"keeping the raiment of the murderers," it may be inferred, that he took an active part in the trial and condemnation of the holy martyr. Thus much is certain, that Paul distinguished himself greatly in the first persecution which fell upon the infant church, and that after manifesting his hatred to the Gospel in Judea, he obtained a commission from the high priest to visit Damascus, where several Christians had found an asylum. But while he was upon this mission, "full of fury against the disciples of the Lord, whom he intended to bring with him, bound to Jerusalem," a supernatural light at noon, far surpassing the splendor of the sun, shone upon him, and at the same time he heard a voice, saying, "Saul, Saul! why persecutest thou me?" The furious persecutor, who was now fallen prostrate upon the earth, replied, "Who art thou, Lord ?” to which he received this answer: “I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest!"

The malignity of Saul was now destroyed; his pride was levelled to the dust, and all his bigotry was purged away; so that, instead of murmuring with discontent at hearing that name which a few minutes before would have rouzed him to wrath, he said, "Lord! what wouldest thou have me to do?" The inhabitant of the heavenly glory then 66 commanded him to arise, and go into the city," where he should receive farther instructions. The companions of Paul, finding that he was struck blind, conducted him into Damascus, where he continued in prayer and fasting three days; at the end of which time, Ananias, a devout christian of that city, was directed in a vision to go into such a house, where he should find one Saul of Tarsus. Ananias was surprised at this charge, because the name of Saul was familiar to him, and he said, “ Lord! I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name." But the doubts of Ananias were

thus dispelled; "Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and children of Israel; for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

The good man had no more scruples, but hastened to fulfil his mission; and when he entered the house, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord (even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way that thou camest) hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." Having recovered his sight, the new convert was baptized; and soon after, he who left Jerusalem, with the intent of persecuting the Christians, appeared among them as their associate; and, instead of blaspheming Jesus, he boldly "preached in the synagogues that he is the Son of God."

Soon after his conversion, St. Paul went into Arabia; but how long he remained there, the Scripture has not informed us. Damascus itself being sometimes named part of Arabia, it is probable that he exercised his ministry in and about that city three years, agreeably to the account which he gives in the epistle to the Galatians: "When it pleased God to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood; neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me: but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus; then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and aboac with him fifteen days."

The success of his labours at Damascus so provoked the Jews, that they formed the design of putting him to death; but the disciples, having obtained information of the plot, conveyed him out of the city, and he returned to Jerusalem. Wher Paul endeavoured to join the church, the remembrance of his former character occasioned the Christians to shun his company, till Barnabas made

them acquainted with his extraordinary zeal and success in the gospel vineyard. On this report they admitted Paul into their society, and here also he preached the truth with fervour; and defended it so powerfully against the unbelieving Jews, that they laid snares for his life, which when the brethren knew, they sent him to Tarsus. Here Paul was joined by Barnabas, whom he accompanied to Antioch, at which place they gathered a flourishing church.

A prophet named Agabus having foretold that a famine would prevail throughout the empire, the believers at Antioch, in sympathetic concern for their brethren in Judea, raised large contributions for their release which were sent to Jerusalem, "by the hands of Barnabas and Paul." On their return from this mission, the two apostles were set apart, by the Divine command, to the important work of preaching the gospel at large among the Gentiles. They accordingly sailed for Cyprus, where they converted Sergius Paulus the pro-consul, after inflicting a miraculous punishment upon a Jewish impostor named Elymas, or Bar-Jesus, who endeavoured to prejudice the governor against the truth.

Having established the Christian faith with so much success in Cyprus, the apostles went to Perga, in Pamphylia, and from thence to Antioch, a city of Pisidia, where the Jews had a synagogue, which was frequented_by_many_proselytes of the first quality. When Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they were desired by the elders, to deliver a discourse to the people. With this request Paul readily complied, and in an eloquent address, stated briefly the history of the Jewish nation as the "chosen people of God," and the prophecies which declared that the Messiah should arise among them in the line of David. Then relating the history of Jesus, he proved that he was the Saviour, from the predictions which were exactly fulfilled in him. This sermou made great impres

sion upon the congregation; and the apostles were solicited to discourse again on these things the next Sabbath. On that day the synagogue was filled with persons who were eager to hear the word of God; but this so provoked the Jews, that they contradicted the truth, and blasphemed the name of Jesus. The opposition of these bigots could not intimidate the apostles, or prevent them from delivering the whole of their commission. "It was necessary," said they, “that the word of God should first have been spoken to you as the descendants of Abraham: but since ye put it away from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles; for so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have sent thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth."

When the proselytes heard this declaration, they rejoiced exceedingly, and "glorified the word of the Lord." Many were converted to the faith, and the gospel was published with success "throughout all that region;" which so provoked the Jews, that they prevailed upon the chief men of the city to expel Paul and Barnabas from the country.

After "shaking off the dust of their feet" as a testimony against the infidelity of those persecutors, the apostles went to Iconium, where they gathered a multitude of believers, both of the Jews and Greeks. Here they resided a considerable time, confirming the word by many miracles; but at ength the Jews raised so violent a storm against them, that the apostles withdrew to Lystra. Ever intent upon their great work, they immediately preached the gospel at this place; and while Paul was addressing a large auditory, he noticed a man in the crowd, who had been a cripple from his birth. The attention with which this person heard the word, attracted the observation of the apostle, who, "perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said

aloud, Stand upright on thy feet." And he leaped and walked.

When the people beheld this miracle, they concluded that it could only be performed by Divine power; but instead of considering the apostles as the messengers of the Almighty, the Lystrians flattered themselves that two of the superior gods had honoured them with a visit, and, judging from appearances, they supposed that Paul was Mercury, on account of his eloquence, while to Barnabas they gave the name of Jupiter, from the gravity of his person.

Having formed this idea, they proceeded to acts of idolatrous worship, and the priests of Jupiter brought oxen dressed with garlands, for a sacrifice to these divinities. When the apostles perceived the delusion, they rent their clothes, and, rushing among the people, exclaimed, "Sirs, why do you these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein; who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways: nevertheless, he left not himself without witness in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.",

This argument for one supreme intelligence was scarcely sufficient to restrain the inhabitants from offering the sacrifice which they had prepared. But their reverence lasted not long; for when some un believing Jews came to Lystra, and heard of the mi racle which had been wrought, they inflamed the minds of the people so much against the apostles that they stoned Paul, and dragging him out of the city, left him for dead. It appears, however, that the gospel had not been preached in vain; for while the disciples stood round him, Paul revived, and the next day went with Barnabas to Derbe.

In the council of Jerusalem, when the adherents