Willmar tribune., 1897-05-11
The SUNDAY, SCHOOL.
international Lesson for May 16, 1897
-Panl Preaching to the Gcntiles-

PAIL Preaching to the Gcntiles-
Acts,14:11-22. >t2> T"
-. ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.l
GOLDEN TEXT have set thee to be
light to the Gentiles.-Acts 13:47.
THE SECTION includes the apostles re-
lection by the Jews of Antioch and Icomura,
the turning to the Gentiles, their various ex-
periences in the interior of Asia Minor. the
founding of churches, and return to Anti
och of Syria, whence they had been sent
(Acts 1874. to 1929. r. - i" ~ E
TIME-A. D. 46 or A. summer, and contin-
uing for year or two. The return to An
tioch in the spring Of a. D. 4S orr 49.
PLACE.-Antioch, in Pisidia, Iconiurn.
Lystra. .Derbe. all In southern Galatia, a
district: of Asia Minor. and Antioch in
Syria. :f% ~|> 49,
f. EXPLANATORY. ~>E5
I. Rejected by the Jews, the Apostles
Turn to the Gentiles.-13:44-49.<
n The excitement produced by the
preaching of Paul and Barnabas was
very great. The whole city was stirred
and excited, and the next Sabbath they
crowded around the synagogue, throng-
ing the doors and windows, so that the
Gentiles that did not enter could hear
the Gospel welcome. Paul's teachings,
and his great success aroused the jeal-
ousy of the Jews.
II. Expelled from Antioch, the Apos.
ties Go to Iconium.-13: 5O-52; 14:1-4.
During their stay at Antioch, the
apostles evangelized the whole region
OF which that city was the center. Then
the leading men of the city. together
with women of rank, stirred up a perse-
Fc,tion, and the apostles left, shaking
OFT the dust of their feet as q testimony
against them, showing that they were
unwilling to retain any part of their
spirit or their destiny. 1t was not am
act of anger, but of warning.
III. Driven from Iconium, the Apostles
60 to Lystra and Derbe.-Vs. $50. The
| opposition to Paul at Iconium grew
| more intense. A movement to mob and
stone him to death led them to escape
to Lystra, and preach the Gospel to that
city and the surrounding region among
the foothills of the Taurus mountains.
The people were wild and lawless, as
indeed they are still, like men have
seen in Asia Minor, armed from head
to foot with a whole arsenal of weapons,
and ready for any violence.
|
would have great power in explaining
and impressing Gospel truths. Hence,
here was wrought one of the few mira
cles recorded of St. Paul.
~. "Called Barnabas, Jupiter:" Their
chief god. and tute]ary deity; probably
because Barnabas was the elder and
more imposing in appearance than Paul.
sand Paul, Mercurius, because he was
the chief speakers" Mercury Greek,
Hermes) was the messenger and spokes-
man of the gods, and the god of elo.
quence.
13. "Jupiter:" i. e., the statue OF
Jupiter (which" together with tenn
pie or shrine, Twas before their city,
as it's guardian. brought oxen" for the
sacrifice, land garlands" to decorate
the animals or the temporary altar, to
be placed before the gates of the house
where the apostles were.
IA. ''Wheu the apostles
heard (of iD: They were within, and
from the structure of oriental houses
did not see the procession coming.
They heard the noise of the multitude,
perhaps also of some sacrifcial hymn.
Or they learned the fact from some
messenger. "Rent their Clothes" as
q visible expression, that would be
quickly understood by all, expressing
their horror and extreme disapproba-
ton.
IS. "Men of like passions:" Not gods,
but mortal. tempted, suffering men.
"And preach" No tidings could be
better than those which called them to
turn from these vanities'' and gave
them new life and hope from "the
living Cod" The words "vanity'' and
''vain" were almost the invariable
terms used by Jews to describe the
emptiness and worthlessness of
heather worship (Eph. AIT; i Pet.
1919. So are all the objects of Modern
idolatry-wealth, honor. ambition, sin
full pleasure-all are vanities unable to
satisfy the soul.
jews" To thwart his plans and stop
the progress of the Gospelif theycould.
Having stoned Paul." What crowd
of memories this must have been to
Paul when he remembered Stephen ten
or eleven years before. "supposing he
was dead:" The opponents Of truth
often think it is dead, when it is only
stunned, and will be restored to life
and live longer than it's opponents.
20. GAS the disciples" the fruits of
Paul's work. ''Stood round about him, !"
lmourn;ng and praying, perhaps hop
ing. HE rose up::' It is not stated
hereSthat the recovery of Paul was mi
raculous, or that lie really died; but he
must have been terribly bruised and
quite unfit for travel the next day; so
that t1e@quick recovery seems to have
been special grace of God. ''nhe next
day to Derbe:" Derbe was
the farthest limit of Paul's first mis-
sionary journey. How long he re-
11ained is uncertain:
Iss*s.I sReyisiting the Churches. and Re-
1 turn to Antioch in Syria,-Vs. e1-es.
n. "Returnedsagain to Lystra>" etc. {:
Including Derbe, the apostles founded
churches in four cities ooan15 this tour.
TI1h They needed d,:strengthening and con
fflrmin and 1t must be done e at sar, 4, \
| risk IT, rqnuiro6 M 1;t%1o oo,,,o,.oo mn =