Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-04-27

was called Niger,
and Lucius of Cyrenc. and Manaen
which had been brought IN with
ferod the tetrarch and Saul p
AS tney minlstered to the Lord. and fast
cd, the Holy Ghost said Separate me
Barnabas and Saul for the work where
unto have called them. 3. And when
they had tasted and PRAYED and laid
their hands on them. they sent them
away, Z. SO they being sent forth by the
iioly Ghost, departed unto Seieucia; and
rom thence they sailed to Cyprus 5.
ANA when they We're ut Salamis, they
preached the word of God in the Syna-
SoSues OF the Jews: and they had also
John to their minister. G. And when
tney had gone through the isle unto Pa
Pnos, they found n certain sorcerer.
Iaise prophet. Jew, whose name was
barJesus z. Which was with the dep
uty OF the country, Sergius Paulus, pru-
cent man; who called for Barnabas and
Saui' ana desired to hear the word OF
600. 8. But Elymas the sorcerer 0or so
Is MS name by interpretation withstood
thefn, seeking to turn away the deputy
from the faith. g. Then Saul. who also
IS called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost.
set MS eyes on him. 10. And said. . full
Oh all suDtilty and all mischief. thou child
Oh the devil. thou enemy of all righteous
ness, Wit thou not cease to peryert the
right ways of the Lord? H. And now. be-
hold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee,
ana thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun
Tor season. And Immediately there fell
on MN mist and a darkness: and he
went about seeking some TO lead him by
the hand. II. Then the deputy. when he
saw what was done, believed, being as
tonlshed at the doctrine of the Lord IL.
Now when Paul and his company loosed
from Paphos, they came TO Perga in Pam
phyha: and John departing from them re-
turned 10 Jerusalem.
important for the work than Jerusalem
itself. Seleucia. a city on the Orontes
FOUR miles from its mouth. 1t was the
port OF Antioch, and was about sixteen
miles distant from 1t by land, but forty
oy the river on account of its windings.
Cyprus, one of the largest islands in the
Mediterranean. In the apostolic times il
was senatorial province OF the Roman
empire, governed by proconsul, and not
ed for fertility. wealth, aud dense pop
ulation. Two of its chief cities-Salamis
and Paphos-were visited by the mission
aries. The island is now annexed to
Great Britain. Perga, large town, me-
tropo,is of the sman province of Pamphy-
liza.
Lesson Preview.--Today's lesson pre-
sents the early church i'm IL new aspect.
Hitherto Christianity had been extended
by informal efforts and casual occurrences.
Previously the policy of believers had been
TO preach the gospel to those who came
within the reach of their voices Now
they start abroad TO find men who might
be induced to listen. Instead of being
confined to a local faction the gospel is
10 be given to the world a universal
faith. Much as the leaders at Antioch
loved the Jews, they loved the truth more.
Moved to pray for direction in the forward
movement they felt to he necessary, the
Holy Spirit indicated to them the divinely
commissioned agents These selected men
were forerunners of the noblest heroes in
the missionary cause. Cyprus was select
ed for the first field of labor as being the
native place of Barnabas and John Mark
After about q weeks stay on the island
and the conversion of its proconsul, Paul
with his companions set sail for Pamphy-
liza. which bordered on his native Cilicia.
We have in this lesson the story of the
first missionary enterprise in the annals
Of the Christian church. Two missiona-
ries were sent forth TO win the world to
Christ. Well was it for US that they
turned their faces westward and not
eastward on that journey, i. Ascertain
what is here shown concerning the de-
mands of missionary work. /. IL calls for
the best talent in the church. The two
men most needed az home were chosen to
go abroad. Verse ]. 2. 1t requires a
divine call to the work. Verse q For years
Barnabas and Saul had been unconscious
ly preparing for their mission. Now they
near the command of God to undertake it,
;. 1t demands entire conservation. Verses
:, 3. These missionaries were to be sep
arated," set apart. consecrated L. 1t
demands the Endorsement and moral sup
port of the church at home. Verse 8. The
church laid its hands upon these men.
prayed over them sent them away and
thus gave to their mission its sanction
The church at home must ever support
Its missions abroad. s. 1t requires cour-
age, fidelity and faith Notice how all
these elements of character are shown in
this lesson, as they are shown on every
page of the church's missionary history.
!; Above all 1t demands the endowment
Of the Holy Ghost. Verses 2 T. o. The
Holy Spirit called these men; the Holy
Spirit sent them forth; the Holy Spirit
spoke through them. This divine power
Is needed by every missionary.