The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-24
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CONFESS
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
LESSON FOR MAY Is
Paul at Antioch in Pisidia.
Acts, xiii:43-52.
BY REV. J. y. GILBERT, D. D.
Secretary OF American Society Of Religious
Education

CONTEXT-Last lesson, ending with the twelfth
verse, left Paul and his company at Salams, a
town on the island OF Cyprus. Having finished
his work there he took ship, crossed an arm Of
the Mediterranean, Il voyage of a hundred and
fifty miles, and landed at Perga in Pamphylia.
Journeying northward a hundred miles along a
Roman highway and through region OF vast
interest, the party came to Antioch in the prov.
ince of Pisidia. This city, like one of the same
name in Syria, of which we studied May ith,
was established by Nicator, who had similar de-
signs in the two towns. At Antioch Paul, whose
name had lately been changed from Saul (verse
o., entered into the synagogue OF the Jews, and
after the reading of Scripture according to Sab
bath custom, accepted the invitation OF the eld-
ers, to preach (verses 10 TO 4D. That sermon,
after an historical basis, declared Jesus to be
the promised Messiah Our lesson concludes the
narrative.
CONVERTS Versc 43).-rhis preaching was not
in vain. The argument was conclusive to some
who heard, and who joined themselves to Paul
and Barnabas. That was the usual method OF
gaining disciples. Converts became followers Of
their teachers anxious to learn more OF what
had been said to them. OF course these followers
might at their pleasure turn away as many did
in the time OF Christ (John, vi:66). but for the
present they constituted very interesting COM
pany attached to the person OF the preacher.
Some OF these converts, II such they might be
called, were Jews descendants of Abraham, while
others were proselytes, Gentilcs who had en-.
braced the Jewish religion. Judaism had made an
impression on the heather world and had won
many OF the more thoughtful and yrtuous who
were not satisfied with the gods Of their fathers.
And SO the company in the synagogue was div
ided into two parts-one part becoming Christian.
CONCOuRSE (yerse 4D.--Ths turning away
from Judaism to Chrstianity,as it became known,
made profound impression upon the city. This
would result in any day or land. A change in a
mans faith is always esteemed a great event.
Despite the fact that some speak lightly of re-
ligion it Is the most important Of all human
concerns, and it will excite greater interest
in community than any other subject. In this
instance all who espoused the new faith would
be eager to hear further concerning it and TO
bring their friends to know OF it, while those
who held to old views would wonder what this
new religion might be. Besides, the presence OF
two scholarly strangers, eminent preachers. would
in itself cause u sensation. And SO it came to
pass that on the following Sabbath, the Jewish
day Of worship, our Saturday, nearly the whole
city came together TO hear the word of God.
The synagogue could not hold the vast conconrse
Of the people who crowded the streets
OPPOSITION (yerse 45).-This sudden outpour-
ing OF the populace brought Paul and Bsrnabas
into great prominence, and made Christianity