Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-04-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson IV.-Second Quarter, For
April rs, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES,
Text Of the Lesson, Acts XII, 1890; XII,
25-Msmory Verses, 22, 23-GoIdsn
Text, Acts XII, 2s-commentary Pre-.
pared by Rev. D. M. Stsarns.

| 25-Msmory Verses, 22, 23-Golds
Text, Acts XII, 2s-commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. D. M. 'stsarns.
copyright, 1909. by American Press Association.
In Acts viii, IA, we read that tn
persecution at the time Of Stephen
martyrdom led to the scattering abroad
from Jerusalem Of all the disciples ex
cept the apostles and that they wen
everywhere preaching the Word. TIL,
lesson today begins just there with thu
statement that they which were scat
tered abroad went as far as Phenict
and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching
the word to Jews only, but that some
at Antioch spoke to the Grecians
preaching the Lord Jesus, and that O
great number believed and turned to
the Lord. That was blessed scatter
ing which sent thu tood news SO far
from Jerusalem, but we cannot helr
wondering If the disciples had been
obedient to Acts 1, s, might the per.
secution have at that time been avoid.
ed, and yet persecution was what they
were taught to expect CMatt. Z, %;
John XIV, 20). Well the fact stands
that God expects US to be Obedient,
for only as we are so He can accom-
plish His pleasure in us Elsa. 1, 19). If
there was great scattering today of
true believers to all the dark places of
the earth, how soon the church, the
body Of Christ, might be gathered
from all nationsl
When the church at Jerusalem heard
the tidings from Antioch they sent to
inquire about It, and 1t was fortunate
that they sent the man they did, for
he had eyes to see the grace Of God In
others than Jesus and heart to love
all who loved the Lord. To this very
day in this twentieth century, after
the birth Of the Messiah, it Is not diff
cult to find those who cannot see any
grace Of God in any outside of their
own denomination. A visit from some
Barnabas. full Of the Holy Ghost and
OF faith, would do them good If they
would listen to such a one. Barnabas
was glad to see the work Of the Spirit
In these people, and his exhortation
was that with purpose Of heart they
would cleave unto the Lord, not to the
one who had led them to the Lord, but
to the Lord Himself. We are In a
time Of great following Of men, but
things will not be right till the Lord
alone is exalted Elsa. II. II. 10.
AS we come in verse 25 to Saul
and the visit of Barnabas to Tarsus
to find him we had better pick up the
threads Of his story since his con-
version. Having seen and heard the
risen Lord Jesus, there was no con-
ferring with flesh and blood after the
visit Of Ananias, but he went of into
Arabia, perhaps like Elijah to Horeb,
for further communion with God
Then he returned to Damascus, con-
the Jews, thereby proving
that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
They sought to kill him. but the disci-
pies took him by night and let him
down by the wall in basket and he
made his escape to Jerusalem. There
was no welcome awaiting him there,
the disciples being afraid Of him, and
1t was not until Barnabas took him
and spoke on his behalf that the disci.
Piles were willing to receive him as
one Of them. AS he spoke boldly at
Jerusalem in the name Of the Lord
Jesus, his life was soon In danger
there also, so the brethren took him to
Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus. IL
we cannot quite ft into their proper
places his experiences Of chapters
xii, 1921; Gal. 4, Is, 49, we can ac-
cept the record as 1t stands and adore
the grace Of God, which so cared for
and guided him, and imagine the fel-
Iowship which he and Peter must have
had those fifteen days at Jerusalem.
He began early In his career as child
Of God to experience something Of the
,ufferings to which he had been called
and to which he afterward referred
quite fully In II Cor. II, 23-33, where
be seems to consider even his manner
Of escape from Damascus as an in
trinity.
Barnabas. his faithful friend, having
found him at Tarsus, brought him to
Antioch, and for whole year they
abode there, teaching the people. teach
Ing them to observe all things that
Jesus had commanded, and no doubt
enjoying q fulfllment of His assur-
lnce, 10, l am with you all the days.
even unto the end Of the age" Matt
xviii, 2O. These must have been
blessed days for the believers at An
ioch, who must have greatly grown In
grace and In the knowledge OF our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ under
such teachers. Here the disciples
we're first called Christians, perhaps
because their lives made 1t so manifest
that they belonged to Christ. We may
1t least think 80. A dear man Of God
now in glory once said to me that to
him christian" suggested Christ is
all; I am nothing. Paul wrote in Gal
4. 20. II live. yet not l. but Christ
iveth In me-"
Prophets from Jerusalem having tes-
tifed by the Spirit Of the need Of the
believers there In temporal things, the
believers at Antioch determined to
send relief to them, each man contrib
- l. A.. %
but cheerfully, as unto the
Lord Himself. We are not expected
10 do what we cannot do, but simply
10 minister as Of the ability which God
yiveth. knowing that II there be first
1 willing mind it is accepted according
10 that q man hath Oh Cor. TX, Z; S-12:
Pet.-iv. ~. DO as thine hand
shall find, for God is with thee" Il
% m m0rQin)