who in the generations gone by suffered all the
nations to walk in their own ways. And yet he left not himself without
witness, in that he did good, and gave you from heaven rains and
fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."

And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing
sacrifice unto them.

But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having
persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the
city, supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood round about
him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went
forth with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to
that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to
Iconium, and to Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples,
exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that "through many
tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God." And when they had
appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting,
they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. And they
passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken
the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia; and thence they sailed to
Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the
work which they had fulfilled. And when they had come, and had gathered
the church together, they told all things that God had done with them,
and how he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. And they
tarried no little time with the disciples.

{388}

IV

A DISTURBANCE IN THE CHURCH

_How a Serious Dispute Was Settled by Mutual Conference_.

(Trouble arose in the church very early over the question of admitting
people of the outside world, or Gentiles, into the fellowship of the
faith. There was a party in the church who insisted very strongly that
the Gentiles, if they came in, must conform to all the rites and
ceremonies of the Jews. Another party, headed by Paul, said that it was
not necessary for the Gentiles to become Jews; that they could be
Christians without following all the religious ceremonies of the Jews.
After Paul and Barnabas returned from their missionary journey, and
reported the conversion of many Gentiles to the new faith, a great
meeting of the leaders was called at Jerusalem, and the matter, after
warm discussion, was decided in favor of the broader view of Paul.)

And certain men