The life and work of St. Paul

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journeys aiid imprisonments may have arisen from a dosire to give him the
benefit of medical skill and attention in Ms frequent attacks of sickness. 1 Tlie
lingering remains of that illness which prostrated St. Paul in Galatia may
have furnished the first reason why it became necessary for Luke to accompany
him, and so to begin the fraternal companionship which must have bcon
one of the richest blessings of a sorely troubled life.
833.
CHRISTIANITY IN MACEDONIA.
CHAPTER XXV.
PHILIPPI.
" The day is short ; the work abundant ; the labourers are remiss ; the reward is
great ; the master presses." PIRKB ABH^TH, ii.
So with their hearts full of the high hopes inspired by the consciousness that they
were being led by the Spirit of God, the two Apostles, with Luke and Timo-
theus, set sail from the port of Troas. As the south wind sped them fast upon
their destined course, they may have seen a fresh sign that He was with them
who causes the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by His power brings in
the south wind. 2 Owing to this favourable breeze, they traversed in two days
the distance which occupied five days when they returned. 3 On the first day
they ran past Tonedos and Imbros straight for Samothraco, and anchored for
the night to leeward of it. Did Paul as he gazed by starlight, or at early
dawn, on the towering peak which overshadows that ancient island, think at
all of its immemorial mysteries, or talk to his companions about the Cabiri, or
question any of the Greek or Roman sailors about .the strange names of
Axiochoros, Axiochersos, and Axiochersa p We would gladly know, but wo
have no data to help us, and it is strongly probable that to all such secondary
incidents he was habitually indifferent.
1 Dr. Plumptre (ubi supra) tries to show that the intercourse of Luke, the Physician,
left its traces on St. Paul's own language and tone of thought e.g., the frequent use of
(1 Tim. i. 10 ; vi. 3, &c., in eight places), which is found three times in St. Luke,
; voo-w (1 Tim. vi. 4) ; yayypa.iva. (2 Tim. ii. 17) ; TVOO> (1 Tim.
rruVot (1 Tim. iv. 2) ; Kvr,e6^o