The Tupelo journal., 1909-04-30
81 IS 5

LESSON TExT.-Acts ls:1-12. Memory
verses, 2. &
GOLDEN TExT.--Go We into all the
world. and preach the Gospel to every
creature" Mark 1915.
TIME.-Probably In the spring and
summer Of A. ID. Y. J
/, PLACE.-Antioch in Syria, and the Is
land OF Cyprus.
RULERS.-Claudius Caesar, emperor OF
Rome, H-54. Cuspius Fadus, governor OF
Judea. The Romans are in Britain, seek
ing to subjugate the country.
Suggestions and Practical Thought.
"The church at Antioch, from
which PauTs missionary journey
started. Jerusalem had before been
the center Of influence, its heat and
light radiating to Samaria, Joppa,
Ethiopia, Cyrene, Damascus, Tarsus,
Antioch. The ray that reached Anti
och kindled, as 1t were, a sun,
which became a center of radiation
for Asia Minor and Europe.
It was a small and struggling church.
Paul and Barnabas were the strongest
men in it, the leaders. How could
they be spared? Our modern
churches and Christians need to learn
that it is not keeping, but giving
away, that enriches and strengthens.
Missionaries Are Your Representa-
tives.-Those whom you have commits
stoned, the official heads of the church.
have sent the missionaries forth for
you. They are you proxies. When
you Joined the church, you made its
enterprises yours, and assumed re-
s~ponsibility for them. You became a
| partner in a business, the greatest
business in the world. If the missions
of your denomination fail or grow
weak through your neglect, it is as
great a disgrace as for you to become
bankrupt in any other business to
which you have made yourself a part
ner.
Lessons for Our Work.. Paul
and Barnabas went first to Cyprus,
where they would find a beginning
easiest. Wise workers always work
along lines of least resistance.
2. They worked in the center of in
| f~uence, a large city, where they could
reach the most people. The church
must never neglect the city.
3. They based their work upon the
word of God. We shall fail If we do
not do the same.
4. They did not try to do their
work alone, but utilized John Mark,
| and doubtless all the other helpers
they could find. The most useful
workers are those that know how to
set others to work.
5. They were ignorant, as yet,
that their great work was to be for
the Gentiles, but they followed along
the line of providence. "A flower will
| often remain furled for days till a sun
beam touches it, when instantly it will
expand.'-Baring-Gould. Their mis-
sion was preparing for a full unfold
ing.
V. 8. "Elymas," not necessarily a
proper name, being merely Aramaic
| for magician. He vas a Jew; a false
| prophet, an impostor pretending to a
knowledge of the future and teaching
untrue doctrines; and he was a "sor-
cerer," magician or sage, the name
| given to the wise men from the East,
the Magi of Matt. 2: /, Z, 16. In those
| days superstition and science were
commingled, and the scholar did not
consider beneath him the arts of the
~fortune-teller and the magician.
There stood before the %proconsul
the apostle OF truth and the emissary
| of %falsehood, like Moses and the magi-
clans before Pharaoh."-Dean Waugh
an. Victory over the opposition of the
sorcerer was a specimen of all the
missionary victories that have been
won since, in countless numbers, all
over the world. 1t was won by three
means:
1. BY the power of the spirit ".
81. saul, (who also is called Paul.
and henceforth, to mark his change of
labors, the history drops his Jewish
name, Saul, and uses the Gentle name
| solely was filled with the Holy Ghost"
THE tense of the Greek participle
| implies a sudden access of spiritual
power, showing itself at once In in
sight into character, righteous indig.
| udtIOu, anu plCSloiOh III eAO uiFAAAS
Observation-Disclosures
2. BY bold speech ". 10). Paul
never minced matters. He spoke out
his full heart. Thoughts were made
for words, with him! With a stern
face, his Eyes fixed intently Upon the
sneering sorcerer (v. 81, he burst out
with stern words: 20 full Of all sub.
tility" (R. v. guile" receitl "and all
mischief (the Greek word implies the
easy doing of v%illainy), thou child
of the devil" Though named, alas,
Bar-Jesus, child of Jesus!) thou
enemy of all righteousness" (for the
Greek word devil, means s%landerer,
false accuser, and therefore enemy OF
the truth and right, wilt thou not
cease to ~pervert," (~"distort, turn
aside} "the right (straight) ways Of
the Lord?" 1t was frankness and
truth rebuking craftiness and lies, and
doubtless every II within hearing
and perhaps the wretch's w con
science-recognized the justice of the
condemnation.