Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-05-18
LESSON FOR MAY Fl
THE CRIPPLE OF LYsrRA.
LESSON rExT-Acts "a

GOLDEN TEXT-He giveth power to
the faint: and to them that have no
might be increaseth strength.-Isa. 1929
Make a list of the seven cities men,
toned in this lesson and locate them
on map. Let seven pupils attack to
the map flag, or banner, to locate
each one. The visit to Iconium oc-
CURED probably in the spring Of A. ID.
AZ (Ramsey). Paul and Barnabas had
a great triumph and a severe testing
at Iconium, wrought great victory of
faith and became popular at Lystra,
only to meet great tribulation. On
their homcward journey they con-
firmed saints, set UP rules and gave
account of their labors to the home
church of Antioch.
!. In lconum wv. 1-7). This was
a Roman city of great antiquity and
Importance. The modern city Konia
is an important Mohammedan and
trade center. Tradition says Paul was
imprisoned for being magician and
teaching q woman named Thekla not
to marry. This woman endured great
hardships and trials for the faith, fin
ally becoming nun at Selencia and
dying at the advanced age OF ninety.
From this tradition we get most of our
ideas Of Pauls small,
bandy-legged. large eyed, shaggy eye
brows, long nose; full of grace with
sometimes the face of a man and at
others of an angel. This Is tradition
only, but is probably somewhat near
the truth. Paul followed his usual
first witnessing in the synagogue, wit
Messing to the entire population, Jew
and Gentle, and dividing them effec-
lively by his words about Jesus.
II. In Lystra wv. 8-21D. % Popu-
larity (vv. 8-1s). Their introduction
here would seem propitious, healing
the cripple and at once gaining the
esteem of the people. Alteration and
gratitude appeal to the human heart.
Underneath the heather idea that the
gods came down to us In the likeness
of men, is the great and glorious
truth of the incarnation John 1:14;
Phil. 2:6, -. We should hesitate to
condemn these men of Lystra too Sc
verely, for what American community
is not open to condemnation in this
regard? Too many Christians offer
garlands fv. 13) at the feet of the men
mighty works. 1t was common COM
plant that in the days Of his greatest
victories, men could not find Mr..
Moody when service was dismissed,
or get into his quarters at the hotels;
he would give no opportunity for self
glorification. Paul and Barnabas had
hard work to restrain these hero w0r-
shippers ". 14), and to convince them
who they were and how they had been
enabled to accomplish such a wonder
full miracle ". 15). Paul was of like
stature with them and would not ac-
cept worship as did the Caesars or
Herod (12:22, 23). He exhorted the
Lystrians to turn from these vain
things" /. e., such idol worship, unto
the living God" (see also Cor. 8:4;
I Thess. 1:9). Hitherto God had not
miraculously interfered to turn
men from their evil ways ". 16), but
left them to their own devices to show
their inability to find their way back
to him (see Acts 1890; ! Cor. 1:2D.
Yet God is not without witnesses"
". 10. The seasons and the natural
laws point to God, yet men still re-
main blind and ungrateful. Thus by
vehement exhortation they prevented
this act of sacrilege. (2) Persecution
Tvs. 10, 20). The mob is ever tickle,
". 49,, but it did not turn them unto
the living God" ". 15). Conversion
is the simple turning from idols Il
Thess. 1-9), rational thing, but one
contrary to the pride of men who de-
sire to "do something whereby they
may merit or can demand their sal
walton. Even as Paul had difficulty to
turn people aside from idols, so today
it is hard to keep men and women
from idolatry, not the gross or vulgar
idolatry Of heathenism, but the re-
fined idols of culture, success, power,
money and pleasure. To his difficult
ties Paul had the added persecution Of
the vindictive Iconiaps and those from
Antioch ". 19). God delivered him
from this trial Il Cor. 11:25, 27). All
loys, witnesses must expect persecu-
ton from the Ged-hating world I'll
Tim. 3:12; John 5:18-20).
III. The Return wv. 22-28). when
they had preached the gospel to the
city" ". 21) literally having evan
gelized the city," they started home
confirming believers and appointing
leaders in each center visited. They
did not take the short cut of 100 miles
to Paups home in Tarsus, but they
visited their new converts.
Symbolically the cripple OF Lystra
is type of sin, (a) helpless, (b) born
in that condition (Psa. 51:5), (c) had
to be helped from without, by outside
power (Rom 5:6); (d) all could see
the change Games 2:18). This mir
acle wrought (a) Praise from the peo-
pie, OBJ Protestation on the part of
Paul and Barnabas, Co Persecution
from the tickle and disappointed
priests who melted the people. Per-