The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-04-30
rnE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
,.terna :ionai Lesson for Ma, :. lsD.
'|paars first missionary journey
40. fgiI-1S.

IA preach the Gospel 10 every efeA'u''-
49, rhs section includes the lesson. and a re
- NJ Pauls conversion and early Chris
I'm lie. la Acts 9l-So and cal. ;lS-2l
'Ti,iE.-The missionaries probably start
~ me autuml OF A. ID. As tl-cwinl, or the
,'r,ne OF A. -. AZ Ramsay};
4F' l.All.AN AiOK1.
IA Great Missionary Church
d /. The church that was at An
,,oeh:" Its earliest beginnings were
,,cht or ten years before, by those scat
tered by the persecution at the time of
s,rphen (s:l, 4: ll:l9). and during
d. 4O-ia il had wonderfully in
creased through the reception of the
Ceaiiles. "Prophets:" Those most
omen 10 receive. and able TO speak. the
truth of God revealed 10 them.
>. AS they ministered TO the Lord
The peculiar Greek word here used for
service (from which comes our word
Liturgy) refers specially 10 religious
services. such as prayer. fasting. sing
ing. preaching. and the Lords supper.
and also charitable giving to those in
need Heb. TO-: Rom. I5:l7). which
should be religious services
II. Ike First Missionaries.-Vs. 2. 3.
Q. THE Holy Ghost said" In answer
10 their prayers and TO their spirit of
service. Separate me-" !. e., set apart
for this special work. For the work
whereunto / have called them" Paul
was called definitely at the time of his
conversion. Barnabas perhaps in a more
general way. by fitness. by Providence.
by an inward call. by spiritual longing.
III. Missionary Experiences in Cy-
prus.-Ns. AZ. 4. "Sent forth by the
Holy Ghost" As related above. not the
church, not Paul, but the Holy Ghost
originated the missionary enterprise
Departed unto" went down (R W
the River Orontes. "Seleucia:" The
seaport of Antioch. 161s miles distant
in direct line. They sailed to Cy-
prus:" Cyprus lies so to 100 miles south
west of Selcucia.
5. "And when they were al Salamis:"
The Greek capital of Cyprus on its east
ern shore, nearest Seleucia. They
preached the word of God:" Gods
message of love and salvation through
Jesus the Christ.
G. Gone through the isle" The word
for gone through is one used. not mere
~ to express travelling. but the process
of going over the country as a mis-
sionary for the purpose of evangeliz-
ing. Unto Paphos:" Now BafTo. at the
western or opposite extremity Of the is
land. about 100 miles from Salamis. "A
certain sorcerer:" Rather. magician.
wizard (wiscard). The magicians
did not merely pretend TO foretell the
future. but also TO influence it. by the
control which they claimed to exercise
over the inferior gods or demons.
T. (which was with the Deputy" As
one of his train which always accom-
panied Roman governor; friend and
associate. This position was an hon
orable one. gratifying at once to ambi-
tion. 10 vanity. and to worse passion.
~ prudent mani" IL. ". ~ man of I'M
derstanding:" of practical ability. Of
good common sense and Judgment.
There must have been something in Ely-
mas. or such a man would not have
made him n companion. But in the
darkness of that age Of general unbc-
lief as 10 the future. when even Cato
and Caesar confessed to the senate that
the belief in future existence was
fabulous" a Thoughtful mind would
catch at everything that gave hope of
eternal life. at least so far as 10 in,csti-
gate. Called for Barnabas and Saul"
This shows his sound mind. lie would
search wherever there was hope Of more
light.
o. saul. who also is called PAUL."
Hitherto. by his association with the
Jews, he had been called by his Hebrew
name. Now, entering upon his Gentle
work in the great Roman world. il was
natural that his Roman name should be
used. as il is henceforth. Filled with
the Holy Ghost" The tense OF tho
Greek participle implies n sudden ac-
cess of spiritual power. showing itself
at once i'm insight into character. right
cous indignation. and provision of the
Divine cEastiscment.
10. 20 full of all subtilty:" Guile.
deceit. falscncss of character and life.
Mischief" Nillany. unscrupulousness
in evil. Child Of the devil" And like
his father. "pcrvert the right ways of
the Lord" Elymas' magian tricks. his
teachings about spirits and the other
world. were pcrvcrsions Of truth. which
as jew he understood. making il n
means of evil. and out of il degrading
error.
II. The hand Of the Lord:'' not of
Paul. And thou shalt be blind. not see
ing the sum" This phrase indicates
total blindness. In case OF partial blind
ness, the eye cannot discern objects. but
is able to recognize the light. "A mist
and a darkness:" Expressing the grad
ual but swift progress of the blindness.
So comes into the soul the darkness Of
sin and error.
IL. Then the deputy. .believcd:
lie realized the truth and power and
spirit of Paul in this transaction. and
the character of his former teacher was
revealed. being astonished at the doc
trine (the teaching) Of the Lord" The
new truths from Heaven, the new views
OF the love Of God. the promises and
blessings Of the Gospel. forgiveness OF