The National tribune., 1892-11-24


ST. Panl in his first missionary tour.
IL: /. Antioch (Syria). Standpoint
g. Antioch to Seleucia, 12 miles.
4, 5. S. to Salams, 125
g. S. to Psphos, 100
Is. p. to Perga, 1o5
IA. P. to Antioch (Pisidia), 50
81. A. to 1coninm, 90
IA: 6. /. to Lystra, 30
L. to Derbe 80
The above distances are stated in straight
lines and not by travelled routes.
In orr study We shall do well to divide the
date as follows: a. The miracle. b. The at
tempt 10 pay divine honors to SITS. PGnl aud
| Barnabas.
We shall study Acts ID: 6-13, inclusive.
| These will be aaae enough, and We shall thus
maintain greater unity.
In verse g. fled unto Lystra and Derbe,"
cover, in general, events at both places. but
| leave the Apostles at Lystra so when our les
con opens they are not yet at the last named
| place. We learn in Y. 20 of their departure
| from Lystra to Derbe.
/. The MIRACLE.
l. Data.
Acts, Id $40, inclusive.
We move on little, but are yet probably in
| the year 4. D. As.
We are at Lystra. It was the native place
of st. Timothy. acts 81, q st. Paul re-
fers to the persecution he suffered in that
| city. e TIL, 3: H. No mention is made OF a
synagog. We may hence infer there was none
there, and hence few Jews. That was profit
able visit made by the Apostles to Lystra
| when We remember it most likely led to the
/ Inversion of st. Timothy, valuable addition
| to the little circle of Christians of that day.
His mother was Jewess The people were
heather, rude, ignorant.
| Afford says: "This, as we'll as Derbe (of both
which very little further is known, was
probably small town at tho foot of the singu-
| lar mountain mass known as the Karadagh, or
| Black Mountain; Lystra being south, and
Derbe southeast from Iconium. The sites are
| very uncertain. There are the ruins OF about
| 40 Christian churches on the north side of the
| Karadagh. at place called by the Turks,
| Binbir-kill-isseh (the thousand pud one
| churches), which the most recent travellers be-
| lieve may be Lystra."
| 1t would seem st. Paul was passing along the
road. Possibly his coming was noised about
| and all persons in great need of help would
| come out, and those unable so to do would be
! placed along the route in hope of receiving aid
| We learn from V. 3 that at Iconium the Lord
"granted signs and wonders to be done by
| their hands" It may be these wonderful
| deeds were reported at Lystra, and that they
stimulated afflicted persons to seek the presence
| and help of the two wonderful men.
4. The Subject.
"a certain man." VS. We do not know
| his age circumstances, financial condition. etc.
Some think he was beggar. He had not been
in best condition for successful business enter
prise. DIR. Adam Clarke imagines the man
had club-feet. We feel somehow the matter
was even more serious. Seemingly he lacked
muscular pedal power. He had never walked,
says the account. 1t can hardly be said club
footed man never walks The case is quite
similar to that OF the man to whom st. Peter
| impaired power to his feet (3:2.) The
| suffering or deformity had been lifelong.
5. Notes.
]. "sat." (V.s Not able perhaps even to
stand.
q "Impotent" ~. g. Not potent not
| strong
we would think, have had some knowledge of
st. Paul and of the character of his teachings
T. "Steadfastly beholdingD ". 81 Alex
| ander says: ''This act when connected with
miraculous performances, was probably in
tended. frst, to fix attention on the person
then to arrest his own, also to ascertain his
actual condition; and lastly by divine assist
ance to discern his spirit or read his heart, as
Paul did in the case before u.s."
5. "Perceiving that he had faith to be
| healed" (V.9.) Brown says: Paul may
have bean led by the sight of this cripple, to
dwell on the Savior's miracles of healing, and
| His present power and perceiying from the
| eagerness with which the patient drank in
| his words, that he was prepared TO put his
own case into the Redeemers hands, the spirit
| of the glOrified Physician came all upon him,
| and with loud voice he babe him stand
upright on his feet The effect was instsn-
taneous-he sprang to his feet and walked"
Rev. J. r. kendrick, ID. d., says: These
words seem to imply that the cripple had
| Il oft had halle
On this occasion something in his countenance
indicated a readiness to receive Divine help.
| Faith in the subject was the general, though
| not universal, condition of miraculous cure"
g. with loud voice." ". 10.) DR.. Ken
drick notes, not merely to impress the cripple,
| but that the multitude might observe the
| miracle Doubtless Paul at this moment in
| some way showed that he was acting in the
name of another. He certainly soon dis
claimed with passionate energy all personal
credit for the cure"
8. Suggestions.
l. Things are not so bad az they could be.
| One may be cripple and yet have power to
heal. (Vs. 8, 81 We see here a margin at
| least for self cons graduation. There COM
pensations for affections. Defective in one
respect person may be thereby of quickened
power in other regards. 1t would cnre US Of
| much complaining if at times we considered
| how much worse it might have been an could
be- The hands and feet of one of the Greedy
party at Cape Sabin had been frozen off When
| he heard comrades complaining bitterly of
| their terrible condition he said Il do not
| see what you fellows have to complain Of"
| 1t is said his remark was so rebukative and
suggestive that they gave up grumbling. The
| following is illustrative: Il hear your hus-
| band has been out shooting. Did he have any
Iuck2" 80. yes he had luck, if you please
to call it 80. He saved two fingers of his right
| hand"
| Let cripples in . religious sense-men who
| cannot walk in tho paths Of rectitude; men
| who never have walked As Christians; men
lame from birth as to the narrow road that
| leads to eternal life; men who stumble and Of
ten fall: men who do not stand upright in the
opinion of socety-let such seek the divine
| power which makes for righteousness, straight
ness, holiness.
g. See the play of faith. A nameless one
says: "This obeyed because he belieyed
he obeyed, though he had no power; he OBJ
taiu or ha OH fhaU