Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-03
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
May 4.
Subject: The Church at Antioch ia Syria. Acts
xi. lg.sO-GoIdcn Text. Acts Ii. IL
Memory Verses. 2z.24-commen.
tary on the Days Lesson.

/
the gospel fire kindled by the Holy Spirit,
but it only made it burn the brighter
| They lashed the fire, but it only sent the
sparks over the world. The wrath of men
was made to praise God. The disciples
went everywhere preaching the gospel.
We have seen their success in Samaria,
Joppa, LYDIA and Caesarea. "Phenice."
The district between the Mediterranean
and the mountains OF Lebanon. extending
one hundred and twenty miles from a
point little south Of Tyre, and embrac-
ing the two cities Of Tyre and Sidon
Cyprus" large island in the Medi-
| terranean Sea, sixty miles from the coast
OF Palestine. 1t was remarkable for its
| richness of soil and the dissouteness of its
Inhabitants. 1t was the birthplace of
Barnabas, and one O.. the fields OF Paul's
labors. Antioch This city Eow be-
comes the new religious centre. Unto
the Jews only" This was the practice of
the Jewish Christians when they left
Jerusalem. As yet they did not know that
the Gentiles were TO receive the gospel
20 But there were some" OR. W
Some OF those scattered abroad because
Of the persecution. Men of Cyprus, etc"
These were Greek-speaking Jews who.
having lived abroad. We're less scrupulous
about mixing with the Gentiles than were
the Jews of Palestine ..Cyrene" A city
of northern Africa. "Spake unto the
| Greeks The Gentle Greeks.
81 Hand of the Lord" The hand is
| the symbol of power. The expression is
common one in the Old Testament to ex-
press the direct interposition of God in the
affairs of the world. With them" God
showed them favor and evinced His power
in the conversion of their hearers.
! - The report concerning them" OR.
W This excludes the idea that it was
a communication sent from the brethren
at Antioch. 1t was natural that such a
| remarkable occurrence the conversion
of large number of Gentiles should be
reported at Jerusalem The church.
in Jerusalem This was the original
church OF Christianity; not the church OF
Rome. There were Christian churches
founded in many places which exist to
the present day. before Rome heard the
gospel They sent forth To aid the
ton to the work. They had done sim
liar thing at the time of the revival which
occurred in Samaria. Acts s: IA. "Barna-
has" He was peculiarly fitted for this
work. He was Levite and native of
Cyprus. AS far as Antioch" Implying
that there We're churches on the way to
! visit:
23. When he came The result is brief
~ recorded under three heads: l. What he
saw-the grace OF God. 3 What he felt
he was glad. 3. What he did-he exhorted
them all. The grace OF God" The favor,
mercy and power OF Christ in the CONVEX
sion OF the Gentiles. Was glad" He at
once owned the work and rejoiced in it,
though the converts were uncircumcised.
He saw nothing in the work OF which he
| could dlsapprove; 1t was genuine. tx
horted them" Entreated them. We find
him exercising here the peculiar gilt for
which he was distinguished. The appella-
ton which he received from the apostles
(chap. g. 36) describes a particular trait
in his style OF preaching. He eomforted
and encouraged them. We owe every
thing to the people who encourage us.
You owe very little to the man who mere
ly finds fault with you. Purpose of
heart" The heather converts had much
to endure for Christs sake and to the
weak there were many temptations to re-
lapse. Barnabas exhorted them to make
this their settled plan OF life. ''Cleave"
Adhere firmly, constantly, faithfully to the
Lord.
"a. For" Here we see the reason why
Barnabas was so successful. Good man. "
Thus it is possible for poor. weak, sinful
man to be saved and ceansed from his sins
so that in the eyes of the Lord he will be
good" Barnabas was deeply pious. and
exemplified the grace OF God by living a
holy life Full OF, etc" He lived in the
Spirit. was controlled by the Spirit. and
was endowed by the power of the Spirit.
He was also full OF faith. He had I'M
l
the gospel he was preaching. He knew
there was no chance Tor failure. Much
people. There were many conversions
and accessions TO the church
.. ITO Tarsus." Saurs native city; less
than hundred miles from Antioch If the
remembered that when the Jews at Jeru-
salem sought to kill Saul the brethren
sent him to Tarsus. Chap. 8: 80. To
seek Saul" Barnab.s was well acquainted
with Saul and had introduced him to the
church at Jerusalem %: 27); and 1t has
been suggested that he may have known
him in his youth.
26. Assembled We doubt not they
assembled weekly, upon the Lords day;
for the earliest ecclesiastical history finds
Sunday the sacred day at Antioch, and il
is utterly improbable that any alteration
took place OF the day then first estab
lished by the apostles. Christians" L;
them by the brethren in rid;cule. But DIR
Clarke seems to favor the idea that the
name Is of divine appointment. and was
given by Saul and Barnabas. There is nc
necessity to discuss this question for the
name is from God even though the heather
may have coined it.
q. Prophets" This was applied (l)
to those who were engaged in preaching
or explaining the word of God q Cor. "A:
81. and also (2) to those who foretold
future events as Agabus did here.
2s "Agabus." We know nothing o.
this prophet except what we learn her;
and in chap. 81: 10. by the Spirit.
While under the influence of the Holy
Spirit Great dearth" "a great fam
inc" r. V. "All the word" Thi
probably means here. the land of Judes
and adjacent countries; though some ap
ply it to the whole Roman empire. Game
to pass" The famine continued two
years. A. D. A. IS. During the reign o
1 Claudius CA. ID. 5l-5i) there were -four
famines in different parts OF the empire.
80 The disciples" The church a
Antioch. Note that every man. sen
something There evidently were no pc
nurious people in the church at that time
(Which dwelt in Judea." They evidentl,
did not expect the famine would extend
TO Antioch.
30. ITO the elders" To be distribute,
to those in need. This was Saups secont
visit to Jerusalem since his conversion.