The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-04-20
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR APRIL 70.


Subject: The Gospel in Antioch, Acts
11:19-3O; 2:25-Golden Text,
Acts 11:26-C Commit Verses p,
2S-Commentary OF the Lesson.
TIME.-A. b, AZ. Az 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 all things, they had learned
some things well: CD what to preach
the Word" ~ how to preach
speaking the Word"A(R. Va They
just talked the truth in natural. UNI
stilted, conversational way. I'D VINO
ought to do the preaching the rank
and file~o the church, for they that
we're scattered abroad" were not the
apostles comp. CHI. SID. God had
led on step by step; first, Jews, then
Samaritans, then Jewish proselytes,
hut at last genuine Gentiles. The
first missionaries to the heather we're
lust ordinary lay Christians, who 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
perjshing Gentiles. The movement
was Of God and soon carried the
whole church with it. The word for
preaching in " 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-'sthe 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 1.-THE hand of the
Lord with them" The great secret
of success in Christian work is here
indicated. The outcome of the
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; 4:4; 5:14; 81;
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;
ga. Acts is; 8:4. The faith OF
thosev converts in Antioch proved It's
genuineness by its effect - they
turned unto the Lord. f" What IS
meant by turning unto the Lord is In
dicated by / Thess. 1:9; Acts zo:los
20. We have in these verses a very
clear setting forth of Gods part, the
workers part, and the converts part,
in repentance and conversion. Inc
workers preached the word, the LORD
Jesus Tvs. 10, 200.
III. Barnabas Follows Up the
Work, 1924. AS soon as tidings OF
the Gentle revival at Antioch reached
Jerusalem there was great interest,"
there. They sent one OF their pest
men to investigate and cooperate.
HE was good man. 1t is Tar more
important that a man be gooo IMAM
that he be brilliant II he is 70 euliy
young converts. He was also Iuii OIL
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-
ciallv converts from heathenism Sc
dark as that in Antioch. He was free
from the love of gold (ch. 4;36, I'D.
He was free from personal ambition
and jealousy in his work Tvs. 20, 26).
He was very sharp-eyed to see the
sincerity and promise of a young con-
vert Och. 9.27). When he. was
come, and had seen the grace OF Cod
was glad.p Barnabas was in sympa-
thy with God and His work 1t IS SAD
to say that not few who see the
grace of God wrought through otner
hands than their own, are MAD, ana
try to belittle it. Note the character
of the working of Gods grace IN An
tioch: it was. grace that coulo pc
seen" We need more OF THIS vlsl%
BILE grace in our churches to-day. Bar
nabas knew just what to DO Exnor-
tation was Barnabas forte (ch. 1895,
R. Wy. His exhortation was precise.
ly that which should be given to all
Young converts. 1t is not enough TIC
turn unto the Lord, they must
''cleave unto the Lord" or continue
in the Lord. This must be done With
purpose of heart. There is always
much in the way of persecution OF
worldly ailurements of one klnd or
another to draw young convert
away from the Lord, and unless they
cleave to Him with fixedness OF pur-
UOSG, LuCIC - lllbAO iiOPSs
III. The Ministry of Barnabas and
Saul at Antioch, 25-3O. 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 a whole year
Barnabas and Saul worked together
in Antioch, and their work was great
ly blessed Their ministry consisted
largely in teaching, systematic inculs
cation of revealed truth, The disci-
pies 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. CHI. 26:2S; / Pet. 4:16). 1t was
a glorious name and they chung to 1t.
The real prophetic gift was mani
tested in the church (ys. ~, 20; CT.
CHI. 21:10, III. The self-sacrifcing
love of this young but rapidly grow
ing Gentle church in Antioch to ther
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
brethren that dwelt in alb Judea. +"
25O-Year-Old Tree Burned.
An 0ak free at tha cornar of For.