Middletown transcript., 1921-07-30
LESSON FOR JULY 81
SAUL TEACHING AT ANTIOCH.

LESSON TEXT-Acts n:19-3O.
GOLDEN TEXT-A whoie year, they
| assembled themselves with the church
and taught much peopie.-Acts 11:26.
REFERENCE MATERIAL = Acts 5:4-
Tim. 2:5-7; II Tim. %.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Carrying Help t.
Jerusalem.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Saul Helping Others
in the Christian Life.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPi-
Entering Upon New Career.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
! "a Years Teaching in Antioch.
When God was about to launch the
missionary enterprise among the Gen
tiles, He arranged for new religious
center. Antioch was admirably
adapted for such center. The upper
classes were Greeks and used the
Greek language. The government
officials were Romans and used the
Latin tongue While the masses were
Syrians, sprinkled among them were
Jews who had come for commercial
purposes also travellers from all parts
Of the world were in evidence.
I. A Religious Awakening at Antioch
tvv. 19-2D.
l. The occasion ". 19a). The perSe'
cution at Jerusalem scattered the
disciples abroad. This God permitted
in order to separate them from The
home people at Jerusalem.
=. The preachers (v. 19a). They
were ordinary men and women, not
officials, but they were filled with the
yearning desire for lost souls and
witnessed of the Lord Jesus in the
power of the Holy Ghost.
3. What they preached wv. lob
2O. They preached the Word and
The Lord Jesus" All who preach the
Word will preach the Lord Jesus
| for He is its center. The real reason
| why there are not conversions toda!
the Word.
i. TO whom they preached wv. 70
| 2W, (l) Some OF these disciples
who were scattered because of per>e
| cution went among the Jews only Will
| the gospel message. They had moi
| yet come to see that the gospel
| purpose was wider than the Jews. (2)
| Some preached to the GrecianS also
These were from Africa and Cyprus
| They were further removed from the
I Jewish center, and therefore were 4
! little more liberal. The success OF
| their preaching was SO great that the
news of it reached Jerusalem. the
mother church.
| u. Barnabas Sent to inspect ths
Work at Antioch wv. 22-24).
This was a wise selection.
l. The character Of s. -rnabaS "
| 24). He was d good man. 1t is
| highly important in sending Il mar
to follow up work Of the Spirit thai
his character be good He not only mus
be of an unblemished character. bu,
his sympathies must be broad. He
must be capalle Of entering into full
! appreciation Of the things about him
Much mischief often results from
| IIlCh " Iooh .tItSi
the Lords work He was full of the
| Holy Spirit. This is an eSSentia
qualification for pastoral work. Only
| Spirt-filled man can appreciate the
workings of the Spirit of God. He
was also man Of great faith.
> Work done by Barnabas (v. o3)
He gladly endorsed the work ant
| earnestly exhOrted them to st2adfastll
continue in the faith, clinging unto
| the Lord. There are many allurements
| to tempt young CHRISTIANS. The re
| 1oicing Of BarnabaS shows that he
was man who could rejoice in the
work of others. He did more than
inspect the work; for many people
were added unto the Lord. Doubt
less he preached.
III. Barnabas Brings Saul wv. %
a6).
The work grew to such an extent
that help was needed. Barnabas had
the good jugment to seek Saul fol
| this important work. BarnabaS knew
that the bringing of Saul would mean
| his taking a secondary place. 1t is
| the duty of Christian leaders to seek
out men who are qualified for the
Lords work and bring them from theil
places Of obscurity, setting them to
+ work in the Lords vineyard. There
are many men in nbscurity which $!
requires Barnabas to bring forth.
w. The Disciples First Called cnris,
| tians (v. 2Gb).
They were not called Christians in
derision. as is SO often asserted. II
was a consequence of Saul and Rarna-
bas teaching there for il year that
they were called Christians Tie name
was consequence of the teaching Iii
| all Saurs teaching he showed the
unique relation which the Christian
sustains TO Christ. Since the body
closely resembles its head, Christ. they
We're called Christians.
v. The Church at Antioch Sends Re.
lief to Jerusalem wv. 27-3W.
The Holy Spirit through Agabus
made known a great dearth through.
| out the world. This came to pass in
tho 1ayS of (,1audjuS Cesar Eyary