Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-05-01
PAUL AT
CY p X u 8
S~nAay SessOl Lesson for May 2, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-Acts lsl-l2 Memory
verses. 2. 4
GOLDEN TEXT-"Go ye into all the
world, and preach the Gospel TO every
creature. Marx 1915
TlME.-Probably in the spring and
summer OF a. y. A.
PLACE .-Antioch in Syria. and the is
land OF Cyprus.
RULERS.-Claudius Caesar emperor OF
Rome. n-54 Cuspius Fadus. governor OF
Judes- The Romans are IN Britain. seek
Eng to suojugate the country.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
THE church at Antioch. from
which Paul's 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 it were, a new sun,
which became a center OF radiation
for Asia Minor and Europe.
IL was a small aud struggling church.
Paul and Barnabas were the strongest
men in IL. the leaders. How could
they be spared Our modern
churches and Christians need 70 learn
that Il 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 your proxies. When
you Joined the church, you made its
enterprises yours. and assumed re
sponsibihty for them You became a
partner in a business. the greatest
business in the world. II the missions
OF your denomination fail or grow
weak through your neglect, IL is as
great a disgrace as for you 20 become
bankrupt in any other business 20
which you have made yourself 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.
huence, a large city. where they could
reach the most people. The church
must never neglect the city
3. They based their work upon the
Z
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 20 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 sun
beam touches Il. when instantly II will
expand. ''-Barlng-GouId Their mis-.
sion was preparing for full unfold
ing.
v. s. "Elymas." not necessarily a
proper name. being merely Aramaic
for magician He was 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. ?: !. z. I6. 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 proconsuI
the apostle OF truth and the emissary
of faisehood. like Moses and the magi-
clans before Pharaoh. Dean Waugh
an. Victory over the opposition OF the
sOrcerer was specimen OF all the
missionary victories that have been
won since. in countless numbers. all
over the world. II was won by three
means:
J. b. the power OF the spirit ~.
~. 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 filed 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.
nation. and provision OF the divine
chastisement" -Ellicott
2. By bold speech (v. l0). 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 ". 81, he burst out
with stern words: 20 full OF all sub
tility" OR. v. guile" receID land all
mischief 1.-THE Greek word implies the
easy doing of viIIsiny), thou child
of the devil" Though named. alas.
Bar-Jesus. child of JesusD thou
enemy of all Righteousness" (for the
Greek word devil. means slanderer.
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 Lcrd7" II was frankuess and
truth rebuking craftiness and lies, and
doubtless every one within hearing
and perhaps the wretch's own con.
science-recognized the justice Of the
condemnation.