Evening star., 1921-08-13
Sunday School Lesson

i, other than their local deities, whom
they thought had visited their city.
The sincerity of the people and the
priests can be seen in the way they
prepared to honor the apostles, as
Jupiter and Mercury. by appro-
pirate religious sacrifices. Medical
missionaries have received worship
full devotion for the cures attending
their medical and surgical work.
success to the glory of the Lord Jesus
Christ. who is still the great Healer
of all our diseases. The two mis-
sionaries protested against such
honors being paid to them. They
pointed out that they We're only ordi-
nary men and that il was their mis-
sion to turn men from an empty be-
lief to a true faith. Paul found In
their natural religion point of con-
tact that he used in teaching them
the truth concerning God. He used
nature to testify as witness by its
fertility-"filling your heart with
food and gladness"-to the loving
care of God. Modern missionaries
points of contact by which they
preach unto them the gospel of
Christ
Popularity is tickle. 1t changed
quickly upon their refusal OF honor
into a persecution by a mob. Enc
mics, who had followed them. took
advantage of the opportunity pre-
sented by their refusing popular wor-
ship to turn the tide of popular opin-
ion against the apostles, so that they
stoned Paul, leaving his body. outside
the city gates, believing him to be
dead. Paul never forgot that night.
1t recalled to him the stoning OF
Stephen and the part he had played
in that event 1t stood out in his
memory, possibly because of its fnf1u-
~ F1a.A
tive of Lystra and was won Tor the
Lords service through PauFs labor.
Some hold that the mob actually
killed him and dragged his body out
side of the gate as being unht Tor,
burial. They believe that God miracu-
answer to the prayers of barnaoas
and the disciples, whom they had won
in that city for the Lord Jesus. They
consider that it was at this time that
he experieEced the raptures OF the
third heaven. When the few loyal be-
levers who had been won for the
Master gathered around his fallen
form. they evidently were filled with
great joy when he was reused 10
from what appeared death. He
city, where the brethren ministeredi !
unto him. The next day, with tenac-
ity of purpose, Paul set out with
Barnabas for Derbe, which was the
home OF GaluS, a future IrtenQ ana
fellow traveller of Paul. Although no
special mention is made of any one
event. God crowned their work there
with success. They evangelical the
city and won many for Christ Jesus. +
After a seasons successful effort
Paul determined to revisit the scenes
of his persecution and peril. In this
action he revealed his pastoral heart
and heroic spirit. He desired not
only to confirm the brethren in the,
faith but also to see that the churches
were thoroughly organized under,
trained leaders. so that they could do
effective work in advancing the king,
dom of God. Retracing his steps, he
found that in the places where ha
had preached the evidence Of the
power of the Holy Spirit, who had in
the apostles absence sustained and
strengthened the bands of disciples,
whom he had won for the Lord. He
organized these brotherhoods by havs
ing them select their own leaders
under ,his supervision. He trained
these men and committed to them the
care of the churches after a season
, of prayer and fasting with the entire
membership for the success of their
spiritual leadership of the flock of
God, as His under shepherd. Return
| ing to Antioch, the faithful and heroic
missionaries assembled the whole
church and reported to them what
| God had accomplished by their mis-
sion and ministry. as an evidence that
He had opened the door to the Gen.
tiles and approved OF their labor.