The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-14

International Lesson for April N,
1S07-Gentiles Converted at Anti.
och-Acts IL i10-2O.

ter from verse 10. The story of the found
ing of the church at Antioch.
TIME-The lesson starts with the death
OF Stephen, A. ID. 81. but its emphasis is on
the founding and first years OF the church.
A. ID. 40 to A. The famine began the lat
ter part OF A. ID. 43. and continued two
years. Paul preached in Antioch during
43. A, and he with Barnabas reached Jer-
usalem ". 800 about the time Of the Pass
PLACE.-Antioch. 300 miles north Of
Jerusalem. 1t was the capital Of Syria.
and one Of the greatest and most luxurious
cities in the world at that time
EXPLANATORY.
I.-Founding of the First Gentle
Church, at Antioch.-Vs. 1921. 10.
Scattered abroad upon the persecu-
ton about Stephen" We now
return to chapter Slid, three years pre-
vious to our lesson, in order TO take up
a new thread of influence. The au-
thorities tried to blow out the Gospel
fire kindled by the Holy Spirit, but it
only made it burn the brighter. "As
far as Phenice:" Phenicia, the strip of
coast between the Mediterranean and
the mountains of Lebanon, extending
1875 miles from a point a little below
Tyre, northward to Beirut, from which,
in the autumn of 1895, a railroad was
opened to Damascus. Cyprus" large
island in the Mediterranean, 90 miles
from the Palestine coast And An
tioch," the most northern large city on
the coast. Preaching the word to
~ Jews only" According to the
practice and feelings of the Jewish
Christians when they left Jerusalem.
20. Some of them" the scattered
disciples, men of Cyprus" That is,
Jews who were natives of Cyprus and
Cyrene," in Africa, who had been living
in Jerusalem, and became disciples
there. These were Greek-speaking
Jews, who, having lived abroad were
not so intensely Jewish as those who
had always lived in Jerusalem. "Spake
unto the Grecians:" The best manu-
scripts have Greeks Gas in r. W, and
this is clearly the correct reading. The
New Testament uses Hellenistae-Gre-
clans, to mean those Jews who had been
abroad and spoke the Greek language,
or else for proselytes, but Hellenes-
Greeks, when the heather population is
spoken of.
81. "The hand" the symbol of power
and of work, "of the Lord" the head of
the church. Thus "a great number be-
lieved:" The Lord proved by his power
in touching their hearts and renewing
their lives that He wanted these people
in His church. They were received APP
parently without contention or opposi
ton, as the logical result of their be-
10 nd ivin 60 If bay III
II. Aid and Encouragement from the
Mother Church.-Vs. 1924. %. "Then
tidings:" The report concerning "these
things" unto the ears of the church
which was in Jerusalem:" The church
was in measure prepared for this new
development by the work in Samaria,
reported by Peter and John, and by the
conversion of Cornelius, and the gift
of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles in
Cesaria, and the report of it by Peter,
one of the chiefest of the apostles.
'They sent forth Barnabas:" % To
learn the circumstances and see that
all was right. (2) To prevent any abuses
or discord arising between the Jewish
and Gentle converts, of which the Sc
quel shows the real danger (14:19; IS:
], 25.) (3) Barnabas was sent to aid and
encourage and instruct the new dis
ciples and preserve the unity of the dis
cipes throughout the world.
"a. For he was good man." Not
merely honest and upright, but gen.
erous, kindly, loving, conciliating. This
was shown in his joy that Gentiles were
converted as we'll as Jews, and through
others as well as himself. He had the
beauty of holiness. the graces of re-
ligion. Full Of the Holy Ghost:" He
lived in the Spirit and was endowed with
power by the spirit. And of faith"
Perfect trust in the Lord, perfect conf
dence that Jesus was the Messiah; per-
feet devotion to His cause. He preached
what he most heartily believed. "And
much people was added unto the Lord"
AS natural consequence of the three
qualities described above, his goodness,
his faith, the power of the Holy Ghost.
III. A Twofold Training by Barnabas
and Paul.-Vs. %, &c. 25. "Then depart
ed Barnabas:" (D The numbers were
too great for one alone. CD There was
On immense field ripe for the harvest.
(3) There was need of counsel and great
wisdom to guide the new church Alright,
especially as there were two elements
in the church. (4) There was need of
another element, of instruction and
training in doctrine, than Barnabas'
special talents would provide. And Bar
nabas was wise enough to see this and
good enough to provide for it. "To Tar
sus, for to seek Saul" The word "seel"
implies diligent and anxious search.
Saul was preaching somewhere in CT
licia, busy about his Masters work
(9:30.).
&c. "A whole year they (Barnabas and
PauD assembled themselves with the
church Cat their places of Worship and
taught" The young church, just de-
livered from heathenism, has especial
need of instruction. "And the disciples
were first called Christians at Antioch:"
Christian means simply belonging to
Christ" ''of Christ's family" And it
was given TO the disciples here, doubt
less, by the Gentiles, as the name best
descriptive of the fact.
Rams Horn Blasts.