1 “Now THERE were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they had also John as their attendant. 6 And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus; which was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the Word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith. 9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, fastened his eyes on him, and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”
Golden Text.— “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.” Matt. 28:19.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) Who are specially mentioned as being in the church at Antioch? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) In what were they engaged at the time referred to in this lesson? What did the Holy Ghost say to them? Verse 2. Note 2. (3) How did the disciples respond to this command? Verse 3. (4) What is again stated as to who sent them? Which way did the missionaries then go? Verse 4. Note 3. (5) What was their first stopping-place on the island? What did they do there? Who accompanied Barnabas and Saul? Verse 5. (6) After passing through the island, to what place did they come? Whom did they meet there? Verse 6. (7) What position did this man occupy? What kind of man was Sergius Paulus? For whom did he call? and for what purpose? Verse 7. (8) What position did Elymas assume? Verse 8. Note 4. (9) How did Paul manifest a special attention to him? Verse 9. (10) What did Paul say to him? Verse 10. Note 5. (11) What affliction did Paul predict should fall upon the sorcerer? What was the immediate effect of his words? Verse 11. (12) What was the effect of the Gospel upon the proconsul, or deputy? Verse 12. Note 6.
Besides the notes, read the article of the same title as the lesson, in the fore part of paper.
NOTES.
1. Herod the tetrarch was Herod Antipas, who had imprisoned and put to death John the Baptist. Matt. 14: 1-12; Luke 3: 1.
2. “The Holy Ghost Said.”—This initial example shows that it is just as essential (where possible) that the missionary to some distant land be especially called of the Spirit, and set apart by prayer and formal dedication, as that the individual should be thus called and formally ordained to the ministry. The one who is thus set apart carries with him a sympathy and interest on the part of his brethren that can hardly attach to the one who simply goes forth on his own motion.
3. “Sent Forth by the Holy Ghost.”—Verse 3 says that “they,” the brethren, “sent them away,” but the Spirit which called them also sent them forth. Armed with the commission of the Holy Spirit, to which is added the benediction of prayer and fasting by consecrated brethren, the missionary may well go in the firm confidence of successful work. Cyprus was the native country of Barnabas, and he would naturally be interested in the work there.
4. Elymas is the Aramaic for magician, or sorcerer. It is not really a proper name.
5. Perversion of Right.—All evil is the perversion of good. Satan’s deceptions consist of imitations of God’s ways. False religion, false worship, false prophecy, false miracles, false Christs, the false sabbath (Sunday), false baptism, etc., are but base imitations of God’s institutions. Paul makes the general charge of all that is bad, but the specification is summed up in the one principle—perverting the right ways of the Lord.
6. The controversy was a battle royal between the Holy Spirit and the spirit of Satan, with the victory on the side of truth. Men may be deceived by the wiles of the enemy, but the Spirit of God never; for “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Heb. 4: 13.
