Some malignant Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and roused the fickle-minded mob, so that they stoned Paul, and drew him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. The converts, who were not numerous enough to prevent this violence, gathered around the bruised and gory body; when Paul revived, and, with characteristic bravery, went back again into the city. The next day, Paul, accompanied by Barnabas, proceeded to another city (Derbe), a few miles farther east. Here they preached the gospel for some time, gaining many disciples; when “they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”[119] They then returned by the same route they had already traversed, preaching as they went, till they reached Perga, whence they took ship for Antioch. It is _conjectured_ that this tour occupied about a year. Upon their arrival in Antioch, they gathered all the disciples, and recounted to them the events of their excursion, dwelling particularly upon the fact that God “had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” They both continued in Antioch for a “long time,” preaching the gospel. CHAPTER VII. MISSIONARY ADVENTURES. The First Controversy.――Views of the Two Parties.――Council at Jerusalem.――Results of Council.――The Letter.――Vacillation of Peter.――Rebuked by Paul.――The Missionary Excursion of Paul and Barnabas.――They traverse the Island of Cyprus.――Land on the Coast of Asia Minor.――Mark returns to Syria.――Results of this Tour.――Paul and Silas set out on a Second Tour through Asia Minor.――Cross the Hellespont.――Introduction of Christianity to Europe.――Heroism of Paul at Philippi.――Tour through Macedonia and Greece.――Character of Paul’s Preaching.――Peter’s Description of the Final Conflagration.――False Charges.――Paul in Athens; in Corinth.――Return to Jerusalem.