Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-05-11
LESSON FOR MAY Ia
40, WE TURN TO THE oENTILEs."
LESSON TExT-Acts 12:1s-52.


confronted with a crucial event. 1t
is suggestive that at this time Paul,
whose name has Just been changed
from Saul, now assumes his place of
leadership, succeeding Barnabas. Per-
go, the capital Of Pamphylia, was on
the southern coast of Asia Minor, and
Antioch, the capital of Pisidia (south-
ern Galatia) was 80 miles north. Paul
is now in full control and no other
man save our Lord has so deeply i'm
pressed human history.
|. PauI's Opening (vv. 1870. We
are not told why John Mark returned
to Jerusalem. He may have objected
to the changed leadership; there may
have been sickness involved; as a Jew
he may have objected to Paul's &C.
tions. His subsequent missionary zeal
restored him to Pauls favor III. Tim.
4:11). Departing from Perga ". 14),
perhaps on account of an attack of
fever (Gal. Alb, 14), the party ascend
ed to the higher altitude of the impor-
tant city of Antioch, the site of which
Is now marked by extensive and i'm
pressive ruins. After finding lodgings
they repaired to the synagogue on the
Sabbath day. Here they could meet
the people and would be given oppor-
tunity to speak of Jesus. Paul put
himself in the way Of opportunity and
opportunity to beckoned to him. They
did not demand this privilege because
they were Christian workers. Their
participation in the service and other
actions commended them to the re-
spect of the leaders of the synagogue,
which was the great democratic forum
of the Jewish nation.
II. PauI's Sermon wv. 164D. Paul
began his remarks, even as Peter did
at Pentecost, by quoting the Old Tes-
lament and referring to Jewish his
tory, using the same to lead up to his
testimony about Jesus. Matt. SID
ct is ours to show wherein Christ full
filed the law, the obligation resting
upon US by reason of his covenant Of
grace, and the blessings which issue
therefrom" This is one Of Paul's three
recorded missionary sermons (see also
Acts 14:15-1S;; 17:22-3D. The last
two were to Gentiles only. This is a
scriptural discourse. (1) Messiah's
people and ancestry (1723); (2) Mes
siah's forerunner GA, 25) Messiah
rejected (26-29); (4) Messiah risen
from the dead (90-3O; (5) Jesus the
Justifer (38-39); (6) the application,
word of warning Gao, Az. There
must have been some evidence of rest
lessness in his audience, hence his
sharp warning (41).
III. Paul's Decision wv. 42-47). After
the separation of Jews from Greek
proselytes the latter besought Paul
to continue his testimony literally the
Sabbath between" perhaps at the mid
week meetings. Questions and discus
sions were the order in the breaking
up of the synagogue service, and as
Paul and his company departed they
were accompanied by some who had
believed ". 43). Knowing the testing
which would follow, Paul and Barna-
bas did personal work with these, eX-
horting to steadfastness John 8: 81,
go; Col. 1929 in the grace of God
". SO, 80; Rom. 1924; Eph. 2:8). 1t is
only in grace that any are able to
continue" (Rom, SO; Gal. ST., a.
It is personal work which gathers a
crowd and such was the method of
Paul and Barnabas during the inter-
vening week. So we'll was the work
done and so great was the power of
their testimony that almost the whole
city" gathered the next Sabbath to
hear the Word of God" Such evident
interest in this new teaching aroused
the jealousy of the Jews. Years OF
Jewish PROSECUTING had never secured
such a result as this one address of a
doubtful stranger produced. But back
! of this jealousy was the greater sin OF
unbelief. To hear the Word Of God
I'll Titus Az; Thess. 2:13( does not
necessarily produce obedience and
faith duke S;5-T; not always the
greatest number Of hearers viii pro-
duce the greatest number of CONVEX
Hions. To interrupt a speaker is not
unknown in synagogues today. The
opponents "contradicted and bias
phemcd," doubtless contending that
(Gal. 3:1S) and they produced wild
tempest of voices and confusion. Only
to attack and to destroy the work oe
Paul and Barnabas could save these
Jewish leaders. Human nature is the
same everywhere.
Paul and Barnabas thrived upon OPP
position. We believe they foresaw this
development and were prepared for
the emergency ". 46). Because of
long training the Jews were best 1T
ted to receive the Gospel. 1t was no
accident that the first apostles were
Jews, but it is serious business to re-
ject the Christ. and the history of the
Jewish nation since rejecting Jesus
has been written in blood and tears,
Paul's "Lo we turn" ". 46) marked
the Rubicon OF spiritual history. Chris,
tianity is to become world wide. not
by means OF the Jews, but IN spite OF
them.