The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
May 23, 1s97-Acts Nv, 10, 22-29.
BY DAVIS w. CLARK.


When Conrad and Louis approached Antioch.
Raymond, the king, went out to meet them with
a brave array. But Paul and Barnabas re-
turned to the same city unheralded. The Cru
saders We're on their way to fight for an empty
grave; but the apostles were returning from the
successful preaching of Him who had risen from
that grave. The ovation should have been ac-
corded to the apostles. . At least they
shall have respite after their tolsoIne, dan
gerous and eventtul journey. But no such good
fortune awaits them. They are Immediately in
volved IN controversy. They must reeds with
stand enorists formidable as Pisidian ban
dts, and Eeresy more destructive than mountain
torrents. The heresy consisted in affirming the
ceremonial law, circumcision included as bind
irg upon Gentiles who propose becoming Chris
tians. To them the church to the
temple The only way into the former was
through the latter. The apostle to the Gentiles
withstands this heretical idea with all his
might. He afiirms the possibility of justification
by talth without deeds OF the law. When the
validity OF his apostolate is questioned he com
pels his enemies to submit the case TO the Apos-
tolic College at Jerusalem for final arbitrament
To this high court of appeals the case
is carried by the contestants in person The
matter Is stated and argued Most unexpectedly
the voice of Peter chords with that of Paul. The
apostle OF the circumcision and the apostle Of
the uncircumcision affirm the same thing; name
ly, that the ceremonial law is no longer bind
ing. concensus is reached. James the Just
president, announces it. With certain tenn
porary minor NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to be OBJ
served in charitable Difference to the compunc-
lions of Jewish Christians-CientiIe believers are
wholly absolved from the Mosaic ritual. The de-
in written form is sent to Antioch by the
hand of special messengers.
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
Received of the Church: Word translated
were received implies cordial reception on part
of Jerusalem community.-Sch
Then pleased it: This was one of the forms
of passing a law.-Whedon.
Greeting: This document seems to bear the
mark OF James, own hand il the form of saIu-
tation, which occurs nowhere else but in the
salutation of his own eDistle.-Kitto
Apostles, elders, brethren: Clerical and lay
are here Observation-Disclosures.
And they wrote: No other epistle given by
the primitive church is extant at present, al
though many were given.--Bengel.
The first occasion OF writing in the Old Tesla
ment-EXodus xviii l-Droelaims the difference
between Israel and the Gentiles: but here it's
first mention in the New Testament procaims
the obliteratiOn of that dffefence-J., f. and b.
Hazarded their lives: A courteous eference to
the narrative of the missionary journey.-Whe-
TO the Holy Ghost and to us: AS If the
blessed Spirit had been chairman and president
of the counci--Littleton.
The Holy Ghost and to US: two concurrent
minds in the same matter-nan as free as if
God did not will; God S will perfectly accom-
plished as if mans will We're overruled.-Whe-
don.
seal the decision come to- the other the eA,
teTnal, ecclesiastical authority, devoutly en-
es that decision; a great principle this for the
church in all time.-J., F. and b.
TIE TEACHERS CULVER.
l. The Importance of the issue of the Jerusa-
lem Council superlatve. The question
whether Christianity should be a mere racial or
a worldwide religion was then solving;
for Christianity, handicapped by Mosaic
ritual. especially the humiliatng, revolving rite
of circumcision, could never hope to make such
progress outside of Jewry. Happily for us Cen
tiles, the Holy Ghost held sway in devout ana
sensible minds.
?. The happy conclusion was not the result Of
the mere elaboration of brief session. In the
twenty years since Pentecost chain of glori-
Gus facts had been forging under the hammer of
Providence. Some of the links in the chain were
sCch tn ;se: Selection of Hellenists as dea-
cons; revival in Samaria founding of the Anti
ochian Church; conversions of the Ethfonian
Cornelius, and Saul; mission to Asia Minor. Such
a, chain would bind any unbiased mind to the
very conclusion the council finally reached.
g. The self-denial clause Of the Jerusalem
decretal is still in force. Christians are bound
yet TO a denying surrender in things indiffer-
ent. where others can be saved from offense by
81 Oh surrender The calls for such abstinence in
day numerous and urgent. 1t was tho
apostle to the Gentes who said: If eating
meat, of which IN doubt whether or not
it has first been offered to idol--if that of
ferds my Jewish brother-Tn abstain from all
meat forever.