did by attacking the Jews. These attacks must be resisted, and so we find Jewish apologists writing in defense of their religion and people, and refuting at great length all the charges made against them. Two of these are especially worthy of notice. The Jews were charged with being a modern people, without a history, and consequently they had contributed nothing to the civilization of the world. To disprove these charges they put forth the most strenuous efforts. They sought for proofs from every quarter to show that they were as old as any of the peoples then existing. And they did not hesitate to declare that the Jews had been the source of all culture and civilization. Abraham had taught the Egyptians astrology; Joseph had introduced a new system of irrigation and agriculture; Moses was the real father of all learning, for he was the first great philosopher, had invented the alphabet, and written the Pentateuch, which was the greatest of all philosophical works. He had lived long before any of the great men of the Greeks, who had derived all their knowledge from him without giving him the proper credit.

Not content with all these efforts, they even made use of forgeries to increase the reputation and authority of their religion. The Sibyls were mysterious prophetesses that were held in great reverence by the heathen. It was very shrewd on the part of the Jewish missionaries to make use of the name of the Sibyl to propagate the Jewish faith, for anything that she might utter would at

once receive the most ready credence. So in the second century B. C., we find that some pious Jew wrote a book which purported to be the work of a Sibyl. In the prologue she was made to say that she was a daughter of Noah, that she had been with him in the ark at the time of the flood, that she had then come from Babylon, and that the Greeks had given her a false name. She then foretells the glories of Solomon's kingdom, and really gives in the form of a prophecy the history of the Jews, Greeks, and Romans down to about the year 140 B. C. In all this the Jews are represented as the people of God, to whom is promised the Messiah, and all the other nations are threatened with destruction unless they repent and join the Jews in the worship of God. These prophecies of the Sibyls were widely read, and undoubtedly had great influence. Virgil and Tacitus had read them, and made use of them in their writings. Under the names of the greatest Greek poets and philosophers, Jewish writers also forged poems and histories, in which these are made to teach the purest Jewish doctrines and sound forth the praises of the true people of God.

This is certainly enough to show that the Jews were tremendously in earnest in their efforts to convert the world. Such a varied and eager missionary activity will compare favorably with that of any other religion. They bid high for popular favor, and left no stone unturned to reach the heathen masses. Their efforts were not without success. The influence of the Jews on the heathen

world was far greater than has generally been supposed. Many heathen became proselytes. They were circumcised, observed the whole law, and lived entirely as Jews. These were called "proselytes of righteousness." A far larger number, however, were influenced by their religious teachings, yet hesitated to take this important step. They were willing to observe some of the law, but in its entirety it was too exacting and burdensome. Many of these observed the Sabbath and some of the requirements in regard to meats, and with this the Jews seem to have been satisfied. These were called "God fearing" or "devout." 1

There were also many that were influenced by the teachings of the Jews, although they refused to accept any of these burdensome and inconvenient restrictions. They learned much from the Jews. We might even say they got the true religion from them. They were careful to receive the truth and to frame their lives in accordance with it. But the ceremonial part of Judaism was repellent to them, and, furthermore, they saw that it was not necessary.

From what has been said it will be seen that the influence of the Jews on the heathen was great and good, converting many of them wholly to a

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1 These and similar phrases were used to designate this class. Thus Cornelius, Acts x. 2, is called a devout man and one that feared God." Cf. Acts xiii. 50, "the devout women;" xvi. 14, one that feared God." These were not called "proselytes of the gate; "this phrase was applied simply to heathen who lived in Palestine.

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high type of Judaism, and giving many others a better knowledge of God and of his character. Every synagogue was as a light set in a dark place, and about each of these were gathered many heathen seeking the truth, and worshiping with more or less purity the God of Israel. The scattering of the Jews throughout all lands was in this way a blessing; for they were instrumental in spreading abroad a higher conception of God and purer moral standards, thus helping on the religious education and development of the world, and preparing it for the reception of Christianity.

CHAPTER III.

THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY.

WHATEVER the purpose of the author of the socalled "Acts of the Apostles" was, it may be regarded as a sketch of the first thirty years of Christian missions. If that really was the author's aim, he did not follow it closely, and has consequently failed to tell us many things that we would wish to know. He has given us a good deal of information and many hints about the spread of Christianity, which we may put together, but still we shall be far from knowing all about it. It is impossible, indeed, to answer all the questions that present themselves, because our sources of information are so meagre.

In general, we know that for some years Christianity appeared very much as a Jewish sect, confined strictly to the Jews. Its followers had no thought of leaving the Jewish fold, but rather expected that all the Gentiles should become Jews in order to have a part in the Messiah's kingdom which they were establishing. But Christianity was stronger than its followers. It had such expansive power that it was not to be hemmed in. And so in spite of its adherents it broke off the fetters