The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-03
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
LESSON FOR APRIL 4
THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH IN
SYRIA.
Acts, xi:19-3O.
BY REV. J. +. GILBERT, D. D.
Secretary Of American Society Of Religious
Education.

INTRODuCTIoN.-Thus far the book Of Acts
has been confined to u sketch OF religious move
lnents in great centres Seven chapters showed
what was done in Jerusalem until the death of
Stephen. Phillips work in Samaria and with
the eunuch who returned to Ethiopia followed.
Then the account of Pauls conversion the
way to Damascus was presented, and afterward
Peters marvellous vision at Joppa and his SER
vice for Cornelius at Caesarea. Thus, with
Jerusalem the point of beginning, samara,
Ethiopia Damascus, JOnpa and Cacsarea are
brought into the field of Christian effort. With
this geographical expansion there had come jus
ter views of the gospels mission to reach Gentes
as well as Jews, to become worldwide system
Of religion. The church had broken the bonds
Of race distinction and ready for its outward
movements to tho regions beyond. Today we
shall how in the Providence of God another
centre established from which missionaries
would be shortly sent out.
DIsPERSION.--(Vers 1o).-Attcntion is first
called TO the journeys OF Christians from .Jer.
rsalem dan. Xii:4). They might have been
content to remain in the national metropolis,
where were the temple, synagogucs, sacred
books and places, learned men, and schools, by
which intellectual and social life received its
highest stimulus. But the persecution that arose
about Stephen (.Acts vi:5O directed against
laity in the main (Acts viii1D. compelled them
to fee in every direction for safety. We learn
here that they Travelled to the north, until they
reached Phcnicc, or Fhcnicia, small country
lying on the Mediterranean sea. peoped by the
descendants Of Ham. Thence some crossed over
into the island of Cyprus, while Others jour-
neyed eastward and came to Antioch, then cele.
brated Syrian city. Thus settlements OF Chris
tians We're effected in three important regions,
extending east and west in right line probably
a hundred miles. all beyond the jurisdiction of
the Jewish hierarchy.
PREACHERS.-Vcrs 10 and oO.)--The men
who thus went ont preached not because they
had been trained and ordained to the sacred
office-they were lsymen but because they were
consecrated to the cause OF Christ The infant
church had not yet made clerical distinctions
prominent but regarded all believers as minis
ters. (Natt. xxviii:ls.) These lay preachers,
finding asylum in the north. were Of two kinds.
Some were former dwellers in Jerusalem, Jewish
in their sympathies, and they naturally sought
their fellow countrymen. endeavoring to win
them to Christ. Others had been residents in
those parts, soiourning for time at Jerusalem,
now returning home because OF the persecution.
These preached Jesus to the Grecians, that is to
the Gentiles, the uncircumcised. Whether this
took place prior or subsequent to Peters visit to
Cornelius as related in our last lesson, we have
no means of determining. it is probable that
the two events We're contemporaneous nearly
so.
CONVERTS.-(Verse M)-The preaching to
Gentles in Antioch by unordaired refugees was
on larger scale than the preaching Of Peter
at Caesarea. In the latter case, a single man,
an officer in the Roman army and his household
were brought into the church. while in the for.
mer instance larger number accepted Christ.
From this it is not TO be argued that the words
of poto 1nSao oYp tiun hat tharnf
lay talent is to be preferred. But the greaecr
due 10 the fact that the preach
ers of thought and speech We're therefore we'll
known, and to the further fact that they re-
mained and continued their labors for a longer
time, thus pressing every circumstance to adj
vantage. And so il came to pass that a great
number believed, and a church, a congregation,
was formed, slowing one method by which in
those days Christianity was propagated, 1t ex-
hibited the vitality and asgressveness of the
church.
BARNABAs.-(verses %, %, e4)--The congre.
CATION at Jerusalem being the first body OF or
ganzed Christians, exercised a kind OF oversight
for all new societies formed, perhaps holding
this right or duty, perhaps to maintain unity
and promote efficiency. Hence Peter was sent 10
samaria to supervise Phillips work. (Acts
viiili) So now it was deemed proper to send
one northward. stopping along the way. and
coming at length to Antioch, Barnabas was
chosen for this important mission The selection |
Is highly significant inasmuch as he was not an |
aposle-ndicating a tendency TO call others |
into service. He is menti>ned but twice be- |
fore in scriptme-enee il~reation to the giving |
OF his property to the church (Acts iv36.37), |
and once in his kindness 10 Saul (Acts ix:aO. |
What is most important, he is here, declared |
to be good man full of the Holy Ghost just |
the one needed by the church in its earlier his |
tory, His ministry is also described in few |
words, both as To its character and eifeet-he |
cxhorted to fidelity and many were saved
sAuL.-(Nerses % and 26 )There is always |
favorable time and mode for the instruction OF a |
great man to his life work. Antioch was hon. |
ored as the first field OF the apostle to the Gen.
tiles. After his brief sojourn with the apostles |
in Jerusalem he fled from the enmity OF The |
Jews to Caesarea and thence to Tarsus lActs
ix:3O) There, in his native city (Acts xxi :3D,
he remained in obscurity, with opportunity 10 |
study the philosophy OF the heather, tho litera.
ure OF the Jews and the doctrines OF his new