philosophy in Athens, had no time for these Oriental superstitions! The fellow seemed harmless-no Athenian would take stock in such a religion. And so Paul was dismissed and went his way. Only one or two, Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, impressed by the deep earnestness of Paul, followed him, heard more of the gospel, and believed. But as a whole, his effort in Athens was a failure. He went away determined more than ever to shun "philosophy and the wisdom of this world," to know nothing but "Jesus Christ, and him crucified," and to continue his preaching among the lowly and outcast-whose hearts were open and receptive enough to hear and believe the gospel.

It was just what Jesus had found in his ministry. These things were "hidden from the wise and understanding, but revealed unto babes." So it is still. God cannot make himself understood by the cynical, the proud, the self-satisfied, the patronizing. God is "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity." But he "dwells with him that is humble in heart."

STUDY TOPICS

1. Trace on the map Paul's journeys described in this chapter. Study the roads and routes on Murray's map ("Graecia"), and find the places named.

2. Of what importance has Thessalonica (Saloniki) been in recent years?

3. Explain the accusation brought against Paul and his companions at Thessalonica. Look up Emperorworship in the encyclopedia or in your ancient history.

4. Read the following passages from the letters of Paul to the Thessalonians: 1 Thessalonians 1:1 to 2: 2; 2: 13-20; 3; 4:9-12; 5: 1−11; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5;

2:13-17; 3:6-18. What are the main points in these passages? Jot them down in your notebook. 5. Make an analysis of Paul's address before the Areopagus. Why did his address fail? What was the character of his hearers?

6. Study the chronological table in this volume. Review it up to the present point, and see how well you can visualize the progress of the gospel thus far. Recall in detail the events there briefly indicated.

7. Would you say that Epictetus' words prove what Paul said at Athens about men "seeking after God"? What may this suggest to us about believers in other religions to-day? Is Christ the "fulfillment" of other hopes and prophecies, as well as those of the Old Testament?

8. Why does God require humility? Can you remember any words of our Lord upon the subject? Show how pride and self-satisfaction keep us from knowing and doing the will of our Father in heaven. Do you know any concrete examples?

CHAPTER XVII

PAUL AT CORINTH

FIFTY miles west of Athens, around the Saronic Gulf and across the narrow isthmus connecting northern and southern Greece, lay Corinth. It was at that time one of the most important commercial centers in the world. Julius Cæsar had begun a canal across the isthmus, which was not, however, finished until modern times. In Paul's day, a wooden railway transported freight, and even small vessels, from the Corinthian Gulf on the west to the Saronic on the east, and thus shortened by three hundred miles the sailing route east and west around the dangerous capes of Tænarus and Malea. This had been especially valuable in the old days when pirates roved the open Mediterranean and preyed upon the growing shipping of the world. As a result, Corinth had vastly increased in wealth and population. Probably between three hundred thousand and five hundred thousand persons, counting slaves, lived there in the first century. Sailors from every port in the world jostled elbows on the quays and sang their chanties as they strolled the streets. Rich merchants were here, agents and supercargoes and commission men from Spain and Gaul, Egypt, Persia, India, the Danube valley, Jewish traders and workmen, and, of course, Greeks and Italians in great numbers. Corinth was one of the keycities of the empire. If Christianity could be planted here, its influence would reach far and wide-much farther and wider than from some provincial town like Derbe or Beroa.

For all its business and wealth, Corinth was a city famous for its luxury and vice. "To live as a Corinthian" was an epithet for self-indulgence and intemperance. Drunkenness was common and morals generally were lax. Religion was apparently honored, for there was a famous temple of Apollo, then several centuries old, which stood on the summit of Acro-corinthus, a towering mass of rock over eighteen hundred feet in height just south of the city, and could be seen for miles in every direction. But down in the town, religion, even the religion of Apollo, which had once been a noble and worthy faith, had little influence. Other worships had come in, like the immoral cult of Astarte, which had corrupted the ancient worship of the sailors' goddess, Aphrodite. The mass of the people were sunk deep in vice and sin. Hence Christianity, if it won followers in Corinth, was destined to have a hard struggle to hold its converts, and keep them from lapsing into the habits and customs of their neighbors.

THE HOUSE BESIDE THE SYNAGOGUE

Not waiting for Silas and Timothy, Paul moved on from Athens to Corinth. His unsuccessful effort to convince the members of the Areopagus, and the atmosphere of Athens as a whole, its complacent and artificial culture, showed him the uselessness of continuing his work there.

Aquila and Priscilla. He had not been long in Corinth before he met a man and his wife, Aquila and Priscilla, who were to have a large share in Paul's life from then on. They were tentmakers, and belonged therefore to Paul's own craft; and although Aquila was a native of Pontus (on the south shore of the Black Sea), he and Priscilla had lived in Rome until lately, when

all Jews had been expelled (49 A. D.) by edict of the Emperor Claudius. Perhaps they were Christians already. Six years later Paul addressed a letter to the Christians in Rome (Romans 1:7), so there may easily have been Christians there before the time of Claudius' edict. At least they extended hospitality to Paul at once, and he accepted it, toiling in the shop during the week and preaching on Sabbaths in the synagogue.

The house of Titus Justus.-A few weeks later Silas and Timothy arrived, and Paul began more active preaching of the gospel. This aroused the opposition of the orthodox Jews, just as it had done in other cities, and they refused to hear him any longer or permit him to preach in their synagogue. Then Paul "shook out his raiment," Luke says, and solemnly told them, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles."

One of the converts to Paul's message was a man with a Latin name, Titus Justus, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Leaving the synagogue, Paul began holding services in Titus' house, and this became the headquarters of the church from now on. It would not be surprising if such a situation, with the despised Christians holding services next door to the synagogue, aroused deep resentment among the narrow, orthodox Jews. Still more resentful were they when Crispus, the "ruler of the synagogue," was converted and became a Christian, together with his whole household. And besides him were many others, Jews and Greeks.

Freedom from persecution.-Whether the Jews were too few in numbers, or lacking in influence, or possessed of more generosity or discretion than those in other cities where Paul labored, or were still smarting from the blow given them by Claudius, we do not know.