Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-05-22
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
May Is.
Subject: Paul at Antioch In Plsldia, Acts KILL.
13.5z-0olden Text, Acts Kill, 3-.
Memory Verses, 46. H-Commen'
tsry on the Days Lesson.

Outline of Paul's sermon. !. Past his
tory-God preparing for the Messiah. vs.;
1892. I'd Israel chosen and delivered from
Egypt. V. II. (2) Forty years IN the Wi,
derness. V. 10. (9 The promised land
given. V. 10. (4) Israel under Judges; "
30. (5) Under kings. WI. (6) Inc King,
dom under David from whom the Messiah
WAS to spring. V. %. II. The Messiah
brought forth, (l) Gods, promise, kept
Y. "a. t2) Heralded by John according % y
their Scriptures lisa DO! 8, 4; Nal. 8! u
had foretold. Vi. "a. %. (9) His rejec-
tioh and death a, fulhlment of prophecy
VS.. 27.29. (4) He was raised from the
dead This is proved by many witnesses
~. 3l); and by the fulfilment OF the SCRIP
lures. VS.. 32-37. III. The closing appeal:
~ Through faith in Christ forgiveness OF
sins is preached. VS.. SO, 80. (2) A warn
ing is given. VS.. 40, A..
ple were dismissed. This does not mean
that it was broken up by violence or dis
order. "NIany of the Jews" Probably
majority rejected the sermon, but stu
many received the message favora6y;;
"Proselytes." Gentilcs who had embraced
the Jewish religion. "Followed.' Walked
with them Dis they were leaving the syn9l-
yogue. "Persuaded." Urged, entreated'
ITO continue" etc. A good impression
had been made, they were earnest seekers
after TRUTH and it was; important that
they should continue to beheve anu ooey
it and be saved by it, -.
a. "The next Sabbath" The tvangel-
lists attended the synagogue on the sab
bath day" because that was the day on
which the Jews worshiped. The day Paul
! md Barnabas observed as the sabbath was
| the day on which Christ rose from the
dead, called the Lords day. This day, has
| been observed by the church as the Chris
| tan sabbath ever since the resurrection
morning. Almost the whole city, The
interest must have been intense The peo'
pie were stirred, excited, curious, ,,
| As. "Jews-fllcd with envy" With
| "jealousy," indignation; wrath l. 10
| them it seemed an attack upon the very
| that if their interpretations gave way, re.
| ligion itself would fall .. 1t destroyed
| their hopes as to the future OF their nation;
5. Their own influence and power would
be thrown into the background. d. 1t
would degrade them, as they believed, to
nave the Genti!es declared as equals. Con
tradicting" Opposed the doctrine that
Jesus was the Messiah, and that lie would
be humble. lowly, despised and put to
death. disappearing" Either reviiing
| Jesus as an imposter and ma.eiactor, or
declaring Him to have been in league with
Satan. There is nothing more awful than
Jewish fury and eXecration OF the name OF
| Jesus of Nazareth when thoroughly rousc1.
as. "Spake out boldly Or. W They
| did not permit their own passions to be
| come inhamcd, neither did they revlle their
assailants. but they very plainly told them
| that they would turn to the Genties. 1hcy
| told the Jews that by their own actions
they had pronounced their own sentence,
and had condemned themselves as unwor..
| thy of everlasting life. "Was necessary.
| 1t was so designed and commanded. The
| apostles always offered salvation TO the
Jews first Thrust it from YOU, (R; W
| They rejected and spurned the offer OF "a =.
| ration. Judge yourselves unwort thy. y,
| This does not mean that they considered
themselves unworthy, but they condemned
| themselves by their actions. Everlasting
| life" Eternal life is not solely future,
| but present possession, commenced IN
this life to be pcrpetuated in the life 10
| come. "The Gentiles' The heather. We
shall offer the gospel TO them because they
| will accept it.
Al. The Lord commanded" The com
mand which the apostle quotes is from
Isaiah 40: G, which shows that from the
| prophetic times the reception of the Gen.
| tiles was made manifest in the counsels OF
|
nounces that the Messiah whom God prom.
ised to send would be the Savior OF the
| Gcntiles as well as the Jews; that all ma
| tons would be called to share in the bless.
ings OF His kingdom. The passage Is quoted
| to show that III turning now to the heather
| they were merely carrying out the pan OF
| God as revealed in the Old Testament.
For salvation" Deiiverancc from the
| penalty, pollution and power of sin, espe'
| cially as completely realized in a future
state of holiness and happiness. The very
name Jesus" announces the design, OF HIS
| mission; He came to save His people from
| their sins.
As. "Gentiles-wcre glad" The doctrine
| of the Jews had been that salvation was
| confined to themselves. The Gentics now
| reioiced that from the Jews themselves
| they heard different doctrine which was
| proved from the pages OF Hebrew prophecy,
| that this gospel was promised to them OF
| old. "Glorifed," etc. lIonored 1t as a
message from God. The expression con-
veys the idea of praise on account OF 1t, and
| of reverence for the message. AS were
ordained" etc. Should be rendered, dis
posed to eternal life As many as were
so inclined committed themselves by faith
| to Christ. There is not the least plausible
| itv in the notion that Luke III this simple
| history is referring to any eternal decree
| predestinating these men to eternal htc.
40. Gan the region" This rapid extern.
| sion of the gospel we must attribute IN
| some measure to the zeal of the recent CON
| verts. Paul and Barnabas also may have
visited personally some of the nearest
| places.
f: so. THE devout woman" R W Prob
| ably Gentle women who had become Jew
ish proselytes, and could BIZ, easily in:
huenced against the new religion. "Of
honorable estate" Or. W This evidently
refers to their rank, as being the wives of
the "chief men" of the city. The Jews
urged the women to use their influence
with their husbands against the mission
aries. "Chief men," The magistrates;
those in authority. "Out of their coasts
| Out of their province.
| 81. "Shook off," etc. Following the di.
rection of Christ in Matt. 10: IA. BY this
| they in effect said Ye arc worse than tho
heather, even your very land is accursed,
| and we shake off its dust as n testimony
| that we offered you salvation ind you re-
jected it and prosecuted us. Jews travel.
ing in heather countries wiped their feet
| when they came to the borders OF their
| own land. lest the unhallowed ground
should deile the sacred soil of Israel.
"Iconium." A city about sixty miles south
east of Antioch in Lycaonia.
| 50. "Filled with JOY" Even in the midst
of persecution they rejoiced and were tx
'eeding glad.