The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-23
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL Lesson FOE
NOVEMBER
Lesson Text: 1.-The Apostles Turning
to the GentIles," Acts xiii. 44-J2;
xiv. 1-7-Holden Text: Acts
xiii, 47-Commentary.


xiii, 47-Commentary.
A. "And the next Sabbath day came al
most the whole city together to 'hsars the
word of God" The apostles had, no doubt.
spoken to many in private through the week.
and those who had heard the preceding Sab.
bath had not been quiet about the wondrous
resurrection story, and the consequent great
redemption so fully and freely proclaimed.
It became the talk Of the town, and an i'm
mense congregation assembled, not to lear
the wisdom nor the oratory OF the apostles,
but to hear the word Of God.
45. Such manifest working of ths Holy
Spirit could not but provoke the adversary
to envy and blasphemy. Compare Acts ",
OF a community are stirred to talk against
the preaching 1t Is an evidence either that
they are all wonderfully in sympathy with
Christ, or that the preaching lacks salt III
Tim. Ill, II; Col. iv., 81. -.
46 TO the Jew first was the principle
acted upon in all apostolic preaching (Rom.
j., 16), then 20 the Gentiles Man has the
power Of receiving or putting from him this
great gift of everlasting life which God has
provided at such infinite cost, but If any one
judges himself I'm worthy Of nfes it is equal
to judging himself worthy OF death Gohu
ILL.,. 36;' Rom. l., 4, s..
Al. Paurs commission was to bear the
name of the Lord not only before the chill
dren of Israel, but before the Gentiles (Acts
ix., Isl, and he quotes from Isa. ELK. 6, con-
cerning Israel's Messiah, called the Servant
of the Lord. II will also give thee for q
light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be
My salvation unto the end Of the earth "
While the mystery OF the church Is NOT re-
vealed in the Old Testament tEph- ill.,, 5,
81, the calling of tbs Gentle Nations after
Israel shall have been converted Is an Oft
repeated fact; and vet Paul seems to gather
from this passage something concerning his
mission to the Gentiles.
49, The Gentles gave heed to the message.
and by receiving the word of the Lord they
glorifed it and were made glad, and as many,
as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Not all are now given to Christ but all who,
are given shall come John vi, 81, and VINO.
soever will may come REV. xii, N, sure
that none will be cast out. This Is the time
Of salvation for the elect church, after which
shall come the salvation Of Israel, and then
OF all Nations (Acts xv., 14-17.l
40. '.And the Word Of the Lord was pub
ished throughout the region" This Is the
work Of the church and Of every Individual
member Of II, to proclaim everywhere full
and free redemption through the death and
resurrection Of Jesus that all may hear, that
so from all the elect church may be gathered
Her song indicates that she is to be made up
OF believers from all parts Of the earth tRev.
v.,9)
SO. How little these honorable womsn
and chief men thought that by this con tucE
they were declaring themselves against God
and His Christ. When the seventy were
sent out Jesus said, eHe that despisstt you
,despiseth Me, and he that despiseth Ne de-
spiseth him that sent Me" luke +, 16i
But this rough wind would work Gods glory
by scattering yet more the precious seed.
surely the wrath Of man shall praise Thee
lPs. lxxvi, 1O).
81. "But tney shook of the dust of their
feet against them, and came unto lcon:um."
Compare chapter xviii, 9, and see their IL.
structions in Mark vi. IL; Luke ix., 8. 1t
is our privilege to proclaim the glad tidings.
to make known the love of God, to offer to
all in Bis name eternal life, eternal redemp-
ton; and while expecting that some will re-
ceive it, qui .tly leave results to God.
SO, sand the disciples were flled with Joy
and with the Holy Ghost" All that we are
called upon to bear for the sake OF Christ
and His truth should be borne cheerfully,
for He has taught us to be exceeding glad,
end leap for joy, under such circumstances
tMath. ". 10.12; Like vi. 22. 23. We are
told that ..For the joy sat before Him. ne
endured the cross" taeb. xii., p; and It Is
written that the worthiest OF Heb. Il. were
sustained by the joys before them. Zee es-
peclally verses lG, liz, 90, 26. Consider also
Rom. vIii., 1s; Pet. w., II. u. :.
Chapter XIV, I. Having passe1 on TO
Icon,um, we find them as usual hrst among
the Jews. and 50 speaking tnat great mu.-
titude OF both Jews and Gentiles believed.
The key to this must be found in the last
verse: they were filled with the Holy spirit.
Why may not such promises as these Do
true Of us and iu us in these days:
.. Again the enemy Is stirred ana iG Is
manifest that the devil Is losing some OF his
subjects. 1t should give us great encourage
ment when the Word preached provokes tae
adyersary: while, on the other nand, II the
waters are not disturbed We have reason TO
fear that there is no healing power present:
3. They abode here long time, the Lord
BILE, sing HIS Word and granting tnsm power
to DO Signs and'wenders, according 70 marX
wi 81 and Heb. H., 4. One has said that
when we Weld ourselves fully TO God lie
will Weld Himself 1ully 70 us, and TINS
sh uid cause US to inquire very carefully a.
TO whether VIC, are YET wrthholding auSo!
from Him and thus losing the enjoyment ol
His iullaess.
A. A oiyioed city, some believed and some
beileved not Chapter xviii, ~. Apei peI
Heyed and Cain believed not (heo. H.,
Jonn i'll. III. SO it has been and Will Ok
till the kingdom come and Gods willis done
on earth as In heaven.
5. Jesus taught His followers to expect
suffering and even death for His sake tMath.
T.. %; John xvi, 3. And by His spirit He
taught them to take pleasure even In these
things. See chapters ", Al; xx., "a; II Cor.
inthians XII. 10.
G. Being made aware OF tho coming storm
they fed to other cities, not because they
feared death. but because Jesus had taught
them when they prosecute you in this city,
fee We into another" (Math. Z. 23. AL law
full means to preserve lie are not inconsis-
tent with readiness to lay down our HE
when he calls US to it. Many times they
sought to take His life, but could not till His
hour came and then he gave Eup.
Z. "And there they preached the Gospel:
They also lived the Gospel, for Paul could
say to the Thessalonians, and doubtless to
ali others, 'Ye are witnesses, and God also,
how holly and justly and unblamably we
behaved ourselves among you that believe: !"
II Thess. H., 1G. Like Jesus, they first did
and then taught (Acts l., I; Mark vi. 3U
If the church would give. herself to living
and preaching the Gospel, instead OF to
amusing and entertaining the people, how
the Great Head of the Church would delight
to show Himself strong on her behalf I'll
Chron. xvi, q and so hasten her compile
ton. Lesson Helper.