Page:Life and voyages of the Apostle Paul.pdf/17

Rh assisted him in preaching to both Jews and Gentiles. Among the converts to the faith in this city were Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and Gaius, and Stephanus, who, with their families, were baptized, and admitted members of the Christian church.

But lest the behaviour of unbelievers should discourage Paul, our dear Redeemer appeared to him in a vision, and told him, that notwithstanding the bad success he had hitherto met with, there was a large harvest to be gathered in that place; that he should not be afraid of his enemies, but preach the gospel boldly and securely, for that he himself would protect and preserve him.

About this time he seems to have written his first epistle to the Thessalonians, Silas and Timothy being lately returned from thence, and delivered the message for which he had sent them thither. The principal design of this epistle is to confirm them in the belief of the Christian religion, and excite them to persevere in it, notwithstanding all the malice of their enemies, and the persecutions they must expect to suffer, and to instruct them in the duties of a religious life.

During the apostle’s stay at Corinth, he wrote his second epistle to the Thessalonians, to supply his absence. In this epistle he again endeavours to confirm their minds in the truth of the gospel, and prevent their being shaken with those troubles, which the wicked and unbelieving Jews would be continnuallycontinually [sic] raising against them. And because some passages in his former epistle relating to the destruction of the Jews, had been misunderstood, as if the day of the Lord was near at hand, he rectifies these mistakes, and shows the signs that must precede our Lord’s coming to judgment.

St. Paul on leaving the church at Corinth, took ship at Cenchrea, the port of Corinth, for Syria, taking with him Aquila and Priscilla, and on his arrival at Ephesus, lie preached in the synagogue of the Jews, promising to return to them, after keeping the passover at Jerusalem. Accordingly he again took ship, and landed at Cæsarea, and from thence travelled to Jerusalem, where he kept the feast, visited the church, and then repaired to Antioch. Here he stayed some time, and then traversed the countries of Galatia and Phrygia, confirming the new converted Christians, till he came to Ephesus.

During the time he spent in this large circuit, providence took care of the churches of Ephesus and Corinth, by means of one Apollos, an eloquent Jew of Alexandria, and well acquainted with the law and writings of the prophets. This man coming to Ephesus, though he was only instructed in the