The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-12-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Lesson Ter December 4, lS02-~Work'
Among tho Gentiles--Acts 1l:s-2e.
GOLDEN TExr--In His name shall the Gen.
tiles trust--Mstt IL: 81.
LESSON NOTES.
s. ''And at Lystra there sat:" In the
public square or market place. elm
potent" (powerless) ''in his feet:" The
cause of his lameness. "a cripple"
The derivation OF the word ..cripple''
Is suggested by the old spelling Of the
work ''creeple"-one who can only
creep and not walk upright-"Who
never had walked" Compare the &C
count of the lame man whom Peter
healed e: 1.9.)
8. "The same heard Paul speaking:"
The imperfect tense implies that he
heard Paul on several occasions re-
peatedly. Fastening his eyes upon
him." as If to see his inmost soul.
"And seeing that he had faith
to be made whole:" Greek
ito be saved" from his disease and also
from his sins.
10. 'Said with loud voices" To at
tract the lame mans attention, as well
as that of the audience ."Stand upright
on thy feet" To say this publicly re-
quired great faith in Paul. To do it
required strong faith in the lame man.
Sand he leaped up and walked:" A
public proof that the cure was instan-
taneous and complete.
IL. Saying in the speech of Lyca-
onia:" In their excitement the
people returned to their native
tongue. What language it was
is unknown. THE gods are come
down to us in the likeness of men:"
The idea of the gods coming down and
appearing in the form of men was
made familiar by the frequent stories
in their mythology.
13. Jupiter, whose temple was be-
fore tie city," At the entrance; in front
of the gates without, or in the open
square just within the gates The tenn
pie was placed there, as the home of the
guardian deity of the city. Brought
oxen and garlands:" The former to sac
rifce, the e'latter either to decorate the
animals or to crown the apostles, or
decorate their house. "Unto the gates"
The porch or vestibule of the house.
IA. "When the apostles heard of it,"
They were within, and, from the struc-
ture of Oriental houses, did not see the
procession coming. "Rent their gar
ments:" As a visible expression, that
would be quickly understood by all, ex-
pressing their horror and extreme DIS
appreciation.
15. "And saying" From the SINH
larity of this speech to Paurs address
to the Athenians it is probable that
Paul spoke for both. "Sirs, why do We
these thingsP" Paul and Barnabas were
servants of God, and wanted to honor
God and His Son, Jesus Christ. To be
worshiped themselves would have
saved no one from sin and led no one
into Christ's spiritual Kingdom. 1--WE
also are men of like passions with you:"
Gods were regarded as blessed i'm
mortals, incapable of suffering and
want, dwelling in their own serene
atmosphere, far removed from men,
exempt from all pain and peril "Apd
bring you good tidings:" Of something
infinitely better than you can find in
your worship "That ys should turn
from these vain things" The apostle
points to all the pomp and pageantry of
the intended sacrifice. "Unto the liv.
ing God" Who, as Creator Of all, is
wise enough. and good enough, and
powerful enough to do all for His crea-
lures that they need.
IL. He left not Himself without wit
ness" God left among them the wit
nesses of His existence and perfections
in the works of creation, and in His be-
nevolent dealings with them. And ac-
cording]y we find that several of the
heather philosophers became acquaint-
ed with God through the light Of ma
ture. I'm that He did good" Better.
as expressing the continuous manifesto
ton Of the divine win, working good,
giving rain, filling our hearts" 'Filling
your hearts with food:" including the
idea of the enjoyment afforded by such
fruits. 'And gladness:" God desires
all his children to be full Of gladnesA
10. "And there came Jews thither to
Lystra) from Antioch fof Pisidia3 and
Iconium:" The jews were the most per-
sistent enemies OF Paul, for they be-
lieved he was undermining their reli-
gion. As soon as they knew that Paul
was having sOmesuccess at Lystra, they
sent emissaries there TO drive him sway.
"And having pernnaded the multi dtudes:"
By showing how the apostles had been
driven out of other cities as malefac-
tors. and, perhaps, declaring that the
miracle was the result Of some diabolic-
al magic. The Lycaonians were pro-
verbally fickle and faithle So
20. "But as the Disciples" the fruits
Of PauPs work. Among them doubtless
was Timothy (see 9 TirL s:lo11).
Stood round about b'.a:" mourning
and praying. perhaps hoping. ''He
rose up:" not necessarily a miraculous
recovery. 'And entered into the city,
In order to show himself alive to the
disciples, and to confirm them in the
faith. And to get rest, and medical aid
and refreshment. ''He went forth--to
Derbe:" About twenty miles-but q
journey of some hours. Derbe was the
farthest limit Of Paul's first missionary
journey.