The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-12
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY Is.

Lesson Text: paul Preaching to the
Gentiles," Acts xiv, 11-22 - Golden
Text: 81 Have Set Thee to be a Light OF
the Gentiles," Acts kill, 47-Colnments.
The power Of God was so manifest in His
word through the apostles at Antloch that
the next Sabbath almost the whole city
came together to hear the word OF God
xiii. AZ. This filled the Jews with such
envy that they contradicted and BIAS
phemed and raised such persecution against
Paul and Barnabas that they were expelled
from the city; not, however, before many
believed and were filed with Joy and with
the Holy Ghost, and were encouraged to
continue in the grace OF God. From
Antioch they went to 1conium, and 80 spake
that a multitude both Of Jews and Greeks
believed. But they were compelled by
persecution to fee from there also, and 30
came to Lystra and Derbo and preached
the gospel. During the preaching man
who was lame from his birth and had never
walked was perfectly healed by the Lord
through Paul, and here our lesson begins.
II. 1.-THE gods are come down to US IN the
likeness Of men," These were the words OF
the people when they saw the map that had
been lame leaping and walking. They saw
a supernatural event in the healing OF this
impotent man, and knowing only OF the
mythical gods, such as Jupiter and Mer-
GURUS, Of which Jupiter was the supreme
god of the Greeks and Romans and Mer-
curry the god of eloquence, they supposed
that their gods had actually visited them.
Let US alter their words just little, "God
has come down to US in the Likeness OF
man." and what a glorious truth we have,
and one fully proved by John l., IA; lin.
ill.,, 16; Heb. H., IA.
II. "And they called Barnabas Jupiter
and Paul Mercurius because he was the
chief speaker" Canon Fausset says that
the mythology Of Ovid represented Mer-
GURUS as having once visited Phrygla with
Jupiter, his father, and having been refused
hospitality by all but two old peasants.
Hence the simple people OF Lystra sup
posed. from the miracle on the cripple, that
Paul and Barnabas were these two gods
again come to earth.
13. It was the supernatural power man
ifested through the apostles which caused
these people to attempt to worship them.
We may not perhaps have the working OF
miracles Of healing seen in US, for the Spirit
divides His gifts to every one severally as
He will q Cor. xii, 11), but we may all be
filed with the Spirit and manifest in us the
supernatural life of meekness and quiet
ness, Of patience and long suffering, with
joyfulness, to the glory of God.
IA. "They rent their clothes and ran IN
among the people, crying out" While we
should earnestly desire the manifestation
of Christ in US, we should also tremble lest
we get any credit for it. The Lord alone
must be exalted and no flesh glory in His
presence. Most of US are too prone to en-
Joy little honor and fiattery, but 1t must
not be tolerated. "See thou do it not; wor-
ship God," must be our word.
Is. "Turn from these vanities unto the
twin Hol ri n npnnla that theV
we're but men of like passions with them
selves, men such as themselves but for the
grace Of God, they told them OF the one true
and living God, the Creator Of all things.
I have been greatly interested in noticing
how often the first verse in all Scripture is
used by prophets and apostles-as for ex-
ample, in Deut K, IA; Neh. ix., 8; lsa. XIV,
"a; Jer x, 1912; xxxi., II; Acts w., "a, ETC.,
and the connections in which they use 1t,
and I believe we do not suff1elently con-
slider it.
49, "Who in times past suffered all Ma
tions to walk in their own ways" While
He draws US unto Himself and would have
US "set apart for HIMSELF" kept for Jesus
Christ "a special people unto Him." yet
if we insist on our own ways He will sufer
US, to our eternal loss in many respects.
While He is not willing that any should
perish, but that all should repent and be
saved, yet If people insist upon rejecting
His love He will let them (Ps. Xxx, lila;
II Pet. ill.,, 9; II Cor. H., Is, 16).
II. Nevertheless He left not Himself
without witness" His eternal power and
Godhead are seen in the works OF His hands
and in His great goodness to all, so that all
are without excuse (Rom. l., 70, ~. Paul
would direct their minds to the goodness OF
God manifest in His daily mercies to all, for
all may truly say: 1T is Of the Lords
mercies we are not consumed because His
compositions fail not. They are new every
morning" Liam. ill.,, %, 23).
18. "And with these sayings scarce re-
strained they the people, that they had not
done sacrifice unto them" They saw Paul
and Barnabas, but not Jesus Christ. They
saw the miracle, but not God. Only the
opened eyes can see God, but He is willing
to open the eyes of all who will turn to
Him. Only the unwilling must stay
blind aye will not come unto mel" (John
v, 400
19. "And there came thither certain
Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who per-
suaded the people, and having stoned Paul
drew him out of the city, supposing ne
had been dead" A persevering devil goeth
about seeking to destroy. If he cannot get
the soul he will do his best to kill the body;
but this we are told not to fear (Math. x,
2S), for the breaking Of the body only sets
the spirit free to be with Christ. Paul was
to ali intents dead, though in speaking OF
this experience he says twice, whether In
the body or out of the body cannot tell;
God knoweth" II Cor; xii, 2, g.. ~
20. "Howbeit, as the disciples STOOD
round about him, he rose up and came into
the city, and the next day he departed
with Barnabas to Derbe." I do not
doubt that the vision described in II Cor.
xii, IA, was his actual experience while
thew were dragging his seemingly lifeless
body out of Lystra and by this experience
he was fitted for greater and better things
for his Lord and Master, concerning whom
he could say, Whose am, and whom 1
serve (Acts xvii, 23).
81. "And when they had preached the
gospel to that city and had taught many,
they returned again to Lystra and to Icon
ium and Antioch" The margin says they
made many disciples. SO wherever they
went the souls were saved, God glorihed
and the devil made angry. What courage
to 20 right back to Lystra where he had
been stoned, and to the other cities, from
whence they had been driven out. But
they knew that God was with them, and
they feared nothing. What denial OF self
to turn his back upon his native Tarsus
when he was so near home and go the long
Journey over again to strengthen the discl'
Piles!
%. "Confirming the souls Of the disciples
and exhorting them to continue in the
faith, and that we must through mucn
tribulation enter into the kingdom OF God:
We can only be confirmed or established by
believing God QI Chron. xx., 2O).-Lesson
Helper.
Representatives OF All Nations to Meet In
Washington.
On the 18th of next May q congress OF