cooler air of the mountain slopes. Many streams are formed or fed by the melted snows. One of the largest is the Cydnus, a cold and rapid stream, which dashes over the rocks, and winds among the valleys, and flows through the plain where palm-trees and beautiful gardens line its banks until it enters into the sea.

On this Cilician plain, near the Taurus mountains, on the Cydnus river, twelve miles from its mouth, was the city of Tarsus. It was a center of business, education, and political power. Vast quantities of timber cut in the mountain forests were floated from it to the Mediterranean. Vessels brought to it treasures from Europe. Riches from the regions around it were here gathered to be sent to Greece and Italy. Its streets and markets and bazaars were scenes of busy life. Varied kinds of dress and different languages showed that people of different nations lived within its walls. It was a great contrast to the squalid Mohammedan city of to-day.

Tarsus was the Roman capital of Cilicia. The peo-

IP pie were compelled to obey Roman laws and to aid in fighting the enemies of Rome. Yet they were allowed to make some laws for themselves and to choose some of their officers. So Tarsus was called a free city.

Saul's father was probably a Roman citizen: so was he. This gave him protection in times of trouble, as we shall see. When Tarsus was no longer his home, he remembered it with interest and honest pride. He spoke of it as "no mean city." Ever since his day its name has been linked with his.

If we would understand the life of Saul, we must remember some things about the nations that lived two thousand years ago. Only three of them were civilized — having learning, refinement and good government. They were the Jews, Greeks and Romans.

The Jews were the worshipers of the true God, having the Old Testament Scriptures, which taught them about Him and Jesus Christ whom they called the Messiah. All other nations were Gentiles. They were Pagans — worshipers of false gods. Such were the Greeks and Romans. The Greeks were noted for their learning — not the wise things taught in the Scriptures, but what they learned without the Bible, much of which was contrary to its teachings. The Roman nation was noted for its vast dominion, its power over other nations, and its great wealth. Augustus Caesar, the greatest of the Roman emperors, ruled over a very large part of mankind. Rome, his capital, was full of riches obtained of the nations he had conquered. It was adorned with magnificent temples and palaces.

Though civilized nations have much that is good, they may have much that is evil. Wherever God is not worshiped and obeyed, wickedness abounds. Mere learning will not make a people good, nor will the power and riches of the mightiest kingdom. So it was with the nations of Greece and Rome. Their Pagan religion was a strange mixture of beliefs which did not help to make them better. They gave to idols the reverence and worship which are due to God alone. Jews, Greeks and Romans lived in Tarsus. Saul was a Jewish boy in a heathen city.

We do not often think of him as a boy, but as a man or as " Paul the Aged." But those younger days were ever fresh in his memory. After fifty years he recalled the time when he " was a child, and spake as a child, and understood as a child, and thought as a child."

" The childhood shows the man, As morning shows the day."

When we remember that "the boy is the father of the man" — that the man will become what the boy was — we are interested in the early life. It was the honest, diligent, faithful, studious boy George Washo>w Afe^y T^rnS^ "rSyV? -jjjnfo

Hebrew Pentateuch — Numbers vi. 3-10.

(Twelfth Century)

The text is accompanied by the Chaldee Targum or " translation," commonly attributed to Onkelos ; the two versions being written in alternate verses. The vowel points are written above the line.

From Bible Illustrations, copyright by Henry Frowde. 1896.

ington who became the great general and president. It was the boy Napoleon, interested in his toy-cannon, that became the conqueror and emperor.

It is probable that Saul's father moved from Palestine to Tarsus where the future apostle was born. We do not know the exact date of the son's birth, but probably it was about a. d. 3. Of Saul's mother we know nothing. We wish we did. We love to think of the boy Samuel with his mother Hannah; and John — afterward the Baptist — with Elisabeth; and Timothy with Eunice; and Jesus with Mary. We know Saul had a sister, to whom we can believe he was a true and noble brother. We shall see how her son cared for his uncle in a time of trouble in Jerusalem.

The Jews were divided into twelve tribes. One of these was Benjamin. The first Jewish king was Saul — a favorite name by which many a boy was called. Little Saul of Tarsus was also of the tribe of Benjamin, and perhaps was named after the king who had lived eleven hundred years before him. Many names, especially among the Jews, had a meaning. Saul means "the desired," or " prayed for," or "asked of God." Perhaps he was the firstborn son in whom his parents so rejoiced that they gave him that name.

Young Saul was taught to speak Hebrew, the language of the Jews. It is almost certain that he also learned Greek which was much used in Tarsus.

We know something of life in the Jewish homes, and so we can think of much that was done for Saul, and of what he did for himself. The first words which many a child in a Christian home now learns before it can read, are those of Jesus, "Suffer little children to come unto Me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." But Jesus had not spoken these words when Saul was a boy. His first golden text was probably one given by God to Moses. It was this: "The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." The child was taught this text before he was five years old. A Rabbi — a learned Jewish teacher — who lived long ago said, "The boy of five years of age ought to apply to the study of the Sacred Scriptures." Another Rabbi said, " When the boy begins to talk, his father ought to converse with him in the sacred language, and teach him the law." At that early age his parents would also teach him a part of the one hundred and thirteenth Psalm, giving him an idea of the greatness of God Who is worthy of the highest praise; and also a part of the one hundred and eighteenth Psalm, especially its first and last verses whose words are the same, " Oh give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; because His mercy endureth forever."

At five the boy himself began to read the Old Testament Scriptures in Hebrew, the language in which they were written. Saul also learned at some time to read a 'translation of them into the Greek language. When he became Paul the Apostle he wrote to Timothy, "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures." The same might have been said to him. He became familiar with the stories of Moses, and Joseph, and Samuel and David. He had not the aid of pictures that so interest the child of to-day, and help him to understand the story. He read and heard of the Messiah that was to come. There was no New Testament telling of the angels, and the shepherds, and the Babe of Bethlehem; of the wonderful Child in the Temple; of the miracles in Galilee and Jerusalem; of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. These things happened during the life of Saul.

Chapter II

At six years of age a Jewish boy went to a "vineyard," as the Jewish teachers called their schools, to be trained with more faithfulness than the most careful vine dresser bestows on the most precious clusters .of his grapes.

At ten he began to learn the simpler of the Jewish laws, continuing studies of this kind until he was thirteen, when he was promoted and called a " Son of the Commandment." At fifteen he was promoted again for harder study.

There were no school books. The pupils would listen to all the teacher said, remember it and be able to tell it afterward. They studied arithmetic, history of the Jewish nation, and natural history: but the chief study was the Scriptures, and the chief subject was the Messiah. Young Saul, like other Jews, thought of Him chiefly as a great earthly king who would come and drive the Romans from Palestine, and reign there as Saul and David and Solomon had done a thousand years before. He had no thought that the

Messiah had come to be a king of another kind, and was even then a boy in the land of the Jews. Through hundreds of years it had been the home of his ancestors. All through his early life he was told of its beauties and wonderful history. He learned of Jerusalem its holy city, and the Temple the holy house of God. Visitors from there to his home would kindle the desire and inspire the hope that some day he would see them for himself.

Meanwhile he was a Jewish schoolboy. There were Gentile schools, but his parents would not send him where so much of the teaching was false, and so many of the influences were for evil.

Friendships are often formed in school days that last through life; they are among the most precious. In some respects they are unlike any others. Two boys in the same school, familiar with the same surroundings, having the same studies and keeping up in them, then going to the same college or university to fit themselves for the same profession, and so having the same plans for life, helping and encouraging each other through all of their growing years — such students have so much in common that their friendship grows stronger and stronger. It is often helpful in later life, especially in times of trouble.

Such a friendship had Saul. Seventy miles from his home, on the island of Cyprus, was a boy of kin-

2 4 dred spirit and purposes, who was sent to Tarsus to be educated in a Jewish school. There he would meet with Saul. Even when the two planned to be together some day in the University of Jerusalem, they had no thought of the time when the one would be almost the only friend the other had in that city, or when for two years they would live together, or how they would travel and labor together for Him who was then a boy in Nazareth, of whom they knew not, but whom they would some day own as their Lord and Master.

Some of the Jews were called Pharisees. They were very careful to do some things which God commanded by Moses. They also taught the people to obey other laws which God had not given. Some of these were very foolish and hard to obey. The Pharisees pretended to be very good, better than other Jews. They sometimes made long prayers and gave money for the Temple and the poor, not to please God, but to be seen of men who would call them good. They despised those who were not like themselves. Their thoughts and feelings were often wrong even when they appeared to be doing right. They were proud, unjust, selfish, covetous, deceitful. Christ often reproved them for their sins. They hated Him, and some of them helped to put Him to death.