The National tribune., 1892-10-20
SUNDAY ,::$::::Itl.EDITBTI0N, ::::I IS 4

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4 Study of the International Sunday
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School Lessah,D%rAppointed for Oct.
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30, 1892. 's@sts5 s,es%s
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Subject: The Gospel not Retarded but
! Spread by Persecution. Acts, IL 1890.
| Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph ffoth the Holy Scriptures as
| indicated above.l
INTRODUCTION
| The lesson last week considered the speech Of
| ST. Peter at the house of Cornelius and its
| effects The speech was defense of the Cen
| tiles claiming they have all rights in the
Christian religion, followed up by recogni-
| tion aud practical exemplifcation of said prn-
| cpc. Nothing but the voice of God in the
trance experienced by st. Peter on the roof of
Simon's tho tanner's) house effected such
| tremendous revolution in the mind Of the
| formerly bigoted, narrow Jew that Peter had
| been. The account, however. shows Peter was
not the only prejudiccd one among the early
| Jewish Christians. He was called to account
! for showing such libcrality toward Gentiles,
and obliged to go to Jerusalem for the purpose
of explaining his words aud actions. At the
council, called. ST. Peter gave full report Of
his trance his call to go to Casarca, the meeting
at the house of Cornelius the outpourng of the
Holy Ghost the Gentiles as plentiously as
formerly on the Jews at Pentecost day. There
must have been profound respect for st. Peter.
1t was no easy matter TO remove the prejudice
existing against the Gentiles He convinced
them that it is Gods will TO give equal chance
of salvation to all men. That was mastery
logic which could disarm such determined
opposition against foreign importation into the
New Church. Probably the Holy Spirit led
both st. Peter and his hearers of the Council.
At any rate, at the close of the session, the
early Jewish Christians willingly, unitedly,
declared, then hath God also to the Gentiles
granted repentance unto life. ". 49,
1t would be we'll to follow plan of study like
this: l. Conversions through prosecutions.
9. The Mission of Barnabas to Antioch. 3. The
prophecy of Agabus.
PREACHING GROWING Our OF PERSECUTION.
f.'Data.
Acts, IL: 1921, inclusive.
g. Time
We dated the speech of st. Peter III: 5-18, in
clusive,) A. d. Al. 1t is evident the lesson
this week carries us back several years. to wit,
to the time little after the Martyrdom OF st.
Stephen, which occurred A. d. 3d. Growing
out from that cruelty of the Jews against the
| early Christians grew terrible persecution.
(8: ~ As a result OF such treatment the fol-
lowers of Christ were scattered abroad and
went everywhere preaching the Word"
(6:4)
3. Places.
We find in verse IS three of the places men
toned covered in general by the statements in
s: A by the words abroad " and everywhere"
Pheuice. III: 49,: Is: 3; 27: 12.) 1t is a
city IN the western end of the Island of Crete.
about 700 miles in q straight line northwest of
! Jerusalem. 49,
Cyprus is an Island of the Mediterranean
Sea, about 100 miles from the coast, and $50
miles northwest from Jerusalem. Bafnabas,
| spoken Of in " %, was born there.
| Antioch. The river Orontcs rises in the
| Lebanon Mountains. runs north for something
! over 100 miles, turns then southwest. forming
a bow, and emptying into the Mediterranean
at nearly its extreme northeast end. At about
| % miles from its mouth, or about midway be-
J tween the sea and the bow extreme, lies
| Antioch, on the south side of the river. 1t
probably numbered 100000 inhabitants. 1t
was rich, magni fcent, with grand public struct-
| ures with wide, extending, beautiful gardens
| and parks, decorated elegantly with statues and
monuments. 1t was rich. luxuriaDt extrava-
| CANT. With many Of the advantages and moral
| opportunities, it had also the vices of civilza-
ton. 1t was grand field for Gospel effort, and
naturally invited the early disciples, who were
under commission to 20 everywhere and
preach the Gospel to every body.
| Cyrene city in Cyrenaica, Africa. In a
straight lire it was about 800 miles west of
| Jerusalem.
| /. st. Stephen was one Of the seven deacons
| He was wise, discreet eloquent, bold, irresista-
| ble in argument. (6:9 10) His influence
! was great, and the Sanhedrim feared the re-
suits. He is counted the first martyr to the
| Christian religion.
2. Unto the Jews only" ". 49, The
broadness OF the Gospel was not yet compre
hended. The experiences of St Peter with
Cornelius had not yet beoa available TO the
carly preachers.
3. 1t is interesting to notice that persecu-
tion, which was intended for harming Chris
tianity, proved to be for its advantage
a. See how little early Christians were in
| timdated by persecution.
5. We are taught to preach "the Lord
Jesus" ~ 20) far and wide. 1t is supposed
| the Grecians referred to in verse 90 were Gen
tiles If So the spirit of tolerance and liber-
aity began to develop in the preachers alluded
| to in verse 10
6. 1t was provdential that at the irst Pente.
cost there were present representatives from
Crete. Cyrcne, etc, o. 9l1) who. becoming
| filled with the Holy Spirit. could carry abroad
| the good news and declare themselves wit
| nesses
7. Nothing can be effective without Gods
| blessing Every enterprise needs the hand
| of the Lord " to make it a Success By the
| hand" we mean the help or countenance.
! III. THE MISSION OF BARNABAs TO ANTIOCH
l. Data.
Acts IL :22 26, inclusive.
9. Time.
See on paragraph above.
g. Place
| The lesson centers at Antioch, ahout 300
miles in straight line north from Jerusalem.
We may wonder how in those times news
spread so rapidly. 1t seens. however. there
was considerable travelling
Tarsus (V. 25) was city of Cilicia, Asia
! Minor, north Of the Cyprus Island, the native
place OF st. Paul 1t is about 70 miles north
west of Antioch.
A. Barndbds
| We have description of him in verso "a.
| Anyone might rejoice to nave so good a record
from so competent source, and written in
such book. His name means "the of
consolation" a. 1863 1t was grand of him to
stand out nobly and boldly in defense of st.
Paul. (9:27) Barnabas never did discredt
to tho recorded exhibit of his character.
5.rNptes.
l. We see how clesely the affairs of tho
Church were wa'cAeafon the start. The Apos-
ties were determined not to allow any irregu-
larties. They hcard in some way how tole.