Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-05-12
LESSON FOR MAY Fl
THE CRIPPLE OF LvsTRA.
LESSON TExT-Acts "a.

the faint; and to them that have nj
might be increaseth strength.-Isa. 40:xS
Make list of the seven cities men.
toned in this lesson and locate them
on a map. Let seven pupils attack to
the map a flag, or banner. to locate
each one. The VISIT to Iconium oc-
Cured probably in the spring OF A. D.
AZ (Ramsey). Paul and Barnabas had
great triumph and severe testing
at Iconium. wrought great victory Of
faith and became popular at Lystra,
only to meet great tribulation. On
their homeward journey they con-
firmed saints, set up rules and gave
account of their labors to the home
church of Antioch.
I. In Iconium wv. 1-7). This was
Roman city OF great antiquity and
Importance The modern city Konia
is an important Mohammedan and
trade center. Tradition sayE Paul was
imprisoned for being a magician and
teaching q woman named Thekla not
to marry. This woman endured great
hardships and trials for the faith, fin
| ally becoming a nun at Selencia and
dying at the advanced age of ninety.
From this tradition we get most OF our
ideas of Pauls appearance-small,
bandylegged, large eyed, shaggy eye
brows. long nose; full of grace with
sometimes the face of 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.
u. In Lystra wv. s-2t. "a Popu-
larity wv. S-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, y. 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 ". 13) at the feet OF the men
whom God has used to work his
mighty works. 1t was common COM
plant that in the days of his greatest
victories, men could not find Mr..
Moody when a service was dismissed.
or get into his quarters at the hotels;
he would give no opportunity for self
gloriflcation. Paul and Barnabas had
hard work to restrain these hero wor-
shippers ". 14). and to convince them
who they were and how they had been
enabled to accomplish such 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" 1. e., such idol worship. unto
the living God" (see also Cor. 8:4;
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 If sacrilege. (2) Persecution
Tvs. 10, 20). The mob is ever tickle,
(ry k,,& q ~ 20
the living God" ". 15). Conversion
is the simple turning from idols IL
Thess. 1-9), rational thing, but ono
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 Iconians and those from
Antioch ". 19). God delivered him
from this trial Il Cor. 11:25, I'D. All
loyal witnesses must expect persecu.
ton from the God-hating world Gil
Tim. 3:12: John 15:18-2O).
III. The Return wv. 22-2s). 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 Paul's home in Tarsus. but they
visited their new converts.
Symbolically the cripple of Lystra
is a type of sin. (a) helpless. (b) born
In that condition (Psa. 51:5), (c) had
to be helped from without, by outside
power from. 5:O; I'D all could see
the change James 2:1s). This mir
acle wrought ca Praise from the PEG
pie, (b) Protestation on the part Of
Paul and Barnabas, (c) Persecution
a. a -