The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-05-16

GSs May ~, 1ibO@-The EarH
Christian Missionaries.
THE LESSON TEXT.

u Anti0ch ctTtaln prophets ara t'aSheIss
% Barnabus, and Simeon that was called
Niger, and Lucius OF Cyrene, and Manaen
which had been brought up with Herod me
tetrarch, and Saul. Il
2 As they minlstered to the Lord. anc
tasted. the Holy Ghost said. Separate NJ
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 Holy
Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from
thence they sailed to Cyprus.
& And when they were at salsmis. theS
preached the word of God IN the syna-
gogues Of the Jews. and they had also John
&c their minister.
6 And when they had gone through the
Isle unto Paphos, they found certain
sorcerer, false prophet, Jew, whose
name was BarJesus:
7. Which was with the deputy OF Inc
country. Sergius Pau,us. prudent man
who called for Barnabas and saul, arc oe'
sired to hear the word OF God.
But Elymas the sorcersr dor so IL his
name by interpretation w!thstood them.
seeking 10 turn away the ceputy from the
faith.
g. Then Saul. who also Is called Paul.,
filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on
him. :.
TO- And said, 0 full OF all subtility and all
mischief. thou child OF the devil. thou enc.
my OF all righteousness wilt thou MOI
cease TO pervert the right ways OF the Lore
H. And now, behold. the hand OF the Lore
Is upon thee. and thou shalt be plino' ho'
seeing the sun for a season. And imme-
diateiy there fell on him mist and
darkness; and he went about seeking some
to lead him by the hand.
II. Then the deputy. when ne saw whal
was done, believed being astonisheo al
the doctrine OF the Lord.
GOLDEN TExT.-Go ye. therefore
and teach all natiOns.-Matt. 2s' I'D.
| OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURAL SECTION.
Ordaining OF missionaries. ....Acts l3l-
Conflict with Elymas............Acts is's-i-
| TIME.-A. ID. As.
PLACE.-Antioch and Paphos.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
A Missionary Church.-The church
has indeed preached the Gospel in
Samaria and in other places outside
OF Jerusalem, but il was because the
disciples were driven there by perse-
cution. Now. for the first time, 1t
grapples with the duty OF preaching
to the whole world. We begin what
NAV be called Part III Of the Book
of Acts. Part (i-v) being concerned
with the founding of the church
Part III (vi-xiD with its growth and
the rest with it's missionary work.
Two Missionaries Ordained.-The
"prophets and teachers OF the
church in Antioch were all Jews. we
know nothing more about Symeoni
Lucius and Manaen than their names.
The movement outward was probably
planned by the church, and the fast
ing and prayer were for guidance IN
the matter. The two missionaries
were important to the church. Barn
abas had been leader ever since
the church was fairly organized, and
Saul had Joined him soon after his
arrival. The sending of Barnabas
and Saul was the first organized mis-
sionary effort of church. Hitherto
all disciples had done what they
could within their own reach. Now
they acted together to send men
where, without such sending. none OF
them would have gone. The new
step was so important that the mis-
sionaries received ordination from
the church mot from tie apostles)
for this special work.
Conflict with Elymas.-Notice tho
similarity in form Of the first clause
of verse 4 and the last clause of verse
3. Luke felt that God and man were
working together in the sending 81
these missionaries. Seleucia is the
seaport of Antioch: Salamis thu
point on the eastern coast of Cyprus
where the missionaries landed; Pa
phos. the capital Of the island, on III
western coast. Cyprus was not
. field that had been entirely I'M
touched. (1i:19). The work OF Johr
Mark was not assistance II
preaching. but what would in mod
err times be called business manage
ment. The service Of an attendan
was also included in his work Z
some extent. Magi or sorcerers ha'
n great deal Of influence and Otter
obtained the favor of prominent an
wealthy men. The imposter WHOM
the missionaries found with Sergiu
paulus. being jew, was more guilt
in this practice than many others
The phrase "man Of understanding
seems to imply disposition to n
yestigate various teachings. Tn
change Of Saul's name. noted in vers
:. Q. was merely the adoption Of hi
Roman name instead of his Hebrew
It's use may have been suggested b
!, the fact that the proconsul bore
= also. hut Paul must soon have b'
gun to use It when he travele
!. among and preached to Gentle
: The rcbuke Of Elymas seems to hay
Z been turning point for Paul. IL
y fore that Barnabas was always mel
= TONED first: afterwards, Paul Is a
= wovs nut first and was the leade
: The Judgment on Elymas was spe
= tacular and convincing. and its ju
' ,ice could not be denied.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
The Holy Spirit will be likely
.oeak "a n church that is devout