Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-05-16
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments for
May Is.
Subject: The Early Christian Missionaries
Acts kill, l.l2-GoIden Text. Matt xSVi'|'
l9-Nlemory Verses, 2, 3-Commen'
tary on the Days Lesson.

church must have been large and Huorishl,,
ing at this time prophets and teachers.
The prophets were those most open to re-
ceive, and able to speak the truth GOO re-
vealed to them; men with insight and tore
sight, rather than instructors. l Cor. lZ
2S By teachers are meant stated ana
permanent teachers, answering somewhat
to the pastor of modern church. "Barna-
bas." Barnabas was preacher and 1t is
not improbable that the names prophets
and teachers" here simply designates the
preachers of the gospel. Simeon. :.
Niger" Niger means black, but there is
nothing in that to indicate that this man
was black Nothing more is known OF
him than is here mentioned. "Luclus. .
He is probably the same person mentioned
in Rom. 1921. He may also have been
one OF those who first carried the gospel
to Antioch Chap. IL: 10, 20. "Cyrene." "
4 celebrated city in Africa; . one,fourth .S OF
loster-brother OF Herod." (R.V.) Hackett
thinks his mother was probably Herod's
nurse. He was evidently a person OF in
Ruence. This was Herod Antipas, who
murdered John the Baptist. Manean must
have become Christian out of very bad
surroundings. He was probably man Of
strong character. "And Saul" Named
last because he was the late conner. He
soon becomes the chiefest of all the apos-
ties.
2. "They." These five ministers.
Nothing is said Of any others being present.
But Meyer insists that "they' refers to
the church and not merely to the five min
isters. "Ministered." In special ser
vice of prayer and praise, to ascertain the
mind of the Lord concerning the adavnce-
ment of His work "Feasted" Showing
w.t.
hunger, which overpowered all sense. OF
bodily hunger. "lhe Holy Ghost said"
How the Holy Spirit spoke to them we
are not tod. He may have spoken through
some Of the prophets present, or by gen.
eral conviction on the minds of the mem
bers of the church. But notice that the
Holy Spirit "makes the revelation, selects
the missionaries, and assigns to them their
work" Separate me-" That is, set them
apart or ordain them for the special work
whereunto | have called them-the work
Of foreign missions. Paul was clearly
called to this work at the time OF his con-
3. "Fasted and prayed" A most so!-
smn and important service, observed,
probably, by the whole body OF the church
They needed wisdom and ability to &C.
complish the great work they were now v,
about to undertake. Laid their hands.
By this ceremony OF conservation, they Or
dained tbem-not to an order, but to a
mission. 1t did not make them deacons,
elders. or bishops, but missionaries. sent
then, away" From Antioch, as mission
aries to other lands.
4. "Being sent, ETC." The expression
here is similar to that found in the pre-
vious vase, and shows the call of the
Spirit irst, and, next, that of the church.
The Holy Ghost originates the missionary
enterprise. All objections, therefore, to
the work arise from lack of fulness Of
the Spirit. unto Seleucia." This was
the seaport town Of Antioch, on the Medi-
terranean Sea, Antioch being twenty miles
inland. Sailed to Cyprus" This island,
in the Mediterranean Sea, was originally
the home of Barnabas. Chap. 4: SO:
S. CAT Salamis." The Greek capital OF
Cyprus, and the nearest city in their ap..
proach to the island, after a few hours,
sail. John to their minister" This was
| John whose surname was Mark.
6. "Gone through the isle" They
travelled the whole length of the island
Paphos." The chief town of the island,
about one hundred miles from Salamis.
"Sorcerer" A magician, or fortune-teller.
| The magicians did not merely pretend to
foretell the future, but also to influence it.,
| bv the control which they claimed to eX-
ercise over the inferior gods OF demons.
"a false prophet" An imposter, in that
he falsely protested to be prophet Of the
true God, while teaching false doctrines
and false standard of morals. "a jew"
A Jewish quack whose arts were picture
of the lowest depths to which the jewish
character could sink. "Bar-Jesus." Ihls
was his Jewish name. The prenX Bar
is Hebrew and signifies SON" Bar-Jesus
therefore signifies the Son OF Jesus, COM
| mon name among the Jews; but the Syriac
calls him "Bar-shoma," the son OF pride.
7. 1.-The deputy" All the provinces OF
the Roman Empire under, the control OF
| the senate were governed by proconsui,
here called deputy; that is, a governor
appointed by the senate. "a prudent
man" A man of sound understanding and
good sense. Desired to hear" He de-
| sired to know what these men taught, and
| to hear the word of God.
s. "Eiymas" An Arabic word which
means "the wise" Perhaps he was born
| in Arabia, or had lived there, and may
| have assumed this name in a boasttul
| spirit, or he may have received it from
others as a compliment to his skill. with
stood them" Opposed them, as the ma:
| picians in Pharaoh's court withstood
| Moses. He saw his power was gone II the
! proconsul accepted the truth. ITO turn
| away" The effort of the sorcerer was to
| keep him from becoming believer In the
| doctrine of the apostles. No doubt they
had heard much about the teachings OF the
| apostles. -, ~ :,
Q. "Then Saul. >. Paul" This Is the
| first time the name Paul occurs, and the
last time where he is called Saul. The
| Gentle apostle here assumes Gentle
name. "Saul" is Hebrew, "Paulus" il
Latin. The word signifies "little," allud
| ing to his insignifcance of stature and ap
pearance. Cor. 10: /, 10. "Filled, etc.
The tense of the Greek participle implies
sudden access Of spiritual power. Sei
his eyes" With a piercing gaze which
looked into his very soul. Paul now un
folded for the first time the mighty pow
ers which lay in him. -,
10. "Subtility" "All guile and all vii
lany." R. V. Thou expert in the art o.
deceiving men. "Son of the devil" (R.V.)
Subtilty characteristic of the devil. Gen
81; q Cor. IL: 3. ENEMY, ETC." He
was an enemy of truth and holiness. Per
| vert" He perverted the truth and Gods
way of saving men.
II. "Hand of the Lord" The affection
came from God, not Paul. Blind" He
was totally blind. 'For season" His
blindness was temporary. God Furnishes
only so much as is necessary. Perhaps
Paul hoped for the mans repentance.
y. Believed" The miracle wrought
belief; the doctrine of the Lord wrought
| salvation.