The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-05-28
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE I.
Subject Paul ss Lystrs. Aets 1iv.. s-sS~
Golden Text. IL Timothy H., D. Mem
ory Verses, S-i0 - Commentsry on tho
ISay,s IAasou.


ory Verses. s-lo - commentsry on tho
Days Lesson.
"There sat-" His usual posture,
showing his helpless cnndition. IMP.
tent" Entirely deprived OF the use OF his
.. Heard Paul speak" The apostles
preached on several occasions. and the
lame man had heard repeatedly the teach
inc of the gospel, and had accepted 1t with
faith. There was probably no synagogue
at Lystra, aud the missionaries were no
doubt Obliged to speak in the market place
or some other place Of public resort. Two
other similar miracles have already been
recorded. Chap. 8. lilo; 0: 80. who. :.
perceivins." Pauls attention was at
tracted By the cripple. and he fast.
.ned his eyes upon him =. ana n;. .aN1,sn saw his
anee. ~ "Had faith to be healed" He
had confidence in the power OF Christ TO
heal him. He must have heard OF mir.
acles which the apostles had performed at
other places. See v. 3. The Greek WORD
here signifies to be saved. including q
oompIcte saIvation both OF soul and body.
10. Stand" etc. Luke makes no men
ton here Of any direct appeal to the name
Of Christ. That omission may be owing
to the brevity of the record or the tenor
OF Pauls discourse may have been so eA'
p6cit in regard to the course OF his au'
thori,y "A 10 render the usual invocation
unnecessary.
II. I'm the speech of Lycaonia." What
this langu. se was we do not know: Wheth'
er Paul preached to the people in the
Greek language or in their native tongue.
is a disputed question. The Cambridge
Bible thinks that the apostles did not un.
derstand their language. which would &C.
count for the fact that their iidolatrous
proceedings were not stopped sooner.
1.-THE gods" The Gentiles lad CORRUPT
ed the fundamental doctrine Of the unity
of God, and their various systems OF re:
liaion were founded on the supposition OF
a plurality OF deities. male and female, dit,
fering in their rank. their attributes and
the functions assigned TO them. Like
ness Of men" Nothing was more famil.
lar to the heather mind than the thought
of the gods. assuming human shape and
going around among mankind:
10. Barnabas, Jupiter" This was the
supreme divinity Of the heather and was
called the father Of gods and men. He
was the king Of all the universe: his
throne was Mount olympus. Paul. Mer.
curius." He was. in heather mythology.
represented a. one OF the sons OF Jupiter,
the messenger and chief spokesman OF the
gods. He was the god OF eloauence. He
was always represented as vigorous and
Barnabas was supposed to be Jupiter be.
cause he had more dignifed appearance.
Is. Priest of Jupiter" All these dei-
ties had their priests. rites and sacrifices,
oxen and gariands." The oxen were for
sacrifice, and the garlands were either to
decorate the animals, or to crown the
apostles, or decorate their house.
IA. Apostles" Barnabas was called
an apostle because he was sent forth BY
the church. not because he had been
chosen TO the peculiar work Of the apostle.
ship. Heard" They were probably at
their lodging house and the new: was
carried to them that the sacrihciai pro;
cession vas coming. Rent their clothes
| death Of their friends, in times Of public
calamity, and when they heard blasphemy'
Or witnessed any great transgression, OF
the Law. "Sprang forth" (R. W They
were horror-stricken and rushed into the
multitude to stop the proceedings.
Is. Like passions" Subject to the
same infirmities and eufferinss-mortals
like yourselves. Bring you good tidings.'
(R. W 1t is q message Of good tidings
which sets forth the living God to men
in place Of dumb idols. These vanities; :;
The words vanity" and vain" were al.
most insariable terms used by y,.o. Jews to de; s;
he1then worship. Living God This is
the most glorious and distinctive Of all
! the names Of God. The gods Of the heath.
en- world were dead and powerless; Psa.
l35: 1918. (which made" The Author
and Creator Of the universe. therefore to
Him alone all worship aud honor are due.
l6. I'm times past The period before
the time Of Christ. Suffered" Permit.
Ted, allowed. "All nations All the Cen
tile nations: the Hebrew nation had a
direct revelation from God. Their own
ways" God withdrew the restraints OF
His grace and providence. In Rom. /: q
| tions of this fact The reason why God
ibaudoned the heather was that they
6rst abandoned Him. -.
II. Nevertheless" Though they had
10 written revelation. In that He did
zood." He has demonstrated His exis-
tence and moral character by doing them
good. And gave you *: W The
rain and fruitful seasons and food and
| badness were the witnesses God gave the
heathen of His goodness. and were reasons
Why they should love and obey Him:
Is. With these sayinss." Pa"fs ad.
dress to them thus briefly outlined.
.ulty that they prevented these Lystrars
from sacrificing to them.
10. Certain Jews" These were no
doubt the same ones who had been the
leadcrs i: the persecution at Antioch and
iconium. Persuaded the people That
the apostles instead OF being gods were
| only apostate Jews deceiving he people.
STONED" Paul refers to this in 2 Cor.
! IL: 25. Dragged. him out" lR. W
As they would drag out q dead man:
The stonine was public, in the midst OF
the city. ''Supposing." etc. They stoned
him until they tad the fullest evidence
that he was dead; and 20. most probably.
he was. Whcdon believes he was actually
dead.
20. "Hc rose up" Miraeu!ously re-
stored to life. But cvea il he were NOT
fully dead he must have been terribly
manc,ed. for they all supposed hiE dead,
and his restoration must have been mirae-
ulous. He departed." Not deemins it
safe to remain longer. TO Derbe." A
city a few miles further east. and the ex.
treme eastern limit OF Pauls missionary
tour.
many disciples. tR. W Returned.
return to the cities where they have just
been so terribly prosecuted.
-. Disciples" Disciples had been
made at every point. Much tribulation. :.
This word is from the Latin "trbulum.
a thrashins-instrument or roller. whereby
the corn was separated from the husk.
"Kincdom of God" This is according to
the words Of Jesus. John 1898: Is: 1921.
See also Rem. II: II: Rev. !: IA.
I,,dybucs to Fight San Jose Scales.
~, ,>-.,,,,, n; Agriculture is pre-