February 22

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; at Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Mauzen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 A very ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucus; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they had also John to their minister.

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Baryous:

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for

Barnabas and Saul, and desired to bear the word of God

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

10 And said, O full of all victory and all mischief, then child of the devil, then enemy of all righteousness, will thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

11 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 deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pampayila; and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

The foreign missionary work of the church is of divine origin. "The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." It was God the Holy Spirit who called them to leave Antioch and carry the glad tidings to the heathen beyond.

"I wonder if there were not some members of the church to raise the objection that they had heathens enough at home. They would have had more ground to stand on than many who raise that objection to-day. Antioch was a city of more than two hundred thousand inhabitants, most of whom were idolaters. Only a few, comparatively, had been won to Christianity. Yet Barnabas and Saul are taken away! If those who are in the habit of meeting the claims of the foreign missionary cause with the cry of

'heathen at home' will ponder seriously and candidly this incident in the history of the early church they will get some light. This is God's work. It is by His command that His church is engaged in it. It is our duty simply to obey. If we have the spirit of our Master our obedience will be prompt, joyful, and thankful."—R. R. Meredith, D. D.

God has put the seal of His approval on this work. Since Barnabas and Saul went forth, multitudes from many lands, through many ages, have been won to Christ.

Closet Promise.—God loveth a cheerful giver.—2 Cor. ix. 7.

If I can only place one little brick in the pavement of the Lord's pathway I will place it there, that coming generations may walk thereon to the heavenly city.—Phillips Brooks.