Beacon Lights of History, Volume 02 | Page 3

Sadducees Synagogues, their number and popularity The Jewish Sanhedrim Advance in sacred literature Apocryphal Books Isolation of the Jews Dark age of Jewish history Power of the high priests The Persian Empire Judaea a province of the Persian Empire Jews at Alexandria Judaea the battle-ground of Egyptians and Syrians The Syrian kings Antiochus Epiphanes His persecution of the Jews Helplessness of the Jews Sack of Jerusalem Desecration of the Temple Mattathias His piety and bravery Revolt of Mattathias Slaughter of the Jews Death of Mattathias His gallant sons Judas Maccabaeus His military genius The Syrian generals Wrath of Antiochus Desolation of Jerusalem Judas defeats the Syrian general Judas cleanses and dedicates the Temple Fortifies Jerusalem The Feast of Dedication Renewed hostilities Successes of Judas Death of Antiochus Deliverance of the Jews Rivalry between Lysias and Philip Death of Eleazer Bacchides Embassy to Rome Death of Judas Maccabaeus Judas succeeded by his brother Jonathan Heroism of Jonathan His death by treachery Jonathan succeeded by his brother Simon Simon's military successes His prosperous administration Succeeded by John Hyrcanus The great talents and success of John Hyrcanus The Asmonean princes Pompey takes Jerusalem Accession of Herod the Great He destroys the Asmonean princes His prosperous reign Foundation of Caesarea Latter days of Herod Loathsome death of Herod Birth of Jesus, the Christ
SAINT PAUL.
THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY.
Birth and early days of Saul His Phariseeism His persecution of the Christians His wonderful conversion His leading idea Saul a preacher at Damascus Saul's visit to Jerusalem Saul in Tarsus Saul and Barnabas at Antioch Description of Antioch Contribution of the churches for Jerusalem Saul and Barnabas at Jerusalem Labors and discouragements Saul and Barnabas at Cyprus Saul smites Elymas the sorcerer Missionary travels of Paul Paul converts Timothy Paul at Lystra and Derbe Return of Paul to Antioch Controversy about circumcision Bigotry of the Jewish converts Paul again visits Jerusalem Paul and Barnabas quarrel Paul chooses Silas for a companion Paul and Silas visit the infant churches Tact of Paul Paul and Luke The missionaries at Philippi Paul and Silas at Thessalonica Paul at Athens Character of the Athenians The success of Paul at Athens Paul goes to Corinth Paul led before Gallio Mistake of Gallio Paul's Epistle to the Thessalonians Paul at Ephesus The Temple of Diana Excessive labors of Paul at Ephesus Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians Popularity of Apollos Second Epistle to the Corinthians Paul again at Corinth Epistles to the Galatians and to the Romans The Pauline theology Paul's last visit to Jerusalem His cold reception His arrest and imprisonment The trial of Paul before Felix Character of Felix Paul kept a prisoner by Felix Paul's defence before Festus Paul appeals to Caesar Paul preaches before Agrippa His voyage to Italy Paul's life at Rome Character of Paul His magnificent services His triumphant death

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME II.
The Wailing Wall of the Jews _After the painting by J.L. Gerome_.
Abraham and Hagar After the painting by Adrian van der Werff.
Joseph Sold by His Brethren. _After the painting by H.F. Schopin_.
Erection of Public Building in the Time of Rameses _After the painting by Sir Edward J. Poynter_.
Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites Across the Red Sea _After the painting by F.A. Bridgman_.
Moses _From the statue by Michael Angelo, Rome_.
David Kills Goliath _After the painting by W.L. Dodge_.
David _From the statue by Michael Angelo, Florence_.
Elijah's Sacrifice Consumed by Fire from Heaven _After the painting by C.G. Pfannschmidt_.
Isaiah _From the fresco in the Sistine Chapel, by Michael Angelo_.
A Sacrifice to Baal After the painting by Henri Motte.
The Jews Led Into Babylonian Captivity _After the painting by E. Bendeman_.
St. Paul Preaching at the Foot of the Acropolis _After the painting by Gebhart Fügel_.

ABRAHAM.
RELIGIOUS FAITH.
From a religious point of view, Abraham appears to us, after the lapse of nearly four thousand years, as the most august character in history. He may not have had the genius and learning of Moses, nor his executive ability; but as a religious thinker, inspired to restore faith in the world and the worship of the One God, it would be difficult to find a man more favored or more successful. He is the spiritual father equally of Jews, Christians, and Mohammedans, in their warfare with idolatry. In this sense, he is the spiritual progenitor of all those nations, tribes, and peoples who now acknowledge, or who may hereafter acknowledge, a personal God, supreme and eternal in the universe which He created. Abraham is the religious father of all those who associate with this personal and supreme Deity a providential oversight of this world,--a being whom all are required to worship, and alone to worship, as the only true God whose right it is to reign, and who does reign, and will reign forever and ever over everything that exists, animate or inanimate, visible or