The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-06-28
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for July 2, 1898
Paul Called to EurOpe-Acts 16:6-15.


Matt 2S:19
CoNNECTIoN.-Six months ago. when we /
closed our studies in the Acts for time, we |
left Paul and Barnabas in Jerusalem. where |
they had told the story of their first great mis-
sionary tour to the Gentes. with its marvel |
GUS success, as q proof of the presence OF the |
Holy Spirit and the Divine Endorsement OF their |
labors The vital but perplexing question OF |
receiving the Gentiles into the church without |
their becoming Jews had been wisely and fairly |
settled This was a great era in the history OF
the church. 1t took place some time in A. d. |
30. We now take up the narrative from this
point
PLACE IN THE HISTORY is best to keep
in mind brief general view OF the history OF
the church from the crucihxion to the destruc
ton of Jerusalem, marked by the leading
events, and then put each lesson in its place.
This outline should be frequently reviewed by
the teacher and by the class till it is so familiar
that whenever hereafter the Book OF the Acts
is read each event will fall naturally into its
place
TME.-The second missionary journey was
begun probably early in A. d. 81; and Europe
was reached the following year. A. d. So.
PLACE.-Philippi in Macedonia, now Euro
pean Turkey.
PAUL About fifty years old, sixteen years
ditSr MS COuFtFSIOH
CHRIsT's MISSIONARIES.
The Separation of Paul and Barna.
bas.-Chap. Is, vers. 36-4O. Paul and
Barnabas, with two delegates from the
Jerusalem church, returned to Antioch,
bearing with them the decree of the
council. They remained at Antioch
for time. Then Paul proposed to
Barnabas that they revisit the churches
which they had founded in Asia Minor
during their first missionary tour "a.
d. 45-4S) He would visit his spiritual
children to see how they were growing
in grace. He would look at the tender
vines in the vineyard he had planted,
to see what further care was required.
These churches, so far separated from
others, having received but a small
portion of the truths of the Gospel. ex-
posed to temptations, to errors and to
dangers, had no small need of apostolic
care and training.
Barnabas agreed with Paul But
there arose practical question. Bar
nabas wished to take with them his
cousin John Mark, who started with
them on their former journey, but left
them and returned home, when they
began to enter upon the dangerous and
difficult part of their tour. Paul re-
fused to take him with them; and the
difference of opinion was so sharp and
| decided that the two friends separated,
| and went different ways, never to meet
| again on earth.
But while we freely acknowledge
| the imperfection do not let us make it
| greater than it really was. 1t was not
a quarrel bitter and angry" 1t was
not a case ''where neither put in prac-
tice the exquisite and humble Christian
lesson of putting up with less than his
due" They did not part in anger"
| Nor is it true neither would yield to
the other; therefore both were wrong"
Let us look at certain facts. ~ Both
were remarkably good men, each
showing in different way the noblest
virtues, the fullest zeal, the deepest
piety, the largest conservation. (2)
But these good men were of very diff
ferent natures, just as a flower, fruit,
gold coin, watch. steam-engine,
are all good, but in entirely
different ways. (3) Therefore it was
perfectly natural and perfectly right
that they should see things in different
lights, and desire different things fol
their work. 1t is no imperfection in g
watch that it's wheels will not fit into
the cogs of steam engine; no PROOF
of wrong that the two cannot work to
gether. can conceive of two angels
as working best in different spheres
This is the legitimate way in which
different denominations arise - one
wishes to shout in meeting, another t
be quiet; one loves to worship with {
liturgy, another with words born O.
the occasion. All are right: but they
must separate. 1t is only when they
separate with wrong feelings tina
there is sin. ~ They separated a
friends. Says Conybeare: 1T is yer,
likely that they made a deliberate ant
amicable arrangement to divide tn,
region of their first mission between
|
honor in his writings Il Cor. 90; Gal
.: 1, 81, and acknowledges Mark as hi
fellow-laborer (Philem. 24), as profit
. able to the ministry Tim. AID, ant
comfort (Col. 4: 10, ny. (5) Go,
overruled this event to the furtheranc
of the Gospel. There were two stream
of missionary influence instead of one
| and all the persons concerned did goo,
, work for the cause.
The Second Missionary Tour.-Chap
; Is, vers. 40, Al; chap. 16, vers. Is. Bar
, nabas took Mark with him, and thence
. forth drops out of the narrative, bu
not out of the work. Paul chose Silas
, one of the delegates from the Jeru
) salem church, and leaving Antioch
r went northward through Syria, thel
to the west through his native Cilicia
= thence reversing the order of his frs
tour. (See 1892, fourth quarter, les
: sons 9, 10.) They confirmed tn
r churches and delivered the decree o
: the Jerusalem council to the Gentiles
80 that the churches were establishe,
' in the faith, and increased in numbe
$ daily.
Timothy, convert of Lystra on tn
: first journey, now joins the party. III
r was 1.-The child of Lois and Eunice
taught the Holy Scriptures from h;
n earliest years, trained to a religion
life, and prepared through the prov
dence of God by the sight of the apps
ties sufferings to be his comfort. SUI
| mort and Communion"