598 P A 
of the Mofaic ihftitution, and that by the Oofpel they 
were called to a perfect law of liberty. That their deci- 
fion might have the more weight with theChriftians at 
Antioch, they deputed Judas and Silas to accompany 
Paul and Barnabas on their return to that place, that 
they might attell by word of mouth what was the unani¬ 
mous judgment of theaffembly. This council was held 
in the year of Chrift 49 or 50. 
Not long after their return to Antioch, Paul made a 
propofal to Bacnabas, that they ffiould vifit the brethren 
in every city where they had made converts to the caufe 
of Chrift, and examine what was the ftate of religion 
amongft them. On this occafion Barnabas determined to 
take with them John Mark; to which meaftire Paul 
would not confent, on account of his former defertion of 
them. To fuch a length was the difference carried be¬ 
tween the two apoftles on this head, that they feparated 
from each other, and Paul chofe Silas for the companion 
of his travels. Having departed from Antioch, they 
went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches 
and making new converts; and afterwards they went 
into Lycaonia, where Paul found Timothy at Lyftra, and 
took him for one of his affiftants in preaching the gofpel. 
From this country they palled into Phrygia and Galatia, 
where they confirmed and founded many churches; and 
then came to Troas, a noted fea-port, where travellers 
from the upper coafts of Afia commonly embarked to 
pals into Europe. At this place they were joined by 
Luke ; and Paul had a vifion, in which he was directed to 
proceed to Macedonia, and to commence profelyting the 
Greek nations of Europe to the Chriltian faith. In obe¬ 
dience to the heavenly admonition, he took fiiipping 
with his three affiftants, and landed at Neapolis on the 
Thracian (liore, whence they proceeded to Philippi, the 
chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a Roman co¬ 
lony. Here they continued fome time, preaching the gof¬ 
pel with great fuccefs both to Jews and Gentiles, and lay¬ 
ing the foundations of a numerous church, to which Paul 
afterwards directed one of his Epiftles. Among other 
proofs by which that apoftle eltablilhed his claim to a di¬ 
vine commiffiion, was the reftoration to her right mind of 
an infane female Have, who, from the incoherent rhapfo- 
dies which lhe uttered, was fuppofed to pofl'efs a fpirit of 
infpiration, and brought much profit to her mailers from 
the credulous multitude, who believed hercapableof pre- 
diiffiins; good or ill fortune and of refolving difficult quef- 
tions. Exafperated that by this cure their hopes of fu- 
ture gain were at an end, thefe men feized Paul and Silas, 
dragged them before the praetors of the city, and accufed 
them of introducing a new religion, in oppofition to the 
laws. This accufation excited the cry of the affembled 
populace againft them; and the magiftrates were fo regard- 
lei's of juftice, that, without any trial, they commanded 
that they ffiould be ftripped, and feverely beaten with 
rods ; after which they were put into the flocks, in the 
moll fecure room of the common prifon. This injurious 
treatment the apoftle and his fellow-prifoner fuftained 
with fortitude and joy ; for in the middle of the night 
they were diftiniftly heard praying and finging praifes to 
God. While they were thus engaged, on a fudden a 
miraculous earthquake took place, which burll open all 
the doors of the prifon, and loofened the fetters from off 
all the prifoners. This fnock awakened the jailor, who, 
upon finding the prifon-doors open, drew his fword, and 
would have killed himfelf, fuppofing that the prifoners 
had all made their efcape, and that lie fhould be accufed 
of connivance and treachery ; but Paul prevented the 
defperate deed, by calling out to him with a loud voice 
not to do himfelf any harm, fince all the prifoners re¬ 
mained quiet in their rooms. Upon this the jailor called 
for a light, and came trembling and fell down before Paul 
and Silas, whom he immediately brought out from their 
place of confinement, earnellly enquiring how he might 
fecure that falvation which was the fubjedt of their preach¬ 
ing. So powerfully convincing was the difeourfe which 
U L. 
they then held concerning the charafler and doctrine of 
Chrift, that the jailor and all his family profeffed theru- 
felves believers, and were baptized that very night. On 
the next day the praetors, who had moft probably been' 
terrified by the earthquake, and had doubtlefs heard of 
the miraculous opening of the prifon-doors, fent their 
lffitors with an order for fetting Paul and Silas at liberty. 
But Paul thought it now proper that he and his fellow- 
fulferer fhould announce their civil rights as Roman citi¬ 
zens, and take the opportunity of animadverting on the 
illegal proceedings of which they were the victims. 
They therefore refufed to be difmiffed privately like cri¬ 
minals who had received mercy, but infilled on the magif¬ 
trates conducing them refpe&fully out of the prifon, as 
the lealt reparation for the arbitrary violation of their 
privileges. No fooner were the praetors informed thaS 
Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, than they became 
alarmed for the confequences of their own illegal con- 
ducl, well knowing that they had expofed themfelves to 
very high penalties, fhould the injured parties carry on a 
procefs againft them. With thefe impreffions they re¬ 
paired to the prifon; and, after entreating the fufferers not 
to refent the wrongs which they had received, publicly re¬ 
leafed them in an honourable manner, requefting at the 
fame time that they would depart peaceably from the 
city, to prevent any popular tumults, and that they 
might not be expofed to the difappointed rage of their 
accufers. Having, therefore, comforted and taken his 
leave of the brethren, with whom Luke remained behind, 
Paul departed From Philippi, accompanied by Silas and 
Timothy. 
The next place where Paul founded a Chriftian church, 
was at Theflalonica, a large commercial city in Macedo¬ 
nia, where there was a Jewilh fynagogue. Here Paul 
reafoned three fabbath-days with the people of his own 
nation, proving from their feriptures the claims of Jefus 
to the charafler of the Meffiah ; and, though the num¬ 
ber of converts from amongft them was but fmali, five 
apoftle bad much better fuccefs with the profelytes to 
Judaifm, and even with the idolatrous Gentiles, great 
numbers of whom were convinced, both by his preaching 
and by the miracles which he wrought. This fuccels 
excited the envy and indignation of the unbelieving 
Jews, who inftigated a riotous and profligate mob to col¬ 
lect together, which threw the whole city into confuficn. 
With thele inftruments they attacked the houfe of Jafon, 
with whom Paul and his companions lodged, hoping to 
make them the viftiins of popular fury; and, when they 
could not find them, they feized Jafon, and fome others 
of the brethren, and dragged them before the rulers of 
the city, accufing them of receiving and giving ffielter to 
men who created diftnrbances wherever they came, and 
who promoted rebellion againft Caefar, by preaching up 
obedience to “another king, one Jefus.” But the ma- 
gillrates, after examining into the formidable charge, 
finding that it relied on a mifconception or defigned per- 
verfion of the apoftles’ language, contented themfelves 
with taking fecurity of Jafon and the others for their 
good behaviour, and then difmiffed them. 
The brethren, however, fearing fome new tumult 
might arile, fent away Paul and Silas by night to Bercea, 
a populous city in the neighbourhood, where they met 
with great fuccefsin gaining profelytes, both from among 
the Jews and Gentiles, till fome unbelieving Jews from 
Theflalonica found means to excite the popular clamour, 
particularly againft Paul, whom it was thought proper 
to conduct privately to Athens, where he waited for his 
brethren. His arrival at this city appears to have bedn 
either towards the clofe of the year 51, or at the com¬ 
mencement of 52. Athens, though now pad the zenith 
of its political fplendour, was thegreatell feat of learning 
and politenefs in all the Roman empire, where almoft all 
the Roman youth of family and fortune were fent to 
ftudy philofophy, polite literature, and the liberal arts, 
under the ablelt profeflbrs of the age. It was at the 
fame 
