Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-05-08
PAUL AT ANTIOCH
In PISIDIA
Sunday School Lesson for May .. 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

GOLDEN TEXT.-'The word Of the
Lord was published throughout an the
region Acts 13.49
TlME.-Immediafely after the last les
son; probably according 20 Prof Ram
say. In the summer OF A. u. IS or a..
PLACE.-Perga the capital OF Pam
phyha. on the southern coast OF Asa
Minor, and Antioch. the capital OF Pisidia
southern Galstia, about 100 miles north.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Hitherto (see Acts 1877. etc. II had
been "Barnabas and Saul" now Il Is
Paul and Darnabas" Tvs 43. 46). OF
Paul and his company" including
Barnabas. John Mark. and perhaps
others. Paurs ability as a leader has
been proved az Cyprus. and was after
wards unQuestioned
v. Is. John Mark departing from
them returned to Jerusalem" his
home. l. Perhaps he aid not like 70
see Paul superseding his cousin
Barnabas. 2. Perhaps his mother was
sick. 3. Perhaps. as one brought up
strictly in Jerusalem. he objected to
PauIs free intercourse with the Gen
tiles. g. Perhaps he dreaded the per
lis OF travel In the wild. banditinfested
region that lay before them. 8. Per
haps he had been weakened by the
fever and felt unable to go on. Paul
was not satisfied with the reason.
whatever II was Acts 15.3T-4O). and
separated from Barnabas when. later.
he insisted on taking Mark along. But
Mark was ready for the second mis-
sionary journey. and was afterward re-
stored 10 Paurs good opinion (see In.
ductive Study p. NO man ever be-
came great or good except through
many and great mistakes.
stone. The only people who make no
mistakes are dead people. I saw a
man last week who has not made a
mistake for 1000 years. He a mum.
my in the r. .tian department OF the
British museum. III. L. Wayland.
". 20. They went into the syna.
gogue on the Sabbath day" as was
their custom. Thus they wisely made
their irst appeal 20 the Jews.
The Sermon as q Whole The task
before Paul was difncuit He had 10
win the confidence and hold the atten.
ton or an audience to which he was
quite unknown. He had 20 keep the
ground OF lsraels peculiar history and
hope. and yet 70 show that az the holy
city Itself the Messiah had been re-
jected and crucihed. But St Paul was
the very man for an emergency
Donald Fraser. ID. d.
They keynote of Paul's sole mes
sage. repeated on hundred occasions.
and with Infinite variations Of empha.
SIS. is found In St Luke's account OF
his visit 70 Athens. In the words. he
preached Jesus and the resurrection.
This first Of his sermons Of which we
possess any portion may perhaps be
regarded as a type OF the Pauline ser.
mon."-Rev George Francis Greene.
IL was Cd tactful. taking his hearers
on their own ground: CD humble. leav-
ing himself out and exalting Christ:
CD courageous and frank, not hesitat-
ing TO state the truth though II would
offend preconceived views: (s) BibI-
cal, bound up with the Scripture
chroughou: 90 practical, coming 20 a
personal application, ending. as I.y-
man Beecher said every section
should end. with a snapper"
forgiveness. through Christ. That
truth, as always in Paurs preaching.
was the climax OF this sermon. For
giVeness." r. v. remission "of sins"
Is. literally. the putting or sending
them away. II includes the removal
OF the penalty for sin, though not i'm
mediately all the consequences Of sin.
IL includes the cleansing OF the heart
from sin and restoration to Gods
favor. These are wonderful and price
less gifts, and Christ Offers them 70
US for the asking.
V. IS. Envy jealousy, when the
Jews saw the mnltitudes" (of Cen
ules). The Jewish leaders were angry
ID because others and strangers did
what they could not do themselves:
90 because they differed from Paups
teaching. and especially his applica-
ton Of the MesSlanic hopes to the
condemned and crucined Jesus; CD
because they themselves felt con-
demned by such warnings as those In
VI. 40. Al; a. because. though they
would be pleased IL the Gentiles would
become Jewish proselytes by conform
tty 90 circumcision and other require
ments, they objected strenuously to
their admission on easier terms. such
as Paul proposed.
Missionary Explosions. This was the
nrst Of many similar explosions sui.
fered by Paul. and those were only the
beginnings OF such experiences en-
dured by missionaries In all lands.
Thus Judson and his comrades ve-s
driven from Calcutta Thus Milne
was driven from Canton. and com
PEELED 10 begin missionary labors for
China from the Malay Peninsula. Thus
In 1885 all the missionaries were
driven from Japan for two Centuries
ThHs John G. Patton. after a thousand
perils. was driven from the Island OF
Tanna- But In every case Christianity
has returned. all the stronger for its
experience OF persecution.
What Is My Attitude Toward Truth:
This question Is or fundamental i'm
portance. The lesson illustrates
four ways OF answering e.: Oh John
Marks way. following the truth while
the road 10 easy. but deserving it when
is becomes disasreeabie and danger