The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-11


". IL. Effect of the miracle on the people P
What language did they useP
V. u. What god did they call Barnabasf What
Paul2
V.lS. What were the priests and people about
to do2
V. IA. What protest did the apostles make
V. Is. What did they say to prevent itS What
did thew say Of themselves?
". 10. What had God suffered Why are the
heather without excuse p Rom. i 1872, -
~ -F4nus-sss ll44arseSeOG ateA0Oflsr
V. Is Was the sacrifice prevented?
V. 10. Who came to Lystrs? For what pur-
pose2 See III Cor. xi 25. To what condition was
Paul reduced?
V. 20. What happened afterward2 Where did
Paul and Barnabss now go? Where was Deroe
NOTES ON THE LESSON.
We left Paul and Barnsbas at Ieonium.
There they remained some time, preaching
boldly in the name of the Lord, and their
preaching was attended with great success,
so that many, both Jews and Gentiles, were
converted. But prosecuting rage was ex-
cited against them, and to escape violence
they fed to Lystrs, a city of LycaOnia, in the
eastern part of the great plain.
V. s. Here in the market-place, probably
asking aims, sat man, entirely pOwerlesS in
his lower limbs, and this from his earliest in
fancy.
V. 9. He had heard Paul as he preached
in the streets and public places, because there
was no synagogue in Lystra. His earnest
attention attracted the eye of Paul, and he
saw in the man faith that implied spirit
ual acceptance of the gospel.
V. 10. And as he had faith to be saved he
had faith to be healed, and Paul commanded
him to "stand upright" He spoke in a
loud voice, as our Saviour had done to Lag
arus, and the effect was instantaneous and
complete.
V. II. The people Immediately thought
that it was impossible for men to perform
such a miracle, and that the gods themselves
had visited the earth in the form of men,
A commentator on this verse says, {" it &C.
ours to US that if Paul, like Peter, had used
the name of Christ in the working of this
miracle, they would not have been subject to
this misconstruesion. When no afterwards
wrote his Epistle to the COlOssians, perhaps
he had learned to be more careful, for ne
gives them this advice 'And whatsoever ye
do, in word or deed, do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus. "
V. II. Jupiter was the presiding deity of
Lystra, and hence they gave to Barnabas
this name probably because of his superior
bodily presence, and digni6ed bearing. Paul,
as the chief speaker, they called Mercurius,
the god of ElOquence, and the attendant Of
Jupiter.
V. Is. The temple of Jupiter was just in
front of the gates of the city, and now they
brought the sacrifcial oxen and the garlands
for decorating the victims, and wished to pay
Paul and Barnsbas divine hOnOrs.
V. IA. But in token of their grief and
horror the apostles "rent their clothes" and
rushed forth to prevent such public adOra-
ton and blasphemy.
V. Is. They said they were men of "hke
passions" of similar natures, and they had
exhOrted the people to turn from "these van
tiles, or these false gods that have 10 exis-
tence, and worship the only living and true
God, who was the creator of all things.
V. 10. All the Gentiles had been left to
their own ways, that they might find out
that idolatry was nothing but vanity, and
that the wages of sin was death.
V. II. And yet he had not left them with
out evidences of his divine power, wisdom,
and goodness, and had gladdened their
hearts with food.
V. Is. 1t was still difficult to restrain the
people. "The heart of the sons of men is
fully set in them to do evil"
V. 10. And now came the prosecuting
Jews from Antioch and Iconium to complete
me iniquity which they had planned and
failed to execute. The popular sentiment,
tickle as usual, was easily turned against
Paul, who had wounded their vanity, and as
he had been the prominent actor and speaker
he now became the chief object of their rage,
and he was stoned, and by the Jews most
probably, for stOning was their sign-msnual.
V. 20. Although he was left for dead by
his enemies, his friends still fingered near in
grief and apprehension, and then as one re-
stored to life, or recovered from blow, Paul
rose up and came into the city, and bravely
remained until the next day. He then went
to Derbe, twenty miles to the east, and as
far as he went on his first missionary tour.
From this lesson We may learn,
l. The nature of the true God.
2. The guilt of those in Christian lands
who obey not the gospel.
3. How easily the good we do may be
perverted.
4. That God must have all the glory.
5. The power of saving faith.
6. The fekleness of popular favor.
7. When God has work to be done, the
world cannot stop it.
The mystery Of faith is best held in pure
conscience. The practical love of truth is