The true northerner., 1897-05-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for May I0, 1897
Paul Preaching to- the Gentilcs--
Acts I1:II-22.

THE SECTION includes the apostles re-
lection by the Jews of Antioch and Icomum.
the turning 10 the Gentiles. their various ex-
periences in the interior OF Asia Minor tho
founding of churches. and return TO Anti
och Of Syria, whence they had been sent
(Acts 1874 10 14:28
TIME.-A- ID. 46 or AZ, summer, and contin-
ring for year or two. The return TO An
tioch In the spring OF a. ID. IS or 49,
PLACE.-Antioch, in Pisidia. 1conium.
Lystra. Derbe, all in southern Galatia, a
district OF Asia Minor. and Antioch In
Syria.
EXPLANATORY.
/. Rejected by the Jews, the Apostles
Turn to the Gentiles.-13:44 44-49.
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.
III. Expelled from Antioch, the Apos-
ties Go TO Iconium.-13:5O-52;1 14:1-4
During their stay at Antioch, the
apostles evangelical the whole region
of which that city was the center. Them
the leading men of the city, together
with women of rank, stirred up perse-
cution, and the apostles left, shaking
off the dust of their feet as n 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 warming.
III. Driven from Iconium, the Apostles
go to Lystra and Derbe.-Vs. 500. 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-
Z he people were wild and lawless, as
indeed they are still, like men l have
seen in Asia Minor, armed from head
to foot with whole arsenal of weapons,
and ready for any violence.
To such q people an object lesson
would have great power in explaining
and impressing Gospel truths. Hence,
here was wrought one of the few mira
cles recorded of ST. Paul.
10. "Called Barnabas, Jupiter" Their
chief god, and tutelary deity; probably
because Barnabas was the elder and
more imposing in appearance than Paul
"And Paul, Mercurius, because he was
the chief speaker" Mercury Greek,
Hermes) was the messenger and spoles-
man Of the gods, and the god of elo-
quence.
Is. "Jupiter:" i. e., the statue Of
Jupiter which" together with a tenn
pie or shrine, twas before their city,"
as it's guardian. Brought oxen" for the
sacrifice, land garlauds" to decorate
the animals or the temporary altar, to
be placed before the gates Of the house
where the apostles were.
II. "When the apostles $
heard (of it) 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
a. visible expression, that would be
quickly understood by all, expressing
their horror and extreme disapproba-
ton.
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 God" The words vanity" and
"vain" were almost the invariable
terms used by Jews to describe the
emptiness and worthlessness of
heather worship (Eph. 4:17; ! Pet.
1:1S). SO are all the objects CT modern
idolatry-wealth, honor, ambition, sim
full pleasure-all are vanities unable TO
satisfy the soul.
10. "There came thither certain
jews" To thwart his plans and stop
the progress of the Gospel if they could.
"Having stoned PAUL" What crowd
Of memories this must have been to
Paul when NE remembered Stephen ten
or eleYen 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.
90 CAS- the disciples" the fruits of
Paul's work. "StoOd round about him."
mourning and praying, perhaps hop
ing. "He rose up" 1t is not stated
here that the recovery Of Paul was mi
raculous. or that he really died; but he
must have been terribly bruised and
quite unfit for travel the next dag; so
that the quick recovery seems TO have
been a special grace of God. "The next
day to Derbe:" Derbe was
the farthest limit Of Paul's first mis-
sionary journey. How long he re-
nained is uncertain.
w. Revisiting the Churches. and Re-
turn to Antioch in Syria.-Vs. 21-2s.
81. "Returned again TO Lystra," etc:
Including Derbe, the apostles founded
churches in four cities on this tour.
They needed strengthening and con-
frning. and IL must be done at any
risk. It required no little courage and
heroism TO return to the places from
which they had been driven. 1t is pos
sible that they took due precautions
of secrecy, but they accomplished their
work.
Sparks from Moody's Anvil.