Evening star., 1921-08-20
Sunday School Lesson

question of using Mark in their mis-
sionary work, as they were about to
visit the churches they had estab-
lished during their first missionary
journey. One has to read between the
Lines 20 see the "paroxysm" that
marked the clash between the two
| apostles that put asunder these
two outstanding figures in the mis-
| church. 1t probably grew out of the
differences that Paul speaks of IN
Galatians. concerning the social re-
lations which did not come up at the
Jerusalem conference, but was raised
when the representatives from James
appeared in Antioch and protested
| against the application that Paul had
made Of the decision in favor of a
, spiritual religion against legal farm.
! He emphasized Christian liberty and
protested against ceremonial bandoge
when Peter and even Barnabas" took
sides for time against Paul who
probably blamed the influence of
Mark for the stand taken by Barna-
bas. The Scripture is silent upon the
subject. but there would never hay.
been such a sharp contention over
MARK except that Paul saw in him an
apostate. who would not sympathiZ.
with him concerning the work among
1 the Gentiles.
4 oiAooA hdS the lUtoFN
! that the differences grew out of the
! leadership that Paul had become so
accustomed to exercise that Barnabas
independence and insistence that
Mark should go along gave him a jolt.
| 1t may even be that Barnabas, after
| finding himself once more in the old
place of high consideration at Jerusa-
lem was beginning to feel his sec
ondary position at Antioch. and re-
! sented Paurs determination to have
q 4 s.xl,4 Ia ola -
| that it was unjust to Mark TO turn
him down for one mistake. but Paul
! refused to listen to the continued in
| ststtng of Barnabas believing that he
was influenced more by his feelings
| than his Judgment. They separated.
Barnabas taking Mark and going to
Cyprus. while Paul selected Silas. who
| was Hellenistic Jew and also a Ro-
| man citizen, to take the place of Bar
nabas, whom he loved. His departure
must have given Paul keen pang.
| for he remembered his Indebtedness
to him. We part with him for "his-
| tory marches with Paul" and is silent
concerning the career of Barnabas.
who declined to start with the fore
! most spirit Of his time upon the sec
on missionary tour.
The sympathy of the Antioch
church was apparently with Paul and
| Silas. or Silvanus. who had made a
good impression upon them as a
4
ciliation sent by the Jerusalem
| church when they commenced their
new campaign of missionary work
among the Gentiles. Silas had the
ally at his task. in spite of all
difficulties. He shared Paul's views
and, through the distinguished posi-
ton that he held in the church at
Jerusalem, he gave Paul touch with
the Jerusalem church which was in
valuable during the trying days
when the apostles spirit was being
| tried by a repetition of the attempts
to confirm all the Christian churches
into sect of Judaism. He con-
frmed Paurs claims that his apostle
ship to the Gentiles had the approval.
OF the Jerusalem authorities and he
could attest that they had approved
his championship of intellectual and
4 Having won his battle by con-
tending that I'VE are saved through
the grace of the Lord Jesus and JUS
titled through personal faith in
Charta OF ecclesiastical liberty that
gave him message to men of every
nation. This. supplemented by his
personal fitness through his Jewish
relationship. Grecian culture and
Roman citizenship and missionary
Tets 60" 1t was worth considera-
!, BILE to Paul that he had the spiritual
support of the Antioch church and
the cooperation of Silas in his de-
that he had started in Syria, Cilicia
. and Galatia in the precepts and
principles of Christian liberty and
Christian concession: as defined by
the Jerusalem council.
After a toilsome and triumphant
journey. Paul and Silas. possibly at
tended also by Titus reached Derbe,
Lystra and IconIum. In Lycaonia the
apostle found Timothy who was well
spoken of by the brethren in two Of
the neighboring churches. He had
been attracted to the lad. who was
evidently a convert of his former
mission, and who may have minis
,, tered unto Paul when he was stoned
father. Timothy had been well
trained by his Jewish mother and
grandmother in the Scriptures. He
possessed the character. culture and
capabilities that would make him a
success in missionary work, SO Paul
called him to assist. This. added to
, the company young man, whom
Paul had trained and loved as his
combined with diplomatic spirit. en-
!, abled him to carry out successfully
: any delicate or important mission.
. Paul recommended and Timothy al.
. lowed him to perform the rite of
circumcision, SO that he might have
, an approach to unchristian Jews and
avoid any contention. With the addi-
, tion Of Timothy to his party, Paul
continued to strengthen the churches
. in their faith. and as a result there
was an increase in the number of
new members daily to the churches
of those who professed to be saved
through their personal faith in
Christ Jesus. He was now prepared
to carry out his program of winning
the world for Christ by capturing
the strategic centers of population,
by his gospel of salvation through
grace, for the Master.