The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-05-15
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY Ia.
Subject: The Early Christian Mission
aries, Acts kill, 1-12-Golden Text:
Matt. xviii, 19-NIemory Verses, 2, 3
-CoInrne ntnrv ON the DAVIS Lesaon.

4
Matt. xviii, 19-Memory Verses, 3. 3
| documentary on the Days Lesson.
l. "The church lat Antioch" This
| church must have been large and fuorish-
| 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:
| 2S. BY teachers are meant stated and
permanent teachers, answering somewhat
to the pastor of a modern church. -Barna-
bas." Barnabas was preacher and 1T IS
not improbable that the names prophets
and teachers" here simply desgnates the
preachers of the gospel. Simeon.
Niger" Niger means black, but there is
nothing in that to indicate that this man
was black. Nothing more is known OF
him than is here mentioned. "Lncius-
He is probably the same person mentioned
in Rom 1921. He may also have been
one of those who first carried the gospel
to Antioch. Chap. H. 10, 20. NCyrene."
A celebrated city in Africa; one-fourth OF
the population was Jews. "Manaen the
foster-brother of Herod." Or. W 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. He was probably man OF
strong character. "And Saul" Named
last because he was the late conner. He
soon becomes the chiefest of all the apos-
>. "They." These FIVE ministers.
Nothing is said of any others being present.
But Meyer insists that "they" refers to
the church and not merely to the five min
listers "Ministered." In a special SER
vice of prayer and praise, to ascertain the
mind of the Lord concerning the adavnce-
ment of His work. Toasted" 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 told. He may have spoken through
some of the prophets present, or by gem
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
work" Separate me-" That is, set them
, apart, or ordain them for the special work
whereunto | have called them-the work
of foreign missions. Paul was clearly
called to this work at the time of his con-
version.
8. "Fasted and prayed" A most sol
probably, by the whole body of the church.
They needed wisdom and ability to ac-
| complish the great work they were now
about to undertake. Laid their hands,
| 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.
| The Holy Ghost originates the missionary
enterprise. All objections, therefore, to
the work arise from a lack of fnlness OF
the seaport town of Antioch, on the Medi,
| terranean Sea, Antioch being twenty miles
| in the Mediterranean Sea, was originally
the home of Barnabas. Chap. 4. IS.
5. "At Salarcis.' The Greek capital of
Cyprus, and the nearest city in their APP
proach to the island, after 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
from east to west, evangelizing. Unto
Paphos." The chief town of the island.
! about one hundred miles from Salamis.-
"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 a prophet of the
true God, while teaching false doctrines
and false standard of morals. "A jew"
A Jewish quacl whose arts were picture
of the lowest depths to which the Jewish
was his Jewish name. The prefix "Bar''
+ is Hebrew and signifies son" Bar-jesus
| therefore signifies the Son of Jesus, com
mon name among the Jews; but the Syriac
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 proconsuf.
! appointed by the senate. "a prudent
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 of God.
s. "Elymas."' An Arabic word which
means 'the wise" Perhaps ne was born
in Arabia, or had lived there, and may
have assumed this name in a boastful
j spirit, or he may have received it from
others as compliment to his skill. With
stood them" Opposed them, as the ma
gicians in Pharaoh's court withstood
Moses. He saw his power was gone if the
proconsul accepted the truth. TO turn
away" The effort of the sorcerer was to
keep him from becoming believer in the
doctrine OF the apostles. No doubt they
had heard much about the teachings of the
apostles.
0. "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 Gentle
name. "Saul" is Hebrew, 'Paulus" is
Latin The word signifies ''lttle," allud-
ing to his insignihcance OF stature and APP
pearance. Cor 10: l, 10. 'Filled, etc"
The tense of the Greek participle implies
sudden access of spiritual power. set
his, eyes" With piercing gaze which
looked into his very soul. Paul now un-
folded for the first time the mighty pow
ers which lay in him.
TO- "Subtility." 'All guile and all vii
lany." r. V. Thou expert in the art of
deceiving men. "Son of the devil" (R.V.)
Subtilty a characteristic of the devil Gen.
8: /; Cor. H. 8. Enemy, ETC." He
was an enemy of truth and holiness. Per
vert" He perverted''the truth and Gods
way of saving men.
H. Hand of the Lord" The affection