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Mercurius, the god of eloquence, was described as the son of Jupiter and Maia, and was usually represented as Jupiter's companion: in appearance, small, light, and active.

Possibly the passage under consideration, aided by the pagan mythology of the period, may enable us to realise a tolerable impression of the general appearance of those noble servants of Christ which are here spoken of. To account for the apparently strange opinion of the Lystrians, that 'the gods had come down to them in the likeness of men,' it should be borne in mind, that it was then generally believed that the gods occasionally assumed the human form, and favoured mortals with their presence.2

CHAPTER XV.

13. James, viz. 'the Less.' Vide chap. i. 13. 22. Judas, surnamed Barsabas.3

Silas. Probably the Silvanus mentioned in 2 Cor. i. 19; 1 Thess. i. 1; and 2 Thess. i. 1; and the bearer of Peter's epistle. He is also supposed to have been one of the seventy. History of Silas as recorded by St. Luke.

I. He accompanies Paul and Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch, on their return to that city with the decision of the council respecting circumcision. (Acts xv. 22, &c.)

II. After a short stay at Antioch, he again accompanies St. Paul on his second apostolical journey as far as Corinth.

1. In the course of this journey, at Philippi, both are imprisoned, and further degraded by being placed in the stocks.

2. By means of an earthquake they are miraculously delivered, and thus become instrumental in converting the jailor.

3. At Thessalonica they meet with considerable opposition, and

to avoid danger they are sent by night to Berea.

4. Silas and Timothy remain for a time in this city to encourage the new converts, while Paul proceeds to Corinth,

5. They afterwards join Paul at Corinth-Here the history of Silas ends. What became of him afterwards is not known.

Hermes of the Greeks.

2 Vide Ovid, Metam. viii. 611, &c.

Vide note, p. 133 (Simeon).

CHAPTER XVI.

1. Timotheus.-A native of Lystra (?), in the province of Lycaonia, in Asia Minor. His father was a Greek, and his mother, Eunice, a Jewess. The latter, together with his grandmother Lois, appears to have been converted to Christianity during St. Paul's visit, in the course of his first apostolic journey; and it is very possible, that on that ever-memorable occasion, the sickly and tender-minded Timothy had looked on in compassion while the infuriated Jews gave vent to their feelings by stoning his afterwards beloved companion. On account of his marked progress, his undoubted piety, and his unbounded zeal, he was chosen by Paul to accompany him on his second apostolical journey, and in order to satisfy the prejudices of the Jews, he caused him to be circumcised. We are also informed, that he was further ordained for the ministerial office by the laying on of hands. At a later period, he became bishop of Ephesus. He afterwards followed Paul to Rome on the occasion of the apostle's first imprisonment, but, at the time of his second imprisonment, he appears to have been absent. What became of him after this is not known. Some affirm that he was stoned to death at Ephesus, about A.D. 97.

History of Timothy as recorded by St. Luke.

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1. Being chosen by St. Paul to accompany him on his second apostolical journey, he causes him to be circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.'

2. Having passed over into Macedonia and travelled as far as Berea, St. Paul, to evade the danger that threatened him from the Jews of Thessalonica, is conducted to Athens, but Timotheus and Silas are left behind to encourage the new converts.

3. In company with Silas, after a short stay, he follows Paul to Athens. (?)1

4. From this city (?) he retraces his steps to Thessalonica, in order to ascertain the state of the infant church after their recent visit.

5. Having satisfied himself on this point, he again overtakes Paul at Corinth.

6. In company with Paul he next passes over to Ephesus.

7. From Ephesus he is again sent to visit the brethren at Thessalonica, in order to comfort and encourage them.

1 Vide Note under Berea II. Apost. Journey.

ST. PAUL'S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

A.D. 51; Acts xv. 41-xviii. 22.
COMPANIONS-Silas, Timothy, and Luke.
STARTING-POINT-Antioch in Syria.

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If we say that this journey was made in the spring of the year 51 we shall not deviate very far from the actual date. We have no means of exactly determining either the year or the season. St. Paul left Corinth in the spring (Acts xviii. 21), after staying there a year and a half (Acts xviii. 11). He arrived, therefore, at Corinth in the autumn, and probably in the autumn of the year 52. Wieseler calculates that a year might be occupied in the whole journey from Antioch through Asia Minor and Macedonia to Corinth. Perhaps it is better to allow a year and a half, and the spring is the more likely season to have been chosen for the commencement of the journey.' (Conybeare and Howson.) 2 Vide ch. vi. 9.

H

6. Galatia.

7. Mysia (v. 7).

8. Troas (v. 8).

1

A province of Asia Minor,
so called from its inhabitants
the Gauls, who were lured
thither by Nicomedes, King of
Bithynia, and received the
north-east portion of Phrygia
(Galatia), as a reward for their
services. This province was
situated to the north-east of
Phrygia, and was bounded on
the east by Pontus and Cappa-
docia, and on the north-west by
Bithynia. About twenty-five
years B.C. it became a province
of the Roman Empire.1

A small province of Asia
Minor, bounded on the east by
Phrygia, on the west by the
Egean Sea, on the north by
Propontis, and on the south by
Lydia. The ancient city of
Troy was situated in this pro-
vince, and Pergamos was its
capital.

This was, and still is, a
spot of deep and sacred in-
terest. It was the scene of
the oldest and greatest war of
antiquity-the Trojan. Greek
and Latin poets have vied
with one another to celebrate
its scenery.
Mount Ida rose
behind it with its beautiful
woods and sparkling streams.
The island of Tenedos lay on the
bosom of the sea in front of its
harbour, while, far off, in the
blue distance, the nearest land
of Europe was in sight-the
lofty Grecian Mount Athos.'

Forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.

They intend nia, but are not entering Bithy

suffered.

Joined by St. Luke and directed by a vision to pass over into Macedonia.

'Amyntas died B.C. 25, and his territories were formed into a province by Augustus.'

'The town of Troas itself stood
on a height, sloping gently down
to the sea. A deep ravine
separated it from Mount Ida,
and a large plain stretched on
either side by the sea shore.'

History.' Antigonus, who
wished to leave a monument
of his name on this classical
ground, brought together the
inhabitants of the neighbour-
ing towns to one point on the
coast, where he erected a city
and called it Antigonia Troas.
Lysimachus, who succeeded to
his power on the Dardanelles,
increased and adorned the city,
but altered its name, calling
it, in honour of Alexander the
Great, Alexandria Troas, which
name was ever afterwards re-
tained.' 'It is said that Ju-
lius Cæsar, in his dreams of a
monarchy which should em-
brace the east and the west,
turned his eyes to this city as
his intended capital, and there
is no doubt that Constantine,
before he gave a just preference
to the situation of Byzantium,
had conceived the design of
erecting the seat of empire
on this celebrated spot, from
whence the Romans derived
their fabulous origin.' 'Au-
gustus brought the town into
close and honourable connec-
tion with Rome, by making it
a colonia.'

'Large masses of hewn stone, walls that include a circuit of

Chandler's Travels in Asia Minor. Footsteps of St. Paul.

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