第48章

Heralds of the Gospel.

"Sent forth by the Holy Ghost," Paul and Barnabas, after their ordination by the brethren in Antioch, "departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus." Thus the apostles began their first missionary journey.

Cyprus was one of the places to which the believers had fled from Jerusalem because of the persecution following the death of Stephen.It was from Cyprus that certain men had journeyed to Antioch, "preaching the Lord Jesus." Acts 11:20.Barnabas himself was "of the country of Cyprus" (Acts 4:36); and now he and Paul, accompanied by John Mark, a kinsman of Barnabas, visited this island field.

Mark's mother was a convert to the Christian religion, and her home at Jerusalem was an asylum for the disciples.There they were always sure of a welcome and a season of rest.It was during one of these visits of the apostles to his mother's home, that Mark proposed to Paul and Barnabas that he should accompany them on their missionary tour.He felt the favor of God in his heart and longed to devote himself entirely to the work of the gospel ministry.

Arriving at Salamis, the apostles "preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews....And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus: which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation)withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith."Not without a struggle does Satan allow the kingdom of God to be built up in the earth.The forces of evil are engaged in unceasing warfare against the agencies appointed for the spread of the gospel, and these powers of darkness are especially active when the truth is proclaimed before men of repute and sterling integrity.Thus it was when Sergius Paulus, the deputy of Cyprus, was listening to the gospel message.The deputy had sent for the apostles, that he might be instructed in the message they had come to bear, and now the forces of evil, working through the sorcerer Elymas, sought with their baleful suggestions to turn him from the faith and so thwart the purpose of God.

Thus the fallen foe ever works to keep in his ranks men of influence who, if converted, might render effective service in God's cause.But the faithful gospel worker need not fear defeat at the hand of the enemy; for it is his privilege to be endued with power from above to withstand every satanic influence.

Although sorely beset by Satan, Paul had the courage to rebuke the one through whom the enemy was working."Filled with the Holy Ghost," the apostle "set his eyes on him, and said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord."The sorcerer had closed his eyes to the evidences of gospel truth, and the Lord, in righteous anger, caused his natural eyes to be closed, shutting out from him the light of day.This blindness was not permanent, but only for a season, that he might be warned to repent and seek pardon of the God whom he had so grievously offended.The confusion into which he was thus brought made of no effect his subtle arts against the doctrine of Christ.The fact that he was obliged to grope about in blindness proved to all that the miracles which the apostles had performed, and which Elymas had denounced as sleight of hand, were wrought by the power of God.The deputy, convinced of the truth of the doctrine taught by the apostles, accepted the gospel.

Elymas was not a man of education, yet he was peculiarly fitted to do the work of Satan.Those who preach the truth of God will meet the wily foe in many different forms.Sometimes it will be in the person of learned, but more often of ignorant, men, whom Satan has trained to be successful instruments to deceive souls.It is the duty of the minister of Christ to stand faithful at his post, in the fear of God and in the power of His might.Thus he may put to confusion the hosts of Satan and may triumph in the name of the Lord.

Paul and his company continued their journey, going to Perga, in Pamphylia.

Their way was toilsome; they encountered hardships and privations, and were beset with dangers on every side.In the towns and cities through which they passed, and along the lonely highways, they were surrounded by dangers seen and unseen.But Paul and Barnabas had learned to trust God's power to deliver.Their hearts were filled with fervent love for perishing souls.As faithful shepherds in search of the lost sheep, they gave no thought to their own ease and convenience.Forgetful of self, they faltered not when weary, hungry, and cold.They had in view but one object--the salvation of those who had wandered far from the fold.

It was here that Mark, overwhelmed with fear and discouragement, wavered for a time in his purpose to give himself wholeheartedly to the Lord's work.

Unused to hardships, he was disheartened by the perils and privations of the way.He had labored with success under favorable circumstances; but now, amidst the opposition and perils that so often beset the pioneer worker, he failed to endure hardness as a good soldier of the cross.He had yet to learn to face danger and persecution and adversity with a brave heart.As the apostles advanced, and still greater difficulties were apprehended, Mark was intimidated and, losing all courage, refused to go farther and returned to Jerusalem.