Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-31
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
June |.
Subject: r2u' q. iystrs. Acts aiy., s.2,-
Golden Text, II Timothy H.. 3-Memory
Verses. S.l0-Commentary on
the Days Lesson.


| tent" Entirely ceprlvcd OF the use Oh MS
| feet. 49, ,
8. Heard Paul speak" The apostles
, preached on several occasions, and the
| lame man had heard repeatedly the teach
ing OF the gospel. and had accepted 1t with
| faith. There was probably no synagogue
| at Lystra. and the missionaries We're no
| doub: obliged to speak in the market place
| or some other place of public resort. Two
| other similar miracles have already been
recorded. Chap. 3: lilo; 9: 3S. who.
| perceving." Paurs attention was at
tracted by the cripple, and md, he e., fast IS:
faith from the expression of his ecunten-
ance. 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 Y. 8. The Greek word
here signifies to be saved. including a
complete salvation 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 Paui's discourse may have been so ex-
| plicit in regard to the course of his au-
| thcrity as TO render the sal invocation
| unnecessary.
IL. In the speech OF Lycaonia." What
| this language 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 IN
| derstand their language, which would ac-
count for the fact that their idolatrous
proceedings were not stopped sooner.
The gods" Tie Gentiles had corrupt
| ed the fundamental doctrine of the unity
of God, and their various systems of re.
ligion were founded on the supposition of
q plurality OF deities, male and female, diff.
| 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.
II. 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-
GURUS He was, in heatden mythology,
| the messenger and chief spokesman of the
| gods. He was the god of eloquence. He
was always represented as vigorous and
| graceful. He was youthful in appearance.
| Barnabas was supposed to be Jupiter be-
cause he had more dignifed appearance.
Is. Priest OF Jupiter All these DEL
ties had their priests, rites and sacrifices.
Oxen and garl ands' The oxen were for
sacrifice, and the Garands were either to
| decorate the animals. or to crown the
| anost'cs. O. decorate their house.
Il. Apostles" Barnabas was called
an apostle because he was sent forth by
The church, not because he had been
ship. Heard" They were probably at
their lodging house and the news was
| carried to them that the sacriticial pro-
| cess;oa was coming. Rent their clothes"
| This was customs OF the Jews a. the
death of their friends. il times OF public
calamity. and when they heard blasphemy
or witnessed any great transsression, OF
were horror-stricken and rushed into the
multitude to stop the proceedings.
-. Like passions Subject to the
same infrmities and sufferings-mortals
like yourselves. Bring you good tidin,gs
which sets forth the living God to me,
in place of dumb idols. These vanities.'"
The words vanity" and vain were al
most invariable terms used BY Jews to de.
scribe the emptiness and worthlessness OF
heathen worship. Living God. This il
en- world were dead and powerless, Psa.
1876: 1918. (Which made" The Author
and Creator of the universe. therefore to
Him alone all worship and honor are due.
l6. In times past. The period before
ted. allowed i "Ali nations" All the Gen.
tile nations; the Hebrew nation had
direct revelation from God. Their own
ways" God withdrew the restraints OF
His grace and providence. In Rom. l. %
the apostle brings to view other connec-
tions of this fact The reason why God
abandoned the heather was that they
first abandoned Him.
II. Nevertheless. Though they had
no written revelation. "In that He did
good He has demonstrated. His exis-
tence and moral character by doing them
gond. And save you" lR: y The
g.adness were the witnesses God gave the
heather of His goodness. and were reasons
why they should love and obey Him:
Is. with these savings" Pauls ad.
dress to them thus briefly outlined.
from sacrificing to them.
10. Certain Jews" These were no
doubt the same ones who had been the
leaders i: the persecution at Antioch and
Iconium. Persuaded the people That
the apostles instead of being gods were
Stoned" Paul refers to this in Cor,
As they would drag out a dead man.
The stoning was public, i'll the midst OF
| the city. "Supposine," etc. They stoned
him until they lad the fullest cvidcl-e
that he was dead: and so. most probably,
he was. Whedon believes he was actually
dead.
20. "He rose up" tremendously re-
stored to life. But even if he were not
| fully dead he must have been terribly
| mangied. for they all supposed hir:. dead,
and his restoration must have been mirac.
| uious Tie departed" Not deeming it
safe to remain longer. 80 Der6e." \
city few miles further east. and the ex-
treme eastern limit of Paul's missionary
| tour.
81. "Had taught many Had made
many disciples. (R. W Returned
| Their courage was undaunted and they
return to the cities where they have just
been so terribly prosecuted.
%. Disciples Disciples had been
made at every point. Much tribuiation.'
| This word is from the Latin ''tribuium.'
| thrashng-instrument. o.. roller. whereby
| the cora was separated from the husk.
| "Kingdom of God This il according to
| the words of Jesus John 1898; Is: 1921.
See also Rem. II: l.; Rev. Z: II.