The National tribune., 1897-04-22
TIE SUNDAY Y-SCH00L,
The International Lesson Appointed
for May 9. 1897.
Subject: Saints Paul and Barnabas Set Out
Missionary Tour. Acts, 13: 1-13.
]. Data.
We now study 13: 1-13, inclusive.

]. Data.
We now study 13: 1-13, inclusive.
2. Time.
We may date at about A. d. 40. Christ has
been dead about 80 years. The Church has
struggled on, not growing rapidly, but yet not
decreasing nor becoming demoralized. Most
work had been done for Jews. Some advances
had been made toward Gentiles; as, e. G.. in the
| case of Cornelius The Gospel had spread some
! what in Samaria and considerably in Syria.
The time had come for more pronounced effort
at large. We see this turning point well illus
tIated in our lesson.
g. Places
a. Antioch. v. /. The lesson centers in
that city. 1t is in Syria, on the south side of
the Orontes River. We locate thus definitely,
because there were Is other cities of the same
name. They were all so styled from Antiochus.
the father Of Seeucus Ncator. Constantine
| commenced and Constantine finished grand
Christian church there. Earthquake and fire
destroyed.it. A. d. 526. The Romans made u
province of Syria early as A. ID. Ga, under
Pompey. Terrible earthquakes have visited
that section, leading to great superstition.
Antioch was the center for many important
religious assemblies in the interests of Christi
anity. In 1868 A. ID. it was taken by the Sui
tan of Egypt with serious destructveness, from
10000 inhabitants now. They subsist largely
on the products from vineyards and mulberry
trees. They grow tobacco of fine quality.
The sophist Libanus had school ut Antioch
in the time of Julian. The planting of the
Church there at date SO early was due to a
great persecution. 1t was not only the first
place where followers of Jesus were called
Christians, but became the start-point for the
first missionary operations. The Church there
grew rapidly and strong and was able to send
help to the prosecuted and destitute Christians
of Judea. Ii 1890. The modern name is
Antakie.. As late as 1922 it had a visitation of
its d-time aud oft-time calamity, an earth
quake. Noted for its attractive situation and
surroundings, it was often called "Antioch the
Beautiful" and also Antioch the Crown Of
the East" Once. say. about the time the Roman
Empire began, the city was as populous, it is
thought, as Paris is now.
b. Cyrene. V. /. That city was the Capt.
tai of Cyrenaica in Africa. 1t was a man from
that city who helped Christ bear his cross.
St. Mt, 81 81. Some of those present at the
Pentecost feast when the Holy Spirit descended
on the 120 were from that section. g: 10.
Cyrene was founded by Battus. twill always
be connected with the names of the pupil of
Socrates. Aristippns. who founded the-Cyrenac
school of philosophy; Calimachus, the poet;
Carneades, who founded at Athens the New
Academy; Eratosthenes, the learned and
Synesius, whose pen defended Christianity.
Cyrenaica lies Oh the south side of the Mediter-
ranean, just about opposite Greece. 1t has been
since the seventh century under control of the
Saracens.
C. Seleucia. Y. 4. We have noticed An
toch is inland. Seleucia was its seaport, at
the mouth Of the OrOntes. 1t was founded by
Seeucus /. Il will be matter of interest TO
know Seleucia was the first point reached in
the 6rst missionary tour ever made.
Il . L. L.
of Barnabas. 436. 1t is the third largest
island of the Mediterranean. 1t was governed
by the Turks from 1871 to recent date, when
it again became possessed by England. 1t is
about l40 miles long. and varies from five to SO
miles in width. 1t is very fertile. Vineyards in
special abound. Through the length of the
island runs range of mountains, the highest
point being Mt Olympus, made famous by
Homer in his Odyssey. From that summit
Neptune, he said, saw Ulysses sailing toward
Pbgncia, and as he saw grew full of rage.
In early days the island was exceedingly de-
PRAYED. Venus was worshped there, and the
licentious rites demoraiized the inhabitants to
such an extent that the term Cyprian to-day
means woman lost to virtue.
1t was befitting the island fall to England,
for Queen Elizabeth was once its sovereign, and
the arms of Cyprus adorn her tomb the very
embazoning Of them thereon proving that the
College of Heralds at that date recognized tho
legitimacy of her reign. Cyprus has been
called the last jewel in the British crown"
and tho setting of it attributed justly to the
late Lord Beaconsfeld.
In 1891 Miss Amy Potter went to Cyprus,
giving up her life to the vocation of nurse in
the hospital at the City Larnica.
1t must have been a pleasant mission to
Barnabas to carry the Gospel to his native
island. We are not surprised to find he went
there second time. 1879. Tradition says
he at length settled there, and finally died
there. martyr to his fate
c. Salamis. V. 5. That was city at the
eastern end Of Cyprus. After time it was
called Constantia.
T. PaphOs. V. G. That was city at the
western end of Cyprus. That place will always
be noted as the city in which first occurred the
conversion and union to the Christian Church
OF secular magistrate. to wit, Sergius Paulus.
q. Pamphylia v. 13 1t was a Province Of
Asia Minor, lying north of the Mediterranean,
opposite Cyprus. Bounded north by Pisidia,
south by the sea, east by Ciicia, west by Lucia.
h. Perga. V. b. Capital of Pamphylia-
on River Cestus. 1t marks the beginning of
religious secession. John Mark there deserted
SITS. Paul and Barnabas. This was displeasing
to ST. Paul, as we see Is: SO. We do not know
the canse of separation but we nfer from 15: 81
it was not matter affecting his moral life.
1t may have been from fear, or from love of
ease, or from some imagined slight.
1t is quite clear from st. Panl's position
ll5: 38) that it was not for justifiable or
praiseworthy motive.
4. Persons.
a. Prophets and teachers. VI These are
enumerated. There were five of them. We're
all five prophets and teachers, or were some of
them prophets and the rest teachers? No dis
tinction is made. Religious leaders are at
times spoken Of as teachers as though distinct
order; so of prophets. We may regard the
terms common to all i've in the said verse.
b. Barnabas. 4 SO; 9:27.
C. Simeon called Niger Niger means black.
Somc have held ho was colored man. as we
understand that adjective. Or Niger may have
men whose surname is Black. All we know of
Simeon Niger is in the verse of our lesson.
d. Lucius. V. /. He was of Cyrene. He
was a fellow worker with st. Paul. and we end
him with that Apostle when he was writing
his letter to the Romans. Ro., 16: 81.
G. MaDaen. vi. He had been reared
with Herod Antipas. We find two children
having similar associations. training. education,
etc.. but turning out very differently Herod
married illegally; killed st. John Baptist was
cruel and hateful Manaen became follower
of Christ, leading Christian at Antioch. The
statement in verse is all we know of him.
!. Saul. V. l. He is better known as st.
Paul. We remember that when Barnabas
found ont what great work lay before him at