Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-06-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
June 5.
Subject: The Council at Jerusalem, Acts xv,
n.33-Golden Text, Gal. ", Memory
Verses, 2S, 20 Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

Connecting Links.-After returning from
the first missionary journey Paul and
Barnabas abode in Antioch long time.
They were taking a much needed rest and
attending to the home work. The great
question which was now dividing the opln'
ions of the church was whether the Gen,
tiles must become Jewish proselytes and
submit to circumcision in order to be
saved. After time certain Jews VINO
were Christians but who still held to the
ceremonial law came from Jerusalem TO
Antioch and began to. teach among the
converts there that unless they were ,G CIR
cumcised they could not be saved. The
church had been in existence for about
twenty wears and had extended its bord-
ers into several heather towns and 1t IN
cluded many Gentiles, and If these teach.
ers were permitted to continue they would
destroy the work. Our lesson properly
begins with the first verse of the chapter
and includes the whole account OF TINS
first council in the history of the church.
It was conducted on Christian principles.
II came together in the interest OF truth,
to promote peace and harmony between
the contending factions. Those who con-
posed it were not party men, but We e
ready to yield all personal views ana 1eei'
ings when they saw what was right.
g. "Then pleased 1t. The Wnolc
church came to a unanimous IS, uecls oS,n.
e clear that the deputies sent to Antioch
were chosen by The whole body. They
were chosen because of their -plety, and
qualifications "Judas called Barnabas:
Or. W Not the Judas mentioned IN
chap. l: 10. His surname was Thaddaeus.
Matt. 10: 8. Matthew Henry and others
sav that he was the brother of Joseph
BSrnabas. Acts !: 90. He is nowhere
else mentioned in the New Testament, and
this is all we know of him. And sias;
Elsewhere called "Syivalus." 2 Cor. l.:
I9; l Peter 5: Il. He was a Roman clti-
zen (chap. l6: 97), and Paul's conpanl!oll
at a later date. Chap. l6: 10, etc; Chief
men" Men of influence and authority in
the church. In verse 90 they are said 70
have been prophets. They evidently had
been engaged as preachers and rulers IN
the church at Jerusalem. =,
%. "Wrote letters" They sent writ,
ten communication so the churches could
have the exact words of the decision. by
them" By Judas and Silas. Greeting"
A salutation expressing their desire OF the
happiness of the persons addressed.
"Syrria." Antioch was the capital OF Syria,
and from this we see that the, trouble
had spread to other places in the prov
ince. "Cilicia" Paups native province:
It is probably that the controversy had
not arisen il the same form IN other
"a. "Have heard" Through Paul and
Barnabas, Certain" Those referred to
bled YOU with doctrines producing con-
tention. "Subverting" This is used in
the sense of disturbing or destroying, and
here denotes that they unsettled their
minds and produced anxiety and distress
by these doctrines about Moses. NO
Commandment. Or. W They went wholly
without authority Omitting the word
"such," which is not in the Greek, makes
the expression stronger.
the proper thing to do. with one ac-
cord" How wonderfully the Holy SPIRIT
had finally united them IN setting TINS
tention OF the whole letter is to show the
honor which the church in Jerusalem felt
was due to these missionary laborers.
26. "Hazarded their lives" More than
once they had been in great danger.
Chap. I3: 80; IA: 10, etc. This was
strong endorsement of Paul and Barnabas.
an the name" etc. This is the supreme
motive of all true Christian effort.
81. "Also tell YOU" They would give
fuller information and answer every ln'
CURRY that might be proposed. ,.
%. cit seemed good,' etc; This ex-
preston shows that although the two
agencies were distinct, yet they were IN !,
perfect accord. Necessary, things: .
The peace and concord Of Jewish and Gen
tile Christianity at that time; but the
fourth requirement is perpetual prohl'
20. Offered to idols" Nearly all
fhis '' was an abomination. "And from
blood" This was forbidden by the law
of Moses (Lev. 81 u; II: l0-lD, but
among the Gentiles it was delicacy.
"Things strangled." Animals dying from
suffocation. These we're not used for food
by the Jews, because the blood was still
in them. Paul discusses this question IN
Romans IA and l Corinthians 8. From
fornication.'' This was requirement. OF
was added because it was the peculiar and
besetting sin of the Gentiles, who did not
regard it as wrong, but as part of their
worship, in honor of their gods, The
purity of the church was at stake. The
Levitical law was very strict against ev.
cry form of unchastity. See Lev. IL and
20. "Shall do WE'LL" See r. V. Fare
We we'll" The ordinary close OF letter
anciently. Be we in health and vigor.
80. Dismissed" In all probability
with religious services Compare Is: g.
and perhaps with an escort for some
miles on the way. down to Antioch "
Or. W Jerusalem, the chosen place, is
always referred to in the Bible as "up. "
In reference to Jerusalem all other places
would be "down." "The multitude" Tho
whole body of the church. II was a mes
sage from one church to another.
81 "Rejoiced." That they were not
| to be subjected to the burdensome rights
| and ceremonies of the Jewish religion
Consolation" The consolation would
be felt by the Jews as well as the Gen
tiles.
80. "Being prophets" Not in the sense
Of foretelling future events, but, being
| filled with the S ,irit, they spake in ex
Plantation of the word of God. Con
firmed." Strengthened and established
them in faith. :.
SO. "a space" A space of time. 81
peace" The brethren took leave of Their
In the best wishes for their safety ant
welfare. Judas and Silas both retrrnec
to Jerusalem, as their commission would
require, but Silas must have soon rejoile>
Paul at Antioch, sine we find him there
In verse DO. Luke has passed over tn.
second journey.
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