Evening star., 1925-06-27
Sunday School Lesson

wide evangelistic campaign in Sa
maria. which was composed OF
mixed population. who were won In
great numbers for Christ and His
church. From that work. under the
leadership of the Holy Spirit. he was
guided to the desert. where he met
the treasurer of Ethiopia, whom He
won for Christ and baptized. Wher.
ever the disciples went they carried
the seeds of the gospel. 50 that the
persecution resulted in spreading the
gospel.
During the trial Of persecution the
apostles tarried at Jerusalem. undfs-
turbed by the authorities. and waited
for the return of their Lord When
the followers of Christ again enjoyed
peace, Peter joins the pioneers as a
result of his pastoral visits to LYDIA
and Joppa. He was directed by a
vision to Caesarea. where he recos-
niZed, through the evidence OF the
Holy Spirits presence: that God was
no respectOr of persons. which truth
Is the basis of our democracy. Peter
baptized Cornelius and the friends
assembled in his home to worship
God, tarried with them for season,
and, upon his return to Jerusalem,
defended his part In the expansion
of the church.
some of the Hellenistic Jews Gentle
church was esta blished in Antioch
that was destined to assume the lead
ership in future missionary develop
ments OF Christia nifty. Ceremonial dis
tinctfons were forgotten, they appear
to have fallen away themselves IL
IL difiicult for us to understand what
revolution that was. Christianity
had taken a powerful hold upon the
hearts Of these unknown Jewish
pioneers, since they were able TO
break, at once and without pain. with
all the strongest and dearest tradi-
tions of their nation and their own
lives.
Christians Encouraged.
Barnabas was chosen by the Jeru-
salem church to investigate the con-
ditions reported 10 them concerning
the new adventure In Antioch. Their
choice indicatNthat they had travel
ed far from the early conceptions of
Christia nifty as a Jewish sect. His
spiritual nature and sympathic dis
position quickly recognized and pro
vided the assistance needed Ia train
the recently esta blished Gentle church
in the ways Of Christ. He secured
AZ his helper saul. whom he had he
friended and vouched for 10 the
brethren when he was presented 10
the apostles as one of their number.
the one who had left Jerusalem de
termined to destroy all the Christia ms
that he could find In ancient
Damascus.
They developed the Gentiles in Civ
Ing so that at a period of famine and
want they brought gifts to Jerusalem
when the church faced new danger
through Herod unsheathin9 his sword
in an effort to curry favor with the
ecclesiastic leaders, who he saw were
hostile to the new faith. He started
with the execution OF James and was
planning to put Peter away after
passover. In their trial they sough,
help through prayer from the risen
Lord. whose power had given them
victory over the religious prosecutions
His leadership had enabled them &c
burst the bonds of Judaism and estab
lish q church among the 0entiles. The
miraculous escape of Peter proves tina
He will not allow any political power
to interfere with the progress of His
kingdom.
The assurance OF Christ's continu
Gus presence and power encourages Us
to follow the footsteps Of the pioneers
of our faith. We will grow as we
carry out the principles of service
stewardship and spiritual fellowship
expressed in their brotherhood BY
generous giving for the glory of Christ
and the welfare of their brethren
After 19 centuries men are still talk
ing of the coming OF the kingdom OF
God that awaits our obedience ia
Christs comma nda