Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-05-10

Memory verses, -, to--Sotoen ieSt,
Acts xiii, 47-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
When they crossed over to the main
land from Cyprus John left them and
returned TO Jerusalem Verse 49,. We
are not told why, but it made trouble
later even between such friends as
Barnabas and Paul chapter XIV, 36-4Ol.
1t is a relief to read in what was prob
ably Paul's last letter, Take Mark
and bring him with thee, for he is
profitable to me for the ministry Oh
Tim. iv, III. John Mark, having left
them, Paul and Barnabas kept On their
way to Antioch. in Pisidia, and our
lesson today is Paurs sabbath day talk
in the synagogue there. which was fol-
lowed the next Sabbath by a talk TO
very large company of gentiles. 1t is
said that almost the whole city came
together % hear the word of God
verse Az. The Jews, seeing Paul get
the crowd that next Sunday, were fill
ed with e.ivy and contradicted Paufs
teaching and blasphemed. Then the
apostle said boldly. Seeing you put II
from you. We turn to the gentiles.'
And he quoted a prophecy concerning
the final gathering Of the gentiles to
the Lord at His coming and kingdom
lisa. xiii, 9; Xix, g, for, as one has
said, prophecy has many germinant
accomplishment throughout the ages,
while the complete fulfillment is yet in
the future.
As the gentiles heard the glad It'd
ings many believed. and the word of
the Lord was published throughout all
that region oversees 45-49l. The express
sion, '.as many as were ordained TO
eternal life believed verse 49,, Is an
other way OF saying "All that the Ia
Their giveth me shall come to me" John
vi, 80. This is not the age Of winning
the world to Christ. but OF gathering
out from the world those whom the
Father has given to the Son to be His
bride All should hear the offer of sal
walton. and whatsoever will may re-
ceive Him, but He knows who will
come The adversary became so stir
red by Christ being thus exalted that
the Jews and chief men and devout
and honorable women prosecuted Paul
and Barnabas and expelled them out
Of their coasts. Therefore they de-
parted and came INTO Iconium, but the
disciples were filed with joy and with
the Holy Ghost. The word Of the Lord
win always accomplish His pleasure
and never return to Him void. but to
IL tx-fN hrsx Il 10 oil
death lisa. ". IL: ii Cor.s ii, is, 49,
We will give the rest Of our time to
a consideration Of some things in this
great sermon of Pauls at Antioch.
and we notice first that four times he
speaks of the resurrection oof Christ
verses o. 30, 33. 81. the all impor-
tant truth Of the gospel. quoting from
Ps. ii and xvi and lsa- lv concerning
It and referring to the sure rnefcies of
David, which David himself called an
everlasting covenant ordered In all
things and sure I'll Sam. xiii 81. All
failure Is ours, but God is faithful.
and His purposes cannot fail. David
In his last hours felt that he had come
far short, but he rested all on the
faithfuIness sof God and Has sure. ever
lasting covenant. We s&w In our re-
cent study in il Cor. XIV the importance
Of the resurrection of Christ. and IN
Him, the risen. living one. shall every
premise to Abraham and David be full
flied Matt i. L; Rev. xii 10.
Speaking to Jews Paul always called
their attention 10 Gods purpose con
corning Israel and on this occasion he
began with their delivennce from
Egypt and followed on through the
wilderness. the times Of the judges
and the reign of the first two kings.
Saul and David. And that brought
him TO the promise to David concern
to the assertion that this Jesus whs
had been crucifed BY the Jews. but
raised from the dead by God the Fa-
Their, was indeed the Messiah Of Israel
He referred to John the Baptist's tes-
timony concerning Him as the Mes
siah who had fulfilled all that the
prophets had said concerning His suf
ferings and that He would as truly
fulfil In due time all that had been
predicted concerning His Kingdom ana
glory oversees l6-37. Since their Mes
siah had actually come and been re-
tected what could now be done? Was
there any hope for any one? Then he
proclaimed through Jesus Christ the
forgiveness Of sins for all who would
receive Him as the crucified and risen
one. assuring them that He would
come again to restore all things Of
which the prophets had spoken. be
light to all nations through Israel and
bring salvation to the ends Of the
earth oversees IS. 80. Al.
The Jews would naturally be stirred
to enmity and wrath by the accusation
that they were guilty of the rejection
of their Messiah. and the gentiies
Il IL a