The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-04
Shorter CatacAism, Question 20.
QUESTIONS.


Where were Paul and Barnabas now? How
long had they been in this city?
V. ~. Who invited them to remain another
Sabbath
v. 43. Who followed them out Of the synagogue?
Meaning Of proselyte? Meaning Of continue In
the grace Of God ?"
V. "A. How large was the congregation on the
next Sabbath? Showing what
" As. How did the Jews regard this manifesto
ton OF INTEREST," Meaning OF " filled with envy Z
What did they do2
V. 46. Effect on Paul and Barnabas? What
Judgment did they pronounce on the JeWsP What
is meant BY their considering themselves as IN
worthy Of everlasting life p
V. AT. Who had commanded Paul and Bsrnabas
to turn to the Gentiles2 Where is this passage
found
V. As. How did tho Gentiles receive this good
news How many believed? Meaning Of " or
dained to eternal hteP'
v. 40. How far was the gospel proclaimed?
v. so What opposition did the Jews now man
iiest2 Who were these 'devout anO honorable
WomenP What was done to Paul and Blrnabas
v; 81; Where did thew go Meaning Of "shOok
off the dust Of their feet?
Y. 81. How were the disciples affected
NOTEs ON THE LESSON.
Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch in
Pisidia, on their first missionary tour, and,
as was their custom, had attended the syna:
gOgue worship on the Sabbath day, and Paul
had preached to the congregation the gospel
of Jesus Christ. The synagogue was the
Westinghouse of the Jews and was the start.
ing point of the Christian Church. The size
of the synagogue depended upon the popu-
lation; some cities had several. The build
ing was always dedicated to the worship of
God, and could only be used for religious as
semblies.
Paul's first missionary tour began A. D.
IS, and lasted two years.
V. AZ. The Gentiles, who gave Paul the
invitation to continue his ministry, were all
those of whatever nation, who had not en-
braeed the Jewish faith.
V. 43. The sermon had good effect on
many of the Jews and prOselytes also, for
they followed the preacher, after the congre.
cation was dismissed. "PrOselyte" means
one who comes to another country or people.
The ''religiOus prOselytes' we're those Greeks
who had accepted Jehovah as the true God,
and who met with Jews in the synagogue for
worship. Paul persuaded them to hold on to
the Word of life, to persavere in their inquir-
les after the way of salvation. And this is
the first inquiry meeting Of which we have
any account in the Christian Church. The
Jews had been trying to continue in the
laaO of God, Paul now ezhorts them to per-
severe under grace.
V. A. The attendance on the next Sab
bath shows that there must have been some
work done during the week. There was
usually service in the synagogues on Monday
and Thursday, said to have been appointed
by Ezra. And now the congregation en-
braeed all classes of the population. The
sword of God" as used here, means the
gospel, or the new doctrine.
V. Is. The pride of the Jews was now
aroused, as they saw the efface Of these new
doctrines upon toe mass Of tho people, and
they were filed with Jealousy. They regard
ed religious privileges as exclusively their
own, and they now denied these truths, and
abused and reviled Paul and Barnabas as
false teachers.
V. 46. Paul and Barnabas did not "Wax"
angry, as would have been natural, but in
the true spirit of this "new religion" they
only became courageous and were "bold'' to
preach Christ in the midst Of danger and OPP
position. 1t was Gods plan that the gospel
should be first preached to the Jews, see
Luke xiv: At. beginning at Jerusalem. r"
But they rejected it; by their words and
conduct they passed sentence on themselves.
In their passion and pride they not only tried
to exclude the Gantiles, but shut the door of
heaven against themselves.
V. AT. And now Paul turned to the Gen
tiles, as had been predicted centuries before.
lisa. xix; 6. Christ had also told the Jews
this same truth. Matt. xxi: 43.
V. 48. The GeRtiles heard the word glad
ly and recognized it at once as the Word of
God. "Ordained to eternal life" means that
they were disposed and determined by the
operation Of Gods grace in their hearts to
embrace eternal life. So the two things ne
cessary to salvation were found in their case.
The grace of God working in their hearts,
and their acceptance Of it.