The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-04-14
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR APRIL %.
Subject: The Gospel in Antioch, Acts
11:10.3O; 12:25-Golden Text,
Acts 11:26-Commit Verses %,

Subject: The Gospel in Antioch, Acts
11:19.3O; 12:25-Golden Text,
Acts 11:26-Commit Verses %,
23-Commentary OF the Lesson.
TIME-A. D. AZ, 43. PLACE
Antioch.
EXPCSIT1ON.-I. Great Revival
at Antioch, 1921. 1t took years for
them tb learn that the Gospel WAS for
men Of every natiSn But while these
early Christians had not. as yet
learned all things, they had learned
some things well: ID what to preach
-"the Word" CD how to preach
speaking the Word" (R. W.. They
Just talked the truth in a natural, un.
stilted, conversational way. 90 Who
ought to do the preaching-the tank
and file of the church, for "they that
were scattered abroad" were not the
apostles Comp. Oh. SD. God had
led on step by step; first, Jews, then
Samaritans, then Jewish proselytes.
but at last genuine Gentiles. The
first missionaries to the heather were
Just ordinary lay Christians, VIM had
gotten so full of the truth as it is IN
Jesus that they could no longer fol.
low the slow lead of the authorities
in the church, but were forced to
break the bonds of Jewish prejudice
and narrowness and speak out to the
perishing Gentiles. The movement
was of God and soon carried the
whole church with it. The word for
preaching in v. 20 Is not the same az
in v. 10. It meal telling good It'd
ings." Those good tidings which
they told are summed up in three
words--"the Lord Jesus" They did
not expend their strength in attack
ing heather superstiIions and immor.
al practices. They told the good news
of salvation in Jesus Christ. There ls
no proof that these men had the hand
of bishops, p%resbytery OF council upon
them, but they had "the hand of the
Lord with them" The great secret
of success in Christian work Is mere
indicated. The outcome OF b
hand of the Lord being with
them was, "a great number believed
and turned unto the Lord" State
ments similar to this abound IN the
Acts ". "a; 2:47; "A; STA; 81;
9:31, IS, AZ; 1924, etc., etc.. we
would do we'll to ask why the Gospel
does not make the same UNIFORM
Roadway to-day. The answer, in part
at least, is suggested in Acts 2:42;
ga. Acts is; S:4. The faith OF
those converts in Antioch proved Its
genuineness by its effect - tney
s'turned unto the Lord" What Is
meant by turning unto the Lord Is IN
dicated by / Thess. 1:9; Acts 26:lS,
20. We have in these verses a very
clear setting forth Of Gods part tne
workers part, and the converts part.
In repentance and conversion. Inc
workers preached the word, the Loro
Jesus Tvs. 10, 20).
II. Barnabas Follows Up the
Work, 1924. AS soon as tidings o!
The Gentle revival at Antioch reacned
Jerusalem there was great interest
there. They sent one OF their pest
men to investigate and cooperate.
"He was a good man." 1t is far more
Important that a nan be good tnan
hat he be brilliant If he Is to edify
Young converts. He was also "ful! OF
the HOLY Ghost" He was also lull
of faith" and no man that Is not neeo
undertake the work OF lnstructlns
and developing young converts, p
cially converts, from heatnenlsm 30
dark as that in Antioch. He was Tree
from the love of gold (ch. 4:36, 81.
He was free from personal an pltloh
and jealousy in his work Tvs. 20, Zo).
He was very sharp-eyed to see the
sincerity and promise Of a young con-
Vert tch. 9:27b. When he was
come, and had seen the grace OF Co..
was glad" Barnabas was In sympa-
thy with God and His work. IL is SAD
to saw that not a few who see q
grace of God wrought through otner
hands than their own, are mad, ana
trv to belittle it. Note the character
of the working of Gods grace m An
tioch: it was a grace that coulo pe
"seeu." We need more Of this vlsl-
BILE grace in our churches TO-DAY. q
nabas knew just what to do. Exnor
tation was Barnabas' forte ten. 49,
r. W. His exhortation was precise,
" that which should be given to all
Young converts. 1t is not enough 10
turn unto the Lord" they must
"cleaye unto the Lord" or continue
IN the Lord. This must be done with
"nurpose of heart" There Is always
much in the way of persecution or
worldly allurements Of one KIND or
another to draw q young convert
away from the Lord, and unless they
cleave to Him with fiXedness OF pur-
pose, there is little hope.
uI. The Ministry Of Barnabas ana
Saul at Antioch, $3.50. BarnaDas
showed his largeness of spirit II still
another way. He said to himself,
This is just the place for Saul l
will 90 get him" For a whole year
Barnabas and Saul worked together
in Antioch, and their work was great
" blessed. Their ministry consisted
largely in teaching, systematic lncui-
cation of revealed truth. The discl-
ples got at this time the name by
which they are best known since
Christians. The name was given to
them by others (perhaps n contempt,
CT. ch. 1928; / Pet. 4:16). 1t was
a glorious name and they chung to 1t.
The real prophetic gift was mani
tested in the church Tvs. 27, 28; CT.
CHI. 21:10, ~. The self-sacrif1cins
love of this young but rapidly grow
ing Gentle church in Antioch to their
Jewish brethren in Judea is very
touching. No sooner did they hear
of the hard times coming than they
determined to send relief unto the