Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-05-15
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments FOR
May Is.
Subject: The Early Christian Missionaries
Acts xiii, l.lz-GoIden Text Matt. xxvlil'
l9-Memery Verses, :, 3-Commed'
tary on the Days Lesson.

"G VIZ NV wy
I. "The church at Antioch" This
church must have been large and AuJrish:
ing at this time. Prophets and teachers
The prophets were those most open to re.
ceive, and able to speak the truth God re-
vealed to them; men with insight and tore.
sight, rather than instructors. l Cor ~;
%, BY teachers arc meant stated ana
permanent teachers, answering somewhat
to the pastor OF modern church. "Barna'
bas." Barnabas was a preacher and 1t IS
not improbable that the names prophets
and teachers" here simply designatcs the
preachers of the gospel. Simeon.
Niger" Niger means black, but there is
nothing in that to indicate that this man
was black. Nothing more is known OF
him than is here mentioned. "Lucius',
He is probably the same person mentioned
in Rom. 1921. He may also have been
one of those who first carried the gospel
to Antioch. Chap. IL: 10, 20. "Cyrene.".
A celebrated city in Africa; one-fourth OF
the population was jews. "Manaen the
foster.brother of Herod" (R. W Hackett
thinks his mother was probably Herod's
nurse. He was evidently person OF in
Auence. This was Herod Antipas, who
murdered John the Baptist. Manean must
have become Christian out of very bad
surroundings. He was probably. man OF
strong character. "And Saul" Named
last because he was the late conner. he
soon becomes the chiefest OF all the apos'
ties.
2 "They." These five ministers.
Nothing is said of any others being present.
But Never insists that they" refers to
The church and not merely to the five min
listers. "Minstered" In special ser
vice of prayer and praise, to ascertain the
mind of the Lord concerning the adavnce'
ment OF His work. "Feasted." Showing
their intense earnestness, their spiritual
hunger, which overpowered all sense Of
bodily hunger "The Holy Ghost said.'
How the Holy Spirit spoke to them we
are not told. He may have spoken through
some of the prophets present, or ny gen
cral conviction on the minds OF me mem
bers of the church. But notice that the
HOLY Spirit makes the revelation, selects
the missionaries, and assigns to them their
work" Separate me-" That is, set them
apart, or ordain them for the special work
whereunto I have called them-thc work
of foreign missions Paul was clearly
called to this work at the time OF his con-
version.
3. "Fasted and prayed" A most SOL
cmn and important service, Observed,
probably, by the whole body of the church.
They needed wisdom and ability to ac'
complish the great work they were now y,
about to undertake. Laid their haads'
By this ceremony of conservation, they Or
dained them-not to an order, but to a
mission 1t did not make them deacons,
elders, or bishops, but missionaries. sent
them awav." From Antioch, as mission.
aries to other lands.
4. Being sent, etc" The expression
here is similar to that found in the pre-.
yious verse. and shows the call Of the
Spirit first, and, next, that of the church.
The Holy Ghost originates the missionary
enterprise. All objections. therefore, to
the work arise from lack OF funess of
the Spirit. unto Selcucia." This was
terranean Sea. Antioch being twenty miles
inland. Sailed to Cyprus" This island,
in the Mediterranean Sea, was originally
the home of Barnabas Chap. 4: SO.
s, "At Salamis." The Greek capital of
Cyprus, and the nearest city in their ap.
proach to the island, after a few hours
sail. John to their minister" This was
John whose surname was Mark.
6. Gone through the isle" They
Travelled the whole length of the island
from east to west, evangclizing. Unto
Paphos" The chief town of the island,
about one hundred miles from Salamis.
''SOrcerer. a maglCidn OF oiIuhc-teHel'
The magicians did not merely pretend to
forctell the future, but also to influence 1t,
by the control which they claimed to eX-
ercisc over the inferior gods or demons
"A false prophet" An imposter, in that
he falsely professed to be prophet OF the
true God, while teaching false doctrines
and a false standard OF morals. "A jew
A Jewish uuaclk whose arts were picture
of the lowest depths to which the Jewish
character could sink. "Bar-jesus." This
was his Jewish name. The prefix "Bar'
is Hebrew and signifies "son." Bar-jesus
therefore signifies the Son of Jesus, com
mon name among the Jews; but the Syrlac
calls him "Bar-shoma," the son of pride.
I. "Thc deputy" All the provinces of
the Roman Empire under the control Of
the senate were governed by proconsui,
here called deputy; that is, governor
Amounted by the senate "a prudent
man" A man of sound understanding and
good sense. Desired to hear" He de.
sired to know what these men taught, and
10 hear the word e God.
g, "Elvmas." An Arabic word which
means "the wise" Perhaps he was born
in Arabia, or had lived there, and may
have assumed this name in boastful
spirit. or he may have received it from
others as a compliment to his skill. with
stood them" Opposed them as the ma
oi(;ons in Pharaoh's court wthstood
Moses He saw his power was gone if the
nroconsul accented the truth. "To turn
auavW Tho effort OF the sorcerer was to
Ieen him from becoming a believer in the
doctrine Of the apostles, No doubt they