The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-10-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
Lesson for october 80, lS02-The Gospel
Preached at Antioch-Acts iI:ig-3O.

i'rehcheu nj AntloCn-Acts lt'lN-5O.
CIRCUMSTANCES. experience OF Peter
with Cornelius showed clearly the mind Of the
spirit as to the reception Of the Gentilcs But
thus truth rIust be ndorsed by the church OF
Jerusalem II this new day is to dawn without
temPcsIs and earthquakes in the church After
remaining for Il time in Cirsaroa Peter returned
to Jerusalem. Here being accused of minglng
too freely with Gcntiles, he rchearsod the story
OF his visit to Cornelius. ard the church saw in
II the hand ofthc Lord and rcloiccd in the adj
mission OF the Geniiles
LESSON NOTES.
10. "Thcy which were scattered
abroad" The history now turns back
for moment to Chapter STA, A. d.
81. and briefly reviews the last three
years. Upon the persecution that
arose about Stephen" The very eff
forts to destroy the Gospel were made
the instruments of spreading it still
more. Travelled as far rs Phenice:"
Or Phenicia, as in Rev. Yer. Properly,
the strip of coast, about one hundred
and twenty miles long and twenty
broad, extending from the river
Eleutherus tnear Aradnus) to a little
south of Tyre, and belonging at this
time to the province of Syria tsee Chap.
1853, 2l:2). Cyprus" A large island in
the Mediterranean, about sixty miles
from the coast of Palestine. And
Antioch" The capital city of Syria,
about sixteen miles from the seacoast,
on the river Orontes. twas three hun
dred miles north of Jerusalem.
preaching the Word" Those that
fed from persecution did not flee from
their work; nay. they threw them
selves into a larger field of opportunity
than before. Unto the Jews only"
This was, of course, to be expected in
the work of those who had left Jerusa-
lem before the conversion of Cornelius
had ruled the case otherwise.
20. "Some of them" ii. G., OF these dis
ciples who were preachingl were men,
(nativesl of Cyprus" These were. from
the nature of the case, Hellcnistic or
Grecl-speaking Jews, who had become
Christians. And Cyrene:" In that part
of the coast of Africa, of which CYrcne
was the capital, Immediately to the west
Of Egypt, and opposite Cyprus on the
south. the Jews were very numerous
"Spaiic unto the Grccians:" The best
MSS. have Greeks las in Rev. Yer. J, and
this is clearly the correct reading
81. THE hand of the Lord" Comp.
Luke 1906 The hand is symbol of
power; here probably, as in chapter
q: 80, it was stretched forth to heal. thus
affording manifest sign of Divine APP
prevail on this extension of the evangel-
istic work to the Gentiles. And great
NUMBER" This was the first large ad-
diton to the Church from the Gentilcs.
believed turned unto the Lord"
The believing" is the root, and the
turning" the fruit which it bears.
Turned unto the Lord" This, no less
than the miracles. afforded a sign of
Divine approval for though success is
not always a proof of Gods approba-
ton. spiritual success in spiritua! work
always is.
~. Then tidings of these things
came" probably after the report Of Peter
concerning Cornelius, and the reception
of Gentilcs into the company Of disciples
ut Cesarea. The church which was In
Jerusalem:" This as the oldest and
strongest body of believers, and in
special connection with the apostles,
would naturally be the most influential
body, whose approval all would highly
regard.
2j Then departed Barnabas;" There
was Sc much work to be donc-hntioch
was so rich in promise-that he needed
help. perhaps also counsel. "ro Tarsrs,
for to seek Saul" The word seek i'm
plies diligent and anxious search.
26. "A whole year with the
church," Doing the work of charging
and training this church which was
henceforth to be center of great mis-
sionary operations. And the disciples
were first called Christians in Antioch
80. And in these days" During the
years residence of Barnabas and Saul
at Antioch. Game prophets" The
prophet was not necessarily a forotellcr
From .Jcrusalcm:" Their belonging TO
Jerusalem was especially fitting, rs that
was the capital of the land where the
famine was IT, take place.
rs. zone OF the manned Agabus;" The
same propnet appears again in chapter
2l:lO, us coming down from Jerusalem
to Csesaroil. Great dc2rth tor faminc)
throughout all the world" In the mouth
ofa Roman these words would mean,
over the whole Roman empire; on the
lips of II Jew, throughout Palestine.
That the latter is meant is probable
from the fact that Antioch appears not
to be exposed to the famine, since the
disciples there sent aid to the furnishing
in Judea. Which came to pass in the
days of Claudius Cesar" Claudius
Cesar rcigncd over the Roman empire
from A. ID. Al to 81.
%. Then the disciples" From a
general spontaneous impulse. Every
man according to his ability" As
each one Jared well on the
journey of life. Determined to
send relief unto the brethren which
dwclt in ,Judea" This would ~
express their gratitude for the spiritual
aid sent from Jerusalem. (2) 1t would
show that the Gospel was producing
the same fruits among the Gentle be-
levers as 1t had done among the Jews
at Jerusalem. 81 1t would tend TO ere
ate favorable feeling toward the Gen
tile converts, and smooth away any I'M
pleasant feeling at their reception into
the church on equal terms.
30. "Sent it to the elders" the leaders
and officers of the church. for distribu-
ton: by the hands of Barnabas and
| Saul" This was Saul's second visit to
| Jerusalem They arrived about the