The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-26
Exposition 81 the
Sabbath School Lesson
ron s1AY..4, 1902
Copyright, 1909, by John R.. Whitney.


Acts XXI. 1870.
with them; and a great number believed and
turned unto the Lord. Acts XII, 81.
How full Of the fragrance Of May is this
scattered by the wind sinsJ Jerusalem we now
see springing up, not only in Jewish soil, but
in Gentle soil as well. And it is not only
blossom and bear fruit all through the land,
even to "Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch
Verse 1917. 1t Is not strange, therefore, that
Holy Ghost and of faith-saw these evil
VERSES 2s-24)
The study OF these conditions is thus par
ticularly appropriate to this springtime Of the
year. for the physical landscape now presented
to us on every side is but, he counterpart OF
e e aoa winter
bseompE &C clothed VII Mhefszsr "
to be seen in grass and shrub and tree, and
the ear is entranced with the melody Of sing
ing birds. And vet the trees and fields and.
sky are the same that but }as little while ago
looked cold and barrenS and dead. Now
however, they have been touched by d.
vine hand, and we see in all nature new
resurrection life So it was with the SPIT
dead world had been touched by the grace .at
of God, and it had begun to put on the
garment of praise isaiah Xxi, 81
The narrative of the facts now brought pc
| fore us seems to be, on the3surface, simply
brief summary Of what took place between
the martyrdom of Stephen, A.. D: 81, and the
a. It thus covers an interval Of at least
seven years. And from ali that can De
gathered, it is probable that the conversion
Of Cornelius, which we have conslderea. was as
| nearly if not quite coincident with some OF
the incidents of this narrative. Thus, whilst MS
Peter was ministering to the Romans IN
Of Cyprus; and gyrens sp an
Paul was preaching at Tarsus, in Cllicla
(verse 25). Thus the area Of the gospel infiu1
ences was being enlarged In many dlterent
| places, by many different persons, at aDout
the same time
This movement, however, was not the result
/ of any wise and we'll considered plans on the
part Of the apostles for the 10 OF en
organized effort on the part OF the disciples.
But they went out as individuals, without any
before then ssnt q fbe enrr o On on
4 mission or commands them to go as q pen pen
atty But they went-very much as the ~
grim Fathers came to this eountry-under lne
1 co,npulsion of a fettered conscience and the
presence Of personal danger at home. They
went voluntarily. because ut was not com
Portable TO stay. -
Jerusalem u s to the ne1ghboring towns and vii
lagos of Judea and samaria. Others went to
Phoenicia. Others left the mainland ana,
CROSSING the sea, IOuHQ FO4leS dilu OSCupoeAoit
in Cyprus. Others STILL following the coast
line went nearly 300 miles north from Joppa
to Antioch. This place-because Of Its future
ACCOMPLISHMENTS at this time our speclal
attention.
IL was originally the capital of the Greek
kings of Syria, and was built about 300 years
before the birth of Christ; When 1T fell into
the hands of the Romans it became the seat
of their authority in thatsregion. It was sit
uated on the river Orontes, about fifteen miles
back from the sea. and nearly at the POM
a right angle, due west from the coast nne
of Palestine. ConSibeare: and HoWson say
tits probable that no populations have ever
been more abandoned than those o. oll ndl a.
Greek cities under the Roman empire, ana 81
these cities Antioch was the. greatest ana tie
; worst If we wish to realize the appearances
and reality OF the complicated heathenisl m, o.
the first Christian century, we must endeasoi
to Imagine the scene of its. suburb-the famous
Daphne, with it's fountains and groves OF bay
trees its brilliant buildings, its crowds OF
icentious yota1tes Its stafus vT o. and tbs
wealthy patronage Of Rome all that was
beautiful in nature end hrt had created =
: sanctuary for a 2er2etual' testiPal c1 we.
This was the city which was henee1or Z. a., ~
he the center of Christian activity and inhu
ence. At first Jerusalem was that ! ce an,.d
not be the center of so large circle for tne
worlds evangelization, as city Which nae a
more to do with the world whlcn was s 70 ps
| ~,
cial and commercial affairs of the world OF
now conducted as we'll from Rome or Con
NJ stanfinople as from London or New YORK
& For Gods work depends more upon tne en-
s iargelnent Of its circumference than the posi-
. tion of it's center. Hence the center must DC
s changed that the circumference may De en-
larged. SO God chose Antlocn 70 DC 'ne ne ~ !"
, center. IN.
: When Barnabas came to Antioch the tnl1s
6 which most attracted his attention and mas a.
him glad was the work of the grace OF Goa
4 A,,o dinor
ably have been attracted by the wealth e, o.
bqdngs Of the city Dx y ebt
the peope But Barnsbas
Holy Ghost and of faith" with his eyes ope 81
to discern and appreciate spiritual tnlngs :.
: when he saw that "the grace OF COO The
wonderful love and favor shown to men II
3 Jesus Christ-had touched the worldly am
carnal hearts of the people OF Annach, MI
For he saw that "a great number believed
This was the first step. It marked a grea
change in their wills and i'd 6is was I1 fSt
h in Character staei and Conduct Then che ex
horted them all that with purpose OF hear
!, they would cleave unto the LORD. i ms wa q
purpose. GAS the branch cannot bear frui
Of itself except it abide. in the yine,' no NOR
i could they except they abode n mn. nm, r. mn
God"-believe, turn, cleave, bear frult.
is well to bear it in mind to-day.
Barnabas, however, not only saw IN An an af,
e ..the grace Of God, = but there he heard tn
ing lame. Heretofore they had been knov,
by other Jews as men OF this way TX, -
brought before u.s. When the unbelievin,
Jews spoke of them, they always designate
: them by this term unless they spoke OF then
: Galileans III, . or Nazarenes (xxly, o
!. Among themselves, however, the disciples al
d WAYS spoke Of each other by some such tern
as "brethren'' or disciples OF witnesses
1 or sssaints'' But now they were to be KNOW
and to know themselves by an entirely 1ne'
: II is very significant that this change wa
made at this time a and fhs ae recGr ra
g Antioch 1verse 26). For this name is no
Jewish. but Roman. If they had receive
/. their new name in Jerusalem It would prop
form of Joshua" But, receiving it frs
in Antioch,''a Roman city. it naturally too
the Italian or Latin form OF 'Christus; FOL o.
8. as the followers of Marius we're called by tn
l. Romans "Mar-ians, Y and OF Pompey Pompe
Eians,' and Of Herod .'He rodians, so the fol
lowers Of Christ would there first be known a
"Christ -ians" The name In itself, therefore
= marked the entrance Of the gospel upon it
But now: the question, arises; W 9.,, CAV
the disciples this name? Evidently 1t wa
not as We have Just seen. q name chosen b
themselves. Neither could II nave been give
i them by the unbeleving Jews, for it dis
r tinguished them by the very name which the
meTe 6aeea that It
by the unbelieying, heatheng Gentiles. BIZ
u that is hardly likely, for as yet the believer
t. were not sufficiently numerous or aggressi,s
" and significant name from them. And # the
y had given 1t as mark of contempt, as ha
urged It probably would nesn
- given them by the Jews In the same spirit.