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Chapter XCVI.

THE SECOND MISSION OF ST. PAUL (A. D. 51—54).

[Acts 15, 35 to 18, 18.]

SOME time after, Paul set out on his second apostolic journey, taking with him Silas instead of Barnabas, who with Mark sailed to Cyprus. Paul published the decree of the Council and preached with great zeal in Syria, Cilicia, Phrygia, Lycaonia, Galatia, Mysia, and nearly all Asia Minor. At last he came to Troas. There he doubted where he should go next; but God made it known to him in a vision. During the night he saw, as it were, a man of Macedonia^[1], who said to him: “Pass over into Macedonia, and help us!”

Immediately Paul set out for Europe, with three companions, Silas, Luke^[2], and Timothy^[3], and landed safely in Philippi, the capital of Macedonia. On the Sabbath-day Paul preached the Gospel of Christ. Among his hearers was a God-fearing woman named Lydia, a seller of purple. Opening her ears and her heart to the divine word, she received it with joy and was baptized with her whole family.

Very soon, however, a storm was raised against the apostle. As Paul and Silas were going, as usual, to the place of prayer, they were met by a certain girl who had a spirit of divination, and was, therefore, a source of great gain to her masters. She persisted in following the apostles, crying out: “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who show to you the way of salvation.” Paul, turning round, said to the spirit that possessed her: “I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ to go out of

↑ Macedonia. The name then given to the present European Turkey.
↑ Luke was born of Greek parents in Antioch. He was a physician by education and profession. After his conversion to Christianity he accompanied St. Paul on his second great missionary journey, sharing the toils and labours, and even the captivity of the great apostle of the Gentiles. After St. Paul’s death, he preached the Gospel in Gaul, Dalmatia, and Egypt, and was martyred in Achaia.
↑ Timothy, whose father was a Greek, and whose mother was a Jewess, had already been converted to the true faith A. D. 45, when St. Paul preached in Lystra (chapter XCII). When the apostle returned to Lystra on his second journey, Timothy, who was still quite a youth, attached himself to the apostle as his companion. St. Paul consecrated him and appointed him to be first bishop of Ephesus, and while still holding that see he was martyred in the reign of Domitian.

[1] Macedonia. The name then given to the present European Turkey.

[2] Luke was born of Greek parents in Antioch. He was a physician by education and profession. After his conversion to Christianity he accompanied St. Paul on his second great missionary journey, sharing the toils and labours, and even the captivity of the great apostle of the Gentiles. After St. Paul’s death, he preached the Gospel in Gaul, Dalmatia, and Egypt, and was martyred in Achaia.

[3] Timothy, whose father was a Greek, and whose mother was a Jewess, had already been converted to the true faith A. D. 45, when St. Paul preached in Lystra (chapter XCII). When the apostle returned to Lystra on his second journey, Timothy, who was still quite a youth, attached himself to the apostle as his companion. St. Paul consecrated him and appointed him to be first bishop of Ephesus, and while still holding that see he was martyred in the reign of Domitian.

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