The Yale expositor., 1916-06-01

! Following the commissions report
It Antioch of the decision of the Jeru-
salem church, Paul and Barnabas and
others continued their evangelism in
that city (ch. 1888. These leaders
soon felt the need of revisiting the
scenes Of their former labors ". 36),
but when it came to the organization
of their party, Paul refused to accede
to the decision of Barnabas that John
Mark should accompany them Tvs. 81,
3S, see Acts 14:13). SO sharp a con-
tention arose that two parties were or.
ganized. That Paul later forgave
Mark is evidenced by his tender refer
ences to him.
l. A Closed Door. Oh. 16:1:S. Paurs
companions for this second mission.
airy tour were Silas 15:40), Luke
(see use of word We V. 49,, and
Timothy ". 1-3). The latter came OF
good ancestry, had good training and
was OF good report, still TO avoid con-
! tention he. submitted to the rite of
circumcision. Paul's work was to
! promulgate the Jerusalem decree, to
establish or to confirm the churches
and to add to these churches new con-
verts. But that did not entirely full.
| fill Pauls commission OLD. The
word Asia" ". g. means the Roman
province of Asia and, wisely obeying
the Spirits direction, Paul passed on
until he came to the seaport town of
! Troas. AT a later time Paul spoke
the word of the Lord Jesus" in Asia
with wonderful effect (19: 1, s, 10,
| 26, 30. II must have burned within
| the bones of Paul thus TO be re-
strained, but it did not serve as an ex.
cuse for him TO take a vacation, but
rather to seek new fields wherein to
| preach. Thus he came to TEoas
II. The Macedonian Call. V. 9-13.
Paul had several epochmaking vi.
sions; on the Damascus road 1913, 4
and 26:19); in Jerusalem (23:1D; at
/ the time Of his shipwreck (27:23),
/ and the one we are now considering
A vision is a knowledge OF the need
and of the resources at ones com.
mand. Grecian beauty. philosophy.
art and culture needed Christ.
y
and available TO supply that need
This vision Paul saw: through it God
called him to Macedonia. We"
| (the first use of that pronoun in the
book OF Acts), Paul and Luke, imme-
diately essayed to obey.
III. The Open Door, v. IA, Is. On
what seeming trifles does history
turnl An outcast wandering Jew
coming to help a proud, cultured, in
huential foreign city, but he bears the
Gospel which alone can be of help
to them. Paul did not wait to in
vestigate the field" nor to establish
a working organization. He knew
a better point Of contact, and that was
to find those in that city who knew
God even though ignorant of Christ
He began by preaching Jesus, not
comparative religions, nor did he
seek to found community centers"
with soup kitchens and social uplift.
Paul knew that to elevate the individ-
ual by establishing him in the faith of
Christ would soon result in commu-
nifty uplift. On the other hand, a
faith which evaporates in words and
does not give tangible, concrete evil
dence in works may we'll be chal-
lenged as to its being genuine. There
was no supernatural direction as to
what part OF Macedonia Paul was to
visit, and exercising his common
sense, Paul went at once to the prin-
cipal city. He did not begin at once
to preach the Gospel ". IL r. W,
but waited and watched for an oppor-
tunity, doubtless praying much for a
favorable opening (Ch. 10: IA; 1872;
1870.
The man of Macedonia" seems to
have been a woman unless we consider
the Philippian jailor. This open-air
meeting was one of the most notable
in history. The Lord opened the
heart Of pious Lydia and it was the
turning point Of the evangelization of
Europe and America and the world
God must open the hearts of men and
women John 644, As; Eph. 1:17, IS;
buke 24:45), and this he is willing
and glad to do. The steps of this
woman's conversion are clearly
marked and present a good type. ID
She went out to pray ". 49,. CD She
heard the word ". 10, IA; see also
John 5:2D. CD She had her heart
opened by the Lord ". 14). (4) She
gave heed to the things which were
spoken" ". 13 and Mark 1919. (5)
She made public confession of her
newly-found faith by baptism.
(6) She carried with her the whole
household, perhaps children. workers
in her business and servants ". 81.
SO; Cor. 1:16).
The use of the word constrained"
in verse Is indicates a heart hunger
to be helpful by being allowed to
serve.
The Philippian church often helped
Paul subsequently and doubtless Lydia
was leading spirit in such service.
The history OF the Christian church
relates many Illustrations of the lead.