The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-11-03

times spoken OF as teachers rs though distinct
order-so of prophets We may regard the
terms common TO sll five in the said verse.
b. Barnabas, A: 36 9:27
C. Simeon called Niger. Niger means black.
Some have held he was n colored man, rs we
understand that adjective. Or Niger may have
been n mere proper name. as now we know
men whose surname is Black. All we know of
Simeon Niger is in the verse of our lesson.
d. Lucius. (Y. ~ He was Of Cyreue. lie
was fellow worker with 81. Paul, and we find
him with that Apostle when he was writing
his letter to the Romans. tRo., Is: 21.)
c. Manaen. ". L. He had been reared
with Horod Antipas. We find two children
having similar associations, training. educa-
ton, etc, but turning out very differently.
Herod married illegally, killed st. John Bap-
tst was cruel and hateful. Manaen became q
follower of Christ, leading Christian at Anti
och. The statement in verso l is all we know
of him.
T. Saul. ~. IL He is better known rs ST.
Paul We remember that when Barnabas
found out what great work lay before him at
Antioch he sent for ST. Paul to come and help.
III: %, 26}
5. Sorcery.
Verse brings into our study the matter of
sorcery. The word comes from the Latin, soTs.
lot. Sorcery is the pretended determination Of
ones destiny or fate by the drawing of lots.
An urn had IN it some quotations from Homer
or Virgil setting forth diverse conditions. some
favorable others unfayorable, and the inquirer
drew from said urn one of such quotations
having faith i. would give him hints as TO his
destiny. Another way was to cast the eye
carelessly on line of one of said volumes and
determine the future by a chance statement
thus found and fixed. Christians used to en-
ploy the Bible for similar purpose. It was
called divination, the divining, fore
telling of ones lot in life. 1t practically
made a god out of chance, or converted
chance into god. It was an utter ignor-
ance OF Providence. From the Greek,
translated s0Tcerer, we find the meaning to be
the art OF the magi or magicians. The voca-
ton was once honorable. but after a time of
degeneracy the word came to mean a5tTologers,
necromancer5, fortune-teller soothsayers. 1t
is in said sense the word is used in this lesson.
The sorcerer was false man. ". 81 SOrcery
was in him arrayed against Christianity. Nv.
81 The prophet of Chance presumed to resist
and override the prophet of God-EIymas
against st. Paul-subtilty and mischiefopposed
to righteousness and right ways ". 10)-the
devil warning with the Holy Ghost. (Vs 9,
10)-the perverter of right ways. (Y. TO-
putting Instructions In the course of him who
was trying to make straight the way for Christ.
6. Lines of Study.
l. We have the miracle of punishment as a
means of onversion-Elymas blind and the
eyes of Sergius PsuIus cleared of scales.
(Cf. 9:l8.) See 4-12.
2. The desertion of John Mark. See Y. Is.
z. Suggestions.
l. The Church must maintain the missionary
spirit.
2. The Holy Ghost is the stimulator and sus-
tainer in all Christian work.
3. Missionaries should be of the strongest
men of the ministry.
4. Rulers should be Christians.
D. A firm belief in Providence should keep
US from fortuue- telers ETC.