In v. 6 how briefly the work of a considerable period is summed up ! Four Greek words (SceXdovTes oXijv ttjv vrjaov) contain all that is said about a missionary journey through- out the island. We understand from this brevity that there was no important fact for the historian's purpose. The passage is a typical one : the same formula occurs with slight variations in many later parts of the narrative ; and in this first case its meaning is specially clear, so that it throws its light on all the subsequent examples (which is, of course, intended by the historian). Doubtless the pro- cess which has just been described at Salamis is intended to apply everywhere. In each city where there was a settle- ment of Jews, the missionaries preached in the synagogue.
Further, the Cypriote Jews were not unfavourable to the new teaching. The influence and example of Barnabas were naturally effective with his fellow-countrymen. More- over, the Word had already been preached in Cyprus not long after Stephen's martyrdom XI 19, and converts had been made. There was therefore a small audience ready to listen to the travelling preachers in several, perhaps in all, of the Cyprian cities. Finally, the doctrine that was preached was probably not such as to rouse strong feeling among the Jews ; and, so long as the Gentiles were not specially appealed to and set on an equality with the Jews, the early Pauline teaching is not said to have caused more ill-will than the preaching of the older Apostles.
Sec. i. Cyprtis and Salamis. 73
But we may also probably make some negative inferences. There was no specially marked effect ; no sign of the Divine guidance or power was manifested ; and the address was made only through the synagogues and nowhere directly to the Gentiles. These are the points on which the his- torian always lays special stress ; signs of the Divine power were the guarantee of Paul's Divine mission, and the steps by which Paul turned more and more decidedly to the Gentiles marked the stages in history as Luke conceived it.
We conclude, then, that the silence observed with regard to the Cyprian evangelisation is not due to mere ignorance on the part of the historian or to want of authorities, but to deliberate plan. On the scale on which his work was planned, and his incidents selected, there was nothing more to say.
The Apostles are said to have made a preaching tour through the whole island. In a writer so sparing of words as Luke, the addition of the word " whole " is important. We cannot press it so far as to suppose that they went through every place in the island. Its force may probably be best seen by supposing it were omitted : in that case the Greek (SieXdovTe? rrjv vrjaov a>xPL nd<f)ov) would permit the interpretation that after landing at Salamis they went along the direct road to Paphos, preaching at convenient places. The word "whole" is probably intended to bring out clearly that they made a complete tour of the Jewish communities in the island, preaching in each synagogue.
2. PAPHOS. (XIII 6) AND WHEN THEY HAD GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE ISLAND UNTO PAPHOS, THEY FOUND A CERTAIN MAN, MAGIAN, PROPHET OF LIES, JEW, BY NAME BAR-JESUS, (7) WHO WAS IN THE COMPANY OF THE PROCONSUL, SERGIUS PAULUS, A MAN OF UNDER-
74 Journey of Barnabas and Saul. Chap. IV.
STANDING. THE PROCONSUL SUMMONED TO HIS PRES- ENCE BARNABAS AND SAUL, AND SOUGHT1 TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. (8) AND THERE STOOD FORTH AGAINST THEM THE MAGIAN, ETOIMAS {Son of the Ready), FOR SO IS THIS NAME TRANSLATED, SEEKING TO DIVERT THE PROCONSUL FROM THE FAITH. (9) BUT SAUL, OTHER- WISE PAUL, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, LOOKED FIXEDLY AT HIM, (io) AND SAID, "O FULL OF ALL GUILE AND ALL VILLANY, THOU SON OF THE DEVIL, THOU ENEMY OF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, WILT THOU NOT CEASE TO PERVERT THE RIGHT WAYS OF THE LORD ? (l i) AND NOW, BEHOLD THE HAND OF THE LORD IS UPON THEE, AND THOU SHALT BE BLIND, NOT SEEING THE SUN FOR A SEASON." AND IMMEDIATELY THERE FELL ON HIM A MIST AND A DARKNESS ; AND HE WENT ABOUT SEEKING SOME TO LEAD HIM BY THE HAND. (12) THEN THE PROCONSUL, WHEN HE SAW WHAT WAS DONE, BELIEVED, BEING STRUCK TO THE HEART AT THE TEACHING OF THE LORD.