Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-17
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
May Is.
Subject: The Eariy Christian Missionaries.
Acts xiii. liz Golden Text. Matt. xviii.
lo-Memory Verses. :, 3 Commcl.
tary on the Days Lesson.


I. The church. at Antioch This
church must have been large and fiiorish-
ing at this time. Prophets and teachers"
The prophets were those most open to re-
ceive, and able to speak the truth God re-
vealed to them; men with insight and fore
sight rather than instructors. Cor. II:
IS. By teachers arc meant stated and
permanent teachers, answering somewhat
to the pastor OF a modern church. ''Barna-
bas. Barnatas was preacher and It 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 Ian
was black Nothing more is known OF
him than is here mentioned 'Lucius.
He is probably the same person mentioned
in Rom. 1921. He MAJ also have been
one of those who first carried the gosrel
to Antioch. Chap. IL: 10, 20. "Cyrene.
A celebrated city IN Africa; one-tourtn OF
the population was Jews. "Manaen the
foster brother OF Herod." Or. VI Hackett
thinks his mother was probably Herod's
nurse. He was evidently a person of in
fuence This was Herod Antipas, who
murdered John the Baptist. Manean must
have become a Christian out of very bad
surroundings. lie was probably man of
strong character. And Saul Named
last because ne was the late conner. He
soon becomes the chefest OF all the apos-
ties.
, They These five ministers.
Nothing is said of any others being present.
But Never insists that they" refers to
the church and not merely to the five min
isters. Mustered" In 4 special ser
vice OF prayer and praise, to ascertain the
mind of the Lord concerning the advance
ment OF His work. "Feasted.'' Showing
their intense earnestness, their spiritual
hunger. which overpowered all sense of
bodily hunger. The 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
apart, or ordain them for the special work
whereunto 1 have called them-the work
OF foreign missions. Paul was clearly
called to this work at the time of his con-
version.
3. "Fasted and prayed A most SOL
emn and important service, observed.
probably, by the whole body of the church.
They needed wisdom and ability to ac-
complish the great work they were now
By this ceremony of conservation, they or
dained them-not to an order, but to a
mission. 1t did not make them deacons,
elders, or bishops, but missionaries. Sent
them 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 verse, and shows the call of the
Spirit first. and, next, that of the church.
pn nj he
enterprise. All objections. therefore, to
the work arise from a 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.
;. AT salamis" The Greek capital of
Cyprus, and the nearest city in their APP
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
IRON east to west, evangelizing. Unto
Paphos." The chief town OF the island.
about one hundred miles from Saamis.
..Sorcerer." A magician, or fortune-teller.
The magicians did not merely pretend to
foretell the future, but also to influence it,
by the control which they claimed to eX-
ercise over the inferior gods or demons.
"A false prophet" An imposter. in that
he falsely protested to be 4 prophet OF the
true God, while teaching false doctrines
and false standard of morals. "a jew"
4 Jewish quack whose arts were picture
OF the lowest depths TO which the jewish
character could sink. 'Bar-jesus. This
was his Jewish name. The prefix "Bar"
is Hebrew and signifies son" Bar-jesus
therefore signifies the Son of Jesus. a COM
mon name among the Jews; but the Syr.ac
calls him ''Bar-shoma," the son of pride.
7. 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
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 Fl God.
s. "Elymas.' An Arabic word which
in Arabia. or had lived there, and may
have assumed this name in boastiul
spirit, or he may have received ii from
others as compliment to his skill. With
stood them" Opposed them. as the ma
gicians in Pharaoh's court withsrood
Moses. He saw his power was gone if the
proconsul accepted the truth ITO turn
away" The effort OF the sorcerer was to
keep him from becoming a believer in the
doctrine of the apostles. No doubt they
had heard much about the teachings OF the
apostles.
g. "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 a Gentle
name. Saul is Hebrew, ''Paulus" is
Latin. The word signifies little allud-
ing to his insigniicance of stature and APP
pearance. Cor. 10: /. TO- Filled, etc"
The tense OF the Greek participle implies
a sudden access of spiritual power. Set
his eyes" With a piercing gaze which
looked into his very soul. Paul now I'M
folded for the first time the mighty pow
ers which lay in him.
10. "Subtiiity." "All guile and all vii
iany." r. V. Thou expert in the art of
deceiving men. Son of the devil" (R.V.)
Subtilty characteristic of the devil Gen.
5: 1; 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.
IL. Hand of the Lord The affiiction
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.
r. Believed" The miracle wrought
belief; the doctrine of the Lord wrought
salvation.