CHAPTER XVIII. Paul and Silas leave Philippi. - Visit Thessalonica and Berea. Paul at Athens. On the day after the eventful night I have been describing, the magistrates of Philippi sent to the prison to desire that Paul and Silas would immediately leave the city. But Paul refused to be thus thrust out like a criminal; he sent back to them a message, complaining of the way in which they had been treated, and declaring that they were Roman citizens. The magistrates, on hearing this, were alarmed, for it was against the laws to misuse a citizen of Rome uncondemned; they came therefore themselves to the prisoners, and intreated them to leave the city. which, after bidding farewell to their friends at Philippi, they departed. On Passing through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia, which you will find in the map of Macedonia, they came to Thessalonica, a city seated on the Gulph of Thermaicus.* Paul, according to his custom, taught here in the Jewish synagogues for three Sabbaths; endea *Now called Saloniki. vouring to convince the Jews from their own Scriptures, that the Christ they expected was come. His preaching was not without success; some of the Jews, but great numbers of the Gentiles, believed. Again, however, his inveterate enemies, the unbelieving Jews, stirred up the people, and caused such an uproar in the city, that the disciples sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea, or Berrhoea, a town at a short distance from Philippi. Of the Jews at Berea, Luke remarks, that" they were more noble than those of Thessalonica," more candid and anxious for truth, he meant, "because they received the word with gladness, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so." With this disposition, we need not wonder that many among them believed: of the Gentiles or Greeks too, some, both men and women, became Christians. But Paul's old enemies followed him here also, and set the people against him, so that he was obliged to take flight, and he went with some of his friends to Athens. Of Athens, you have all heard something. Though no longer in the height of its glory, this city was still celebrated for the fine arts, and for its wise and learned men. But notwithstanding this, its inhabitants were as ignorant of their Maker, as the most uncivilized barbarians; they - were wholly given to idolatry. Paul's spirit was roused at the sight, he spoke with the Jews in their synagogue, he reasoned with the wise men in their market, the place where they were accustomed to assemble, for the purpose of conversing. Now the Athenians were very ready to hear anything new; Luke says of them, that they passed their time in nothing else but to tell or to hear some new thing. So they brought Paul to the Areopagus, and desired him to explain his doctrine. His address to the people of Athens you shall read in Luke's own words soon; he told them that God, who made all things both in heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither can be repre |