The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-03
THE sUNDAY-sCHOoL LESSON.
May 4, 19O2-Acts XII, 19-3O-The Gospel
Preached at Antioch.

What Peter. the vision-taught apostle. did in
miniature in Cesarea. some obscure refugee dis
ciples did on a grand scale in Antioch. Peters
work in the house Of Cornelius furnished a
precedent. it evolved a principle OF incalculable
value; but there is no evidence that it was
attended with immediate or large accessions of
gentiles in Cesarea; whereas in Antioch, that
heather Queen of the East" the conquest was
great enough TO make that city the base OF
missionary expeditions reaching through Asia
Minor to Europe.
The church at Jerusalem need not be thought
suspicious or envious Of the work at Antioch.
The very character Of the ambassador they
chose precludes such an idea The 'Son OF
Consolation could never become a partisan
and hostile critic. He went rather to prevent
than effect a division between Jew and gentle
within the church; to reveal to them the mind
of the Spirit as shown in the Comedian Incl
dent.
No more suitable commissioner could be imag-
ined. AS a Levite. Barnabas would have the
confidence of the e-wish-Christian element. while
as a Greek-speaking Cyprian he would be equal
ly acceptable to the gentiles. An o~pen-minded
man. free from sectarian prejudice, full Of the
Holy Ghost and faith in the possible world
wide conquests of the gospel, Luke's incisive
description of Barnabas's arrival reminds one
Of Caesars epigram, II came. 1 saw, 1 con-
quered.''
Christians seem to have a sixth sense, by means
Of which they can discern a genuine revival:
He saw the grace of God" No doubt he made
his formal and favorable report to the church
at Jerusalem, and sent it off by special de-
livery; then, with a joyous and holy abandon,
he threw himself into the work. adding new
converts. roofing and grounding those already
made.
In the midst of these stirring scenes he re-
members Saul in seclusion just beyond the Taur-
US mountains. lie might have said of him as
Paul afterwards said OF another, He is profit
able to me for the ministry" So the very dis
ciple who first took Saul by the hand, and
presented the ex-persecutor to the timorous
church at Jerusalem, now brings him to Antioch,
and starts him upon his illustrious career. By
a strange coincidence Saul meets in the Syrian
capital the very disciples his prosecutions had
driven there, and joins them in building up that
very way against which he breathed threat
ening.
Under the co-psstorate Of Barnabas and Saul.
the church had phenomenal prosperity. Their
preaching arrested the attention Of even this
Oriental Rome" 1t produced a decided effect
upon its motley population. whirling in a per
petual festival Of vice. used alike to the phil
osoPhic novelties Of Greece and Eastern legerde-
main. The Christliness OF the converts may
have led some Greek wit to nickname them
Little Christs' CChristlans). an epithet that
al once became their noblest designation. IN
der the faithful teaching OF the ministry.
the converts. exposed TO trials the severity OF
which can scarcely be appreciated in our day.
were kept from lapsing, and the church -four
ished in spite OF an environment the unfriendli-
est possible.
This paragraph contains a lovely example Of
what may be called Christian reciprocity. Je-
rusalem had ministered to Antioch in spiritual
things, and now Jerusalem reaps the carnal
things of Antioch. To the brethren who. like
Barnabas. had already impoverished themselves
to meet the general want OF the brotherhood.
they sent a generous contribution to provide in
advance against the impending famine. The
characteristics OF this benehcence were its uni
versatility every NAM and proportionateness (ac-
cording to ability)
II
This Is an inspiring page for city Church Ex-
tension workers. How Insignificant that humble
little gospel shop IN Signon street. opened by
poor Judean fugitives. in the midst Of a half
million heather contemporary indifferent. hent
on the l%asciyious pleasures OF the Daphnean
Grove or the sharp competition Of commercial
I.fe. Yet these exhorters and mission Sunday
school teachers toll on. undaunted by the odds
against them. At length they have their re-
ward. Gods hand is manifest: a great number
believe and turn; and from the mission. per-
chance. in some vacant bazaar. evolves a mighty.
apostolic. missionary church. and the Gate Of
the East" swings open to Christ.
To discern talents In others. 10 enlist them
: for Christ and His church. 10 q noble wsrk.