"Lystra," says Colonel Leake, "appears to have been nearer than Derbe to Iconium; for St. Paul, leaving that city, proceeds first to Lystra, and thence to Derbe; and in like manner returns to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch of Pisidia; and this probably agrees with the arrangement of Ptolemy, who places Lystra in Isauria, and near Isaura, which seems evidently to have occupied some part of the valley of Sidy Shehr, or Bey Shehr. Under the Greek Empire, Homonada, Isaura, and Lystra, as well as Derbe and Laranda, were all included in the consular province of Lycaonia, and were bishoprics of the metropolitan see of Iconium. The similarity of name induced me at first to believe that Lystra was situated at the modern Illistra; but we find, as well in the civil arrangement of the cities of Hierocles, as in the two ecclesiastical lists in the 'Notitia Episcopalium,' that Lystra and Illistra were different places. I am inclined to think that the vestiges of Lystra may be sought with the greatest probability of success at or near Wiran Khatoun, or Khatoun Serai, about thirty miles to the southward of Iconium." Nothing can more strongly show the little progress that has been made in a knowledge of the geography of Asia Minor, than the fact of the cities which the journey of St. Paul has made so interesting to us-the site of one city only, Iconium, is yet certainly known; Perga, Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, and Derbe remain to be discovered. Mr. Arundel supposes that, should the ruins of Lystra not be found at the place indicated by Colonel Leake, they may probably be found in the remains at Kara-hissar, near the lake Bey Shehr.

While the two apostles were preaching the Gospel, "there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked the same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he

leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye 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, which 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. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city."

And the next day Paul departed with Barnabas to Derbe, a small town at the foot of the Taurian Mountains, eighteen or twenty miles east of Lystra, and sixty miles south by east from Iconium. It was the capital of Isauria, on the verge of it, close to Cappadocia, where the Council of Lycaonia met. Strabo mentions that Derbe had been the stronghold of a famous freebooter. Antipater, who made this place his head-quarters, scoured all the adjacent country. This robber chief seems, however, to have been the friend even of Cicero himself; but at last Amyntas, king of Galatia, attacked and slew him, and

M

reduced all Isauria, including Derbe, under his own power. At this time it would seem that Derbe was comprised in the Roman province of Galatia and Lycaonia. But according to situation, Derbe would more probably belong to Cilicia Trachea, and thus be subject to Antiochus. If so, this would account for the apostles taking refuge there, that they might be under another jurisdiction. In the same way when persecuted at Antioch, they had fled from the province of Pamphylia to the tetrarchy of Iconium. When driven from Iconium they had entered Lycaonia, part of the province of Galatia; and now that they were ejected from Lystra, a city of Lycaonia, they removed to Derbe, which was under king Antiochus.

Courageous as ever, notwithstanding the persecutions they had suffered, they preached the Gospel to that city, and taught many. But the record is silent as to the time. they remained in this place; and moreover, there is no mention made in the Acts, or elsewhere, of their having been exposed to persecution; nor does it appear that they were even hindered in their labours of love. After all their toil and anxiety, and all their perils and persecutions, Paul and Barnabas seem to have found Derbe a peaceful restingplace. But in spite of danger, and regardless of ease, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that they might, through much tribulation, enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed, with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed. And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attaleia, and thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of

faith unto the Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Thus ends St. Paul's first missionary journey, in which he so successfully opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles, in which he confirmed the souls of the disciples— Romans, Greeks, Jews, Cilicians, Pisidians, Lycaonians, Pamphylians, and in which, for the first time, he also ordained elders in every church. According to Usher, this missionary tour was made A. D. 45-46. Pearson, 44-47. Hug, 44. Gresswell, 44. Anger, 44.

CHAPTER VII.

SECOND APOSTOLIC TOUR.

EVEN at this early period, the reader may have noticed the steadiness with which St. Paul acted on the religious impressions imparted to him at his conversion. Hitherto in no one instance had he manifested any doubt or weakness in the faith. Hitherto he had been bound by no secret link of affection to the sacrifices or ceremonies of the temple. From the moment he was enlisted under the banners of the great Captain of Salvation, he armed himself with the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, and the helmet of salvation, and went forth to fight the good fight. No man ever felt more strongly the influence of his former opinions than he seems to have done; and no man ever renounced these more honestly or more entirely than he appears to have done at once and for ever. The Mosaic dispensation, the law as delivered on Sinai, the traditions of the elders, and all the strict prepossessions of the Pharisees which he imbibed from his mother's breast, were renounced in an instant, at the command of Jesus whom he had persecuted. And never did he waver in his future career, or hanker after a single rag of his old robes, or hesitate on a solitary doubt, or entertain one predilection for former opinions, or compromise one hair-breadth to save appearances, or to maintain outward consistency in his conduct. On the contrary, instead of hesitating on neutral ground, he acted in his Master's service as if he had been bred and born in his own house. It was as much his meat and his drink to do