Page:Life and voyages of the Apostle Paul.pdf/12

Rh of many were dissatisfied, and their consciences very uneasy. St. Paul with the greatest concern observed it, and publicly rebuked Peter, with that sharpness and severity his unwarrantable practice deserved.

Soon after this, Paul and Barnabas resolved to visit the churches they had planted among the Gentiles, and Barnabas was desirous of taking with them his cousin Mark; but this Paul strenuously opposed, as he had left them in their former journey. This trifling dispute arose to such a height, that those two great apostles and fellow-labourers in the gospel parted; Barnabas taking Mark with him, repaired to Cyprus, his native country, and Paul having made choice of Silas, and recommended the success of his undertaking to the care of divine providence, set forward on his intended journey.

They first visited the churches of Syria and Cilicia, and then sailed to Crete, where Paul preached the gospel, and constituted Titus to be the first bishop and Pastor in the island. From hence Paul and Silas returned back into Cilicia, and came to Lystra, where they found Timothy, whose father was a Greek, but his mother a Jewish convert, and by her he had been brought up under all the advantages of a pious and religions education, especially with regard to the Holy Scriptures, which he had studied with the greatest assiduity and success. This person St. Paul designed for the companion of his travels, and a special instrument in the ministry of the gospel. But knowing that his being uncircumcised would prove a stumbling-block to the Jews, he caused him to be circumcised, being willing in lawful and indifferent matters to conform himself to the tempers and apprehensions of men, in order to save their souls.

Every thing being ready for their journey, St. Paul and his companions departed from Lystra, passing through Phrygia and Galatia, where the apostle was entertained with the greatest kindness and veneration, the people looking upon him as an angel sent from heaven; and being by revelation forbidden to go into Asia, he was commanded by a second vision to repair to Macedonia, to preach the gospel. Accordingly, he prepared to pass from Asia into Europe.

Here Luke joined them, and became ever after the inseparable companion of St. Paul, who being desirous of finding the speediest passage into Macedonia, took ship with Silas, Luke, and Timothy, and came to Samothracia, an island in the Ægean Sea, not far from Thrace; and the next day went to Neapolis, a port of Macedonia. Leaving Neapolis, they repaired to Philippi, the metropolis of that part of Macedonia, and a Roman colony, where they stayed some days.