PART II.

_Pentecost_. The great feast fifty days after the Passover. It was the Old Testament feast of the first fruits, when the first of the wheat harvest was presented in thanksgiving to God. The Jews of Christ's time regarded it as the memorial of the giving of the law at Sinai, but the Old Testament does not authorize that. Much was made of the feast at the temple, and crowds came to Jerusalem for its celebration.

_"Had all things in common."_ This was not communism, in which all property was put into a common stock. Each believer regarded his property as sacred to the uses of his brethren, did they need it; but the story of Ananias and Sapphira shows that it was still in his possession to do what he chose with it.

_Sorcery_. The age of the early church was full of belief in the reality of possession by evil spirits. Sorcery was the casting out of such evil spirits by means of magic. This belief continued for hundreds of years after, both among Christians and others. The belief in magical means of protection against witches, among our own ancestors, was of the same sort.

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_Ethiopia_. The region of the Upper Nile, the territory of the modern Nubia and Abyssinia. Candace seems to have been a title of the dowager queens of Ethiopia, as Caesar was of the emperors of Rome.

_Eating with Gentiles_. In order to avoid ceremonial defilement, it was the custom of the Jews never to eat with Gentiles. The early Christians kept their Jewish customs in this respect as in others. Before the close of the first Christian century, however, the custom had been dropped by Christians, along with most other parts of the Jewish ceremonial. By that time the church itself was mostly Gentile.

_"We" portions_. There are certain passages in the Book of Acts where the word "we" is used. It is believed that Luke himself, the author of the book, was present when this pronoun is used.

_The Roman Provincial Government and Army_. The whole New Testament history takes place within the Roman Empire. There was a petty king in Judea, subject to Rome, but the real governor was the proconsul or procurator. These officials were in charge of the various districts of the Empire and Paul frequently came in contact with them. Paul also came in contact very frequently with the Roman army, and some of his strongest illustrations are drawn from that organization. Three legions were garrisoned in Palestine--the 5th, the 10th, and the 15th. These legions corresponded to our brigade, mustering about 6,000 infantry and a detachment of cavalry. The legion was divided into ten companies of 600 men called cohorts. These also had names, and reference is made to the Italian and the Augustan cohorts. The captain of a cohort was called a centurion. It is probable that the troops under whose escort Paul went to Rome were a part of the Praetorian Guard, the emperor's special soldiers stationed at Rome and rarely sent to the provinces.

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_Prison_. The Roman prison had usually three parts: the outer part, where the prisoners had light and air; the inner part, shut off by iron gates and bars, more secure than the outer part; and a dungeon, probably a place of execution. The sufferings and barbarities of all ancient prisons were such as would not be allowed to-day.

_Cyprus_. The greatest island of the Eastern Mediterranean. The seat of government was Paphos, though Salamis, the seaport, was the largest and most important town. Many Jews were in the island. Copper, which word comes from Cyprus, was mined there from early time, and in all ancient history the island was an important place.

_Galatia_ was the name both of an ancient kingdom, and, in the time of Paul, of a Roman province. There is a difference of opinion as to which is its meaning in the New Testament. If it is used for the old kingdom only, the cities of Galatia are in the north central part of Asia Minor; Ancyra and Tavium are cities not mentioned in the New Testament. If it is used for the new Roman province, as seems probable to many, the cities are in the southern part of Asia Minor, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, towns often mentioned in Acts.

_Troas_. An important shipping port, the nearest to Europe of the important Asiatic towns. The Troy of Homer was in this region.

_Macedonia_, the ancient kingdom of Alexander the Great, was at this time under the Romans. At Philippi great battles in the Roman empire had been fought, and later a group of Romans settled, making the place a colony, with certain important privileges for its citizens. Thessalonica was an important seaport, the outlet for the products of a large section of country. It had a large Jewish population. The modern town, under the name Salonica, is still a port of some importance. Berea, about fifty miles southwest of Thessalonica, was the center of a large, fertile district, and had an important local trade.

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_Asia_ is used in Acts to mean only the Roman province of Asia, which was in the western part of Asia Minor. Its capital and largest city was Ephesus. In this city was a temple, so great and beautiful that it was one of the wonders of the ancient world. The image in the temple, however, was not splendid or beautiful. It was a rude, ugly wooden figure, but so highly regarded that the people believed it had actually fallen down from heaven, as the town clerk said in his speech to the people in the theater. The great city is gone now, but ruins of the temple and the large theater are still to be seen.

_Aegean Sea_. Paul sailed back and forth over this sea several times, so that its coasts in many parts must have become very familiar to him. There is more story connected with its waters than with those of any other sea in the world. Across it the Greeks sailed, in the stories of Homer, to the siege of Troy. The Phoenicians traded in its coasts and islands when Greek civilization was beginning to grow. The famous stories of Greek poetry were all laid on or near its shores. Every famous man of Greece had sailed its waters. Later came the Roman navies, carrying the armies which conquered the world; and now, in the New Testament period, came little groups of men, hiring their passage as best they could in the ships that were continually passing to and fro. The busy merchants and soldiers never stopped to look at them, and if they had, would have cared nothing for them, but these obscure travelers were bearing with them the future religion of Europe and America and the ends of the earth. It is not always the greatest thing that attracts the most attention.

_Tentmaking_. The Jews taught all their children some trade. No matter how much they desired them to become learned in the law, they saw to it first that they could earn their bread by the skill of their hands. Paul was a tentmaker, and very glad he, the learned rabbi, must have been, more than once, that he could earn his own living by manual work, and be free to use his learning as God gave him opportunity.

_Paul's routes of travel_ were usually along the established lines of commerce. In his last journey to Jerusalem he followed the {497} coasting route from Macedonia to Rhodes, then a route to Phoenicia common for many hundreds of years. Other routes on the Aegean were from Ephesus to Athens; from Troas to Italy, from Ephesus to Italy; from Thessalonica to Athens, and thence to Italy; from Athens to Troas and the Euxine (Black Sea).

_Ancient ships_. The ship on which Paul sailed, and which was wrecked on the island of Malta, carried 276 persons besides her cargo of grain. She was perhaps 180 feet long and 1,000 tons burden, not large compared with the modern steamship, but still of good size even by our standards. She was about equal perhaps in general dimensions and tonnage to the merchantmen which made the voyage to India in the "fifties." She had no oars like the ancient ships of war, but depended upon one mast and a huge sail. Possibly more than one sail was raised in light wind, on the mast, and perhaps another small sail, something like the modern jib, was raised at the bow. She was steered by two paddle-like rudders which were thrust through openings in the stern. The single heavy mast and huge sail brought a great strain on the ship's timbers, which were not so well put together as now, and great danger arose from leaking in a heavy blow. The cables which were passed around the vessel were intended to draw the planks together and lessen the leak.

_Felix_. A Roman of perhaps somewhat humble origin, governor of Judea. His wife Drusilla was of Herod's family (see the Table of the Family of Herod). He was not a man of any great ability or character, and his violence against the Jews aroused yet further troubles, until the whole nation was in commotion. Nothing is known of his history after his governorship.

_Festus_. A Roman, perhaps of better character and more ability than Felix. He died after being governor for some years.

_Agrippa II_. (See Table of the Family of Herod.) He was tetrarch of the regions in the north of Palestine, with his capital at Caesarea Philippi. He was interested, as Paul suggests, in {498} Jewish matters, finished building the temple, and tried in vain to keep peace between the Jews and Romans. He died about 100 A.D., the last important member of the family of Herod.

_"I appeal to Caesar."_ This was one of the most important privileges of a Roman citizen. It took the case at once out of the jurisdiction of the local authorities and transferred it to Rome. Unless the appeal was made by a bandit or pirate it could not be denied.

_Crete_. A fertile, densely populated island, famous in Greek legend and story, and, as is now known, one of the great sources of ancient Greek civilizations. It is very mountainous, and the cold wind from its mountains often made sudden changes in the conditions of sailing, as it did with the ship in which Paul sailed.

_Malta_. The traditional place where Paul was shipwrecked is on the east coast of the island, northwest of the present city of Valetta, and is known as St. Paul's Bay. Very possibly the tradition is correct.

_Jews in Rome_. Rome was a great center of all the peoples of the empire, and it is not surprising that Jews, who had already wandered all over the East, had arrived here also. One emperor, Claudius, had banished them from the city, but they had later been allowed to return. When Paul was in Rome there must have been many Jews there, though there is no means of knowing how many.

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MEMORY VERSES

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MEMORY VERSES

_One for Each Week of the Year_.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.--_Isaiah 53:5_.

All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.--_Isaiah 53:6_.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.--_Isaiah 9:6_

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. --_Micah 5:2_.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.--_John 3:16_.

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Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. --_1 John 3:1_.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.--_I John 3:9_.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.--_Matthew 5:6_.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.--_Matthew 6:33_.

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.--_Matthew 9:9_.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. --_Matthew 12:29,30_.

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.--_Matthew 10:25_.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. --_Luke 12:34_.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.--_John 6:35_.

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Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.--_John 8:12_.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.--_John 8:31,32_.

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.--_John 10:9_.

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.--_John 12:46_.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. --_John 13:34_.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.--_John 14:6_.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.--_John 14:27_.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.--_John 15:7_.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.--_John 15:14_.

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For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. --_Matthew 12:50_.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.--_Mark 13:31_.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.--_Mark 1:22_.

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.--_Matthew 8:20_.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.--_Matthew 5:16_.

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.--_Matthew 10:31_.

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.--_Mark 13:33_.

Blessed are those servants whom the lord, when he cometh, shall find watching: verily, I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.--_Luke 12:37_.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they {505} shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.--_John 10:27,28_.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.--_John 13:15_.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.--_John 16:33_.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. --_Romans 12:10,11,12_.

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.--_Romans 14:7,8_.

But by the grace of God I am what I am.--_I Corinthians 15:10_.

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. --_II Corinthians 4:18_.

For the love of Christ constraineth us.--_II Corinthians 5:14_.

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And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.--_Galatians 6:9_.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.--_Colossians 3:2_.

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.--_Colossians 4:5_.

For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.--_II Corinthians 5:1_.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.--_I Corinthians 15:42,43,44_.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. --_I Corinthians 15:54_.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.--_I Corinthians 15:55,56_.

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And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.--_Revelation 21:1-3_.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.--_Revelation 21:4_.

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.--_Revelation 21:22-24_.

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. --_Revelation 22:1,2_.

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And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face: and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.--_Revelation 22:3-5_.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. --_Revelation 22:17_.

[End of "VOLUME FOUR: LIFE OF JESUS"]

[Start of "VOLUME FIVE: SONGS OF THE AGES"]

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THE BIBLE STORY

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THE BIBLE STORY