The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-30
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 4.

Subject: The Church at Antioch I'm Syria
Acts H., 18-3o-0olden Text. Aefs xf.s
2l-Memory Verses. aa-2l-commen-
tary on tho Days Lesson.
10. Which were scattered abroad"
We now turn back to chapter 8: IA, and
church. The authorities tried to blow out
the gospel FIRE kindled by the Holy Spirit,
but it only made it burn the brighter.
They !ashed the fire, but it only sen: tho
sparks over the world. The wrath OF men
was made to praise God. The disciples
went everywhere preaching the gospel.
We have seen their success in samarias
Joppa, LYDIA and Caesarea. "Phenice."
The district between the MediteTaneaa
and the mountains OF Lebanon, extending
one hundred and twenty miles from ..
point little south Of Tyre, and embrac-
ing the two cities Of Tyre and Sidon.
Cyprus" A large island in the Medi-
terranean Sea, sixty miles from the coast
of Palestine. 1t was remarkable for its
richness Of soil and the dissoluteness Of its
Barnabas, and one of the fields Of PauPs
labors. Antioch" This city now be-
comes the new religious centre. Unto
the Jews only" This was the practice Of
the Jewish Christians when they left
Jerusalem. As yet they did not know that
the Gentiles were to receive the gospel;
20. But there were some" II. w
Some of those scattered abroad because
Of the persecution. Men Of Cyprus, etc."
These were Greek.speaking Jews whoi
having lived abroad, were less scrupulous
about mixing with the Genti!es thnn were
the Jews Of Palestine. "Cyrene." A city
Of northern Africa: "spake unto the
2i. Hand OF the Lord" The hand 10
the symbol of power. The expression is
common one in the Old Testament to ex.
press the direct interposition OF God in the
affairs of the world. With them" God
showed them favor and eginced His power
in the conversion OF their hearers.
70. The report concerning them" (R.
W This excludes the idea that it was
q communication sent from the brethren
at Antioch. It was natural that such q
remarkable occurrence as the conversion
of large number Of Gentiles should be
reported at Jerusalem. The church.
in Jerusalem" This was the origina!
church Of Christianity; not the church OF
Rome. There were Christian churches
founded in many places, which exist e
gospel. They sent forth" To aid the
disciples and to give sanction and direci
ton to the work. They had done o sim!
liar thing at the time OF the revival which
occurred in Samaria. Acts 8: IL. "Barnai
bas." He was peculiarly fitted for this
work. He was Levite and . native Of
| Cyprus. "As far as Antioch" Implying
that there were churches on the way to
visit. .,
@. when he came" The result is brief!
! IL recorded under three heads: !. What be
| saw-the grace Of God. 2. What he felt;
them all. "The grace Of God" The favor;
mercy and power Of Christ In the conver.
sion Of the Gentiles. Was glad" He at
once owned the work and rejoiced in It,
| though the converts were uncircumcised.
He saw nothing m the work OF which he
could disapprove; it was genuine: Ex:
horted them" Entreated them. We find
| him exercising here the peculiar gift for
| which be was distinguished. The appella.
ton which he received from the apostles
: (chap. 4: 3S) describes q particular trait
in his style OF preaching, He comforted
and encouraged them. We owe every
| You owe very little to the man who mere.
" finds fault with you. Purpose Of
heart" The heather converts had much
to endure for Christ's sake and to the
weak there were many temptations to re-
: lapse Barnabas exhorted them to make
this their settled plan OF life. "Cleaye.'
Adhere firmly, constantly, faithfully to the
, Lord.
"a. For" Here we see the reason why
Barnabas was so successful. Good man.
Thus il 6s possible for poor, weak, sinful
man to be saved and cleansed from his sins
SO that in the eyes OF the Lord he viii be
good" Barnabas was deeply pious, and
exemplified the grace OF God by living. a
holy life. Full OF. ETC." He lived in the
Spirit, was controlled by the Spirit. and
was endowed by the power Of the Spirit.
He was also full Of faith. He had un;
bounded confidence in Jesus Christ and
the gospel he was preaching. He knew
there was no chance for failure. Much
people" There were many conversions
and accessions TO the church.
Is. ITO Tarsus." Saul's native city; less
than hundred miles from Antioch i the
journey was made BY water. It will be
remembered that when the jews at Jeru
salem sought to kill Saul the brethren
sent him to Tarsus. Chap. 0: 20. "Tc
seek Saul" Barpabas was well acquainted
with Saul and had introduced him to the
church at Jerusalem 70: ~; and it has
been suggested that he may have known
/ %. Assembled" We doubt p,t they
assembled weekly, upon the Lords day;
for the earliest ecclesiastical! history lind,
Sunday the sacred day at Antioch. and II
is utterly improbable that any alteration
took place OF the day then first esta6
fshed by the apostles. Christians. II
is most probable that this name was giver
them BY the brethren in ridicule. Bnt Or
I ha
name is Of divine appointment. anil wal
riven by Saul and Barnabas There is nc
necessity to discuss this question for thu
name is from God even though the heather
may have coined it. -,
n. "Prophets." This was applied (ll
70 those who were engaged in preaching
or explaining the word OF God Il Cor. ~
81, and also ~ to those who foretolc
future events as Agnbus did here.
2s. "Asabus." We know nothing O
this prophet except what We learn b n
and IN chap. q: 10. by the Spirit;
While under the influence OF the Hol,
Spirit. Great dearth." "A great fam
inc" r. v. IAN the world" Thii
probably means here. tho. land Of Jude'
and adjacent countries; though some ap
ply it to the whole Roman empire: cam: tras
wears. A. D. ~. IS. During the reign O.
Gaudius "a. b. $50 there were fou'
famines in different parts Of the. empire.
%. "The disciples" The church al
Antioch. Note that every man" SEM
something. There evidently were no pc
nurious people in the church at that time
(which dwelt in Judea." They evidently
did not expect the famine would extenf
to Antioch.
an "To the elders" To be distributed
IN those in need. This was Saups sccont
visit to Jerusalem since his conversion.