The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-05-14
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 10.

Subject: The Early Christian Mission.
aries, Acts KILL, 1-12-Goldon Texts
Matt. xxviii., 10-Memory Verses. ., .
.Commsntary on the Dsy's Lesson.
!. "The church. at Antioch" This
church must have been large and huorish,
ing at this time. Prophets and teachers:
The prophets were those most open to re-
yealed to them; men with insight and fore
sight, rather than instructors. ! Cor. II:
8. By teachers are meant stated and
permanent teachers, answering somewhat
TO the pastor OF modern church. "Barna'
bas." Barnabas was q preacher and It 10
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 man
was black. Nothing more is known OF
him than is here mentioned. "Lucius.
He il probably the same person mentioned
in Rom. 1921. He may also have been
one Of those who first carried the gospe!
to Antioch. Chap. II: 10, %. "Cyrene."
A celebrated city in Africa; one.fourth OF
the population was jews. "Manaen the
er.brother Of Herod." (R. W Hackett
thinks his mother was probably Herods
nurse. He was evidently person OF in
fuence. This was Herod Antipas, who
murdered John the Baptist. Manean must
have become 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'
ties.
9. "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.
isters. "Ministered." In q special ser
vice Of prayer and praise, to ascertain the
mind Of the Lord concerning the adavnee-
ment Of His work. 'Feasted."' Showing
their intense earnestness, their spiritua!
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 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
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-
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 &c
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 .
mission. It did not make then, deaeons,
elders, or bishops, but missionaries. sent
them away" From Antioch, as mission
aries to other lands.
{. Being sent, etc." The expression
here 70 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. An objections, therefore, 70 s'
the 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: 80.
S. "At Salamis." The Greek capital oi
Cyprus, and the nearest city in their ap.
proach to the island, after a few hours
sail. John to their minister" This was
John whose surname was Mark.
9. "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 professed to be a prophet OF the
true God, while teaching false doctrines
and a false standard OF morals. "A Jew.
"A Jewish quack whose arts were . picturs
of the lowest depths to which the jewish
character could sink. "Bar-jesus." Thu.
was his Jewish name. The prefix Bar
Ia Hebrew and signifies Son: Bar-jesui
therefore signifies the Son Of Jesus, q com
mon name among the jews; but the syrias
calls him "Bar.shona," the son OF pr,de.
7. The deputy" An the provinces o. o
the Roman Empire under the control o.
here called a deputy; that iss q sovesno, s,
man" A man of sound understanding and
rood sense. Desired to hear" He de-
sired to know what these men taught, and
TO hear the word Of God.
8. "Elymas." An Arabic word which
means "the wise" Perhaps he was borr
in Arabia, or had lived there, and may
have assumed this name in o boastfu
spirit. or he may have received it from
others as q compliment to his skill. with
stood them" Opposed them, as the ma
cicians in Pharaoh's court wlthstooc
Moses. He saw his power was gone II ths
nroconsul accepted the truth. ITO turr
eway." The effort OF the sorcerer was te
keep him from becoming believer In the
doctrine OF the apostles. No doubt they
had heard much about the teachings OF ths
apostles. go . -,
FIRST time the name Paul occurs, and tn
last time where be is called Saul. Tht
Gentle apostle here assumes Gentle
name. saul" is Hebrew, "Paulus i
Latin. The word signifies little aiiud
ing to his insigniticance OF stature and ap
peSrance. 9 Cor. 10: ], 10. Filled, etc
The tense OF the Greek participle imphe.
a sudden access OF spiritual power. Se'
his eyes" With piercing, gaze which
looked into his very soul. Paul now un
folded for the first time the mighty pow
10. "Subtility." "All guile and all vii
lapy." r. v. Thou expert in the art o.
Ieceiying men. son OF the devil" W;v.]
Subtilty characteristic OF the devil; Gen
a. 9 Cor. IL: 3. Enemy, etc." ID
was an enemy of truth and holiness. Per
vert" He perverted the truth and Gods
way of saving men. ..
ii. Hand of the Lord" The affection
camc from God, not Paul. Blind" He
was totally blind. For a season" Hi.
blindness was temporary. God Furnishes
only so much as is necessary. Perhaps
Paul hoped for the mans repentance.
IL. Believed" The miracle wrought
belief; the doctrine of the Lord wrougI
salvation.