The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1909-04-22
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON CONF
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S3-CommentaryO On the Lesson.
TIME.-A. d. AZ, 43. PLACE
Antioch.
EXPOSITION.-I. Great Revival
at Antioch, 1921. 1t took years for
them to learn that the Gospel WAS for
men of every nation. But while these
early Christians had not as yet
learned ali things, they had learned
some things well: Cd what to preach
the Word;" GU how to preach
speaking the Word" Or. W. They
just talked the truth in a natural, un-
stilted, conversational way. CD Who
ought to do the pTeaching-the rank
and file of the church, for they that
were scattered abroad" were not the
apostles Comp. ch. 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 we're
just ordinary lay Christians, wh) had
gotten so full of the truth rs 1t 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
"lOlS Chul Will IL hC "oIu IOi
preaching in v. 20 is not the same as
in v. 10. 1t means 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 superstitionS and immor-
al practices. They told the good news
of salvation in Jesus Christ. There is
no proof that these men had the hand
of bishops, presbytery or council upon
! them, but they had "the hand OF the
Lord with them" The great secret
| of success in Christian work is here
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 w. "a; 2:47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7;
9:31, 35, AZ; 1924. ETC., etc.. We
would do we'll to ask why the Gospel
does not make the same uniform
| headway to-day. The answer, in part
at least, is suggested in Acts 2:42;
6:4; Acts is; S:4. Tie faith OF
those converts in Antioch proved Its
genuineness by its effect - they
turned unto the Lord" What Is
| meant by turning unto the Lord is In
dicated by 1 Thess. 1:9; Acts 26:1S
! clear setting forth of Gods part, the
workers part, aud the converts part.
| in repentance and conversion. The
workers preached the word, the Lord
Jesus Tvs. 19, 20O.
III. Barnabas Follows Up the
| Work, 22-24. AS soon as tidings OF
the Gentle revival at Antioch reached
| Jerusalem there was great interest
| there. They sent one of their best
men to investigate and cooperate.
He was a good man." 1t Is far more
| important that a man be good than
| that he be brilliant If he is to edify
Young converts. He was also full of
| the Holy Ghost" He was also full
! of faith" and no man that is not need
undertake the work Of instructing
| and developing young converts, espe-
/ cially converts from heathenism SO
dark as that In Antioch lie was free
from the love Of gold (ch- 4:36. 3D.
He was free from personal ambition
and jealousy in his work Tvs. 20, 26). O..
He was very sharp-eyed to see the
! sincerity and promise Of young con-
| vert (ch. 9:2D. when he was
come, and had seen the grace Of God,
was glad" Barnabas was in sympa-
| thy with God and His work. 1t Is sad
| to say that not a few who see the
grace of God wrought through other
| hands than their own, are mad, and
| try to belittle it. Note the character
of the working Of Gods grace in An
| tioch: It was a grace that could be
"seen." We need more Of this visi-
! BILE grace in our churches to-day. Bar
nabas knew just what to do. EXhor-
| tation was Barnabas' forte (ch. 4:36,
R W. His exhortation was precise
ly that which should be given to all
young converts. 1t is not enough to
turn unto the Lord" they must
"cleave unto the Lord" or continue
in the Lord. This must be done witt
purpose OF heart" There is always
much in the way of persecution or
worldly allurements Of one kind or
another to draw young convert
away from the Lord, and unless they
cleape to Him with fiXednesS OF pur-
pose, there is little hope.
III. The Ministry OF Barnabas and
Saul Mt Antioch, $3.50. Barnabas
showed his largeness Of spirit in still
| another way. He said to himself.
This is just the place for Saul. !
will go get him." For n whole year
Barnabas and Saul worked together
in Antioch, and their work was great
ly blessed. Their ministry consisted
largely in teaching, systematic incul-
cation of revealed truth. The disci-
plies got at this time the name by
which they are best known since
Christians. The name was given to
them by others (perhaps in contempt,
CT. ch. 26:2S; 1 Pet. 4:16). 1t was
a glorious name and they clung to 1t.
The real prophetic gift was mani
tested in the church Tvs. 27, 2S; CT.
ch. 21:10, ~. The self-sacrificing
love of this young but rapidly grow
ing Gentle church in Antioch to their