The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 1, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 13.

The Sunday School

International Series.

Lesson III.—Sunday, April 18, 1897.

GENTILES CONVERTED AT ANTIOCH.

Note.—In this lesson we are taken back to the dispersion of the disciples from Jerusalem, in order that we may follow the growth of the church along another line. Great success had attended the preaching of the word at Samaria, Joppa, Lydda, and Caesarea. We now follow their course up the coast of the Mediterranean to what is now Beyrut, Antioch, Cyprus, Cilicia, and to Cyrene. Antioch now becomes the great center for missionary work among the Gentiles. In the growth of the church we have noticed: the gift of the Holy Spirit enabling all nations to hear the Gospel in their own languages; the conversion of Grecian Jews to Christianity; the martyrdom of Stephen, a Grecian Jew; the conversion of Saul; the spread of the Gospel by means of persecution; the Ethiopian converted; Cornelius converted; and the Gentile church founded at Antioch. Claudius Caesar was emperor of Rome at this time, having succeeded Caligula, who was assassinated A.D. 41, and Herod Agrippa was king over Judea and Samaria.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 11:19-26, R. V.

19 “They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord. 22 And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem; and 23 they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch; who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; and much people was added unto the Lord. 25 And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul; and when he 26 had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

Golden Text.—“Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Acts 11:18.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) To what other places did those go who were scattered abroad by the early persecution? Verse 19, first part. Note 1. (2) To whom did they preach the Gospel? Ib., last part. Note 2. (3) By whom was the Gospel preached to the Grecians at Antioch? Verse 20. (4) What powerful assistance was given them in their work? Verse 21, first part. (5) What success attended their work? Ib., last clause. (6) To what place did the reports of this work go? Verse 22, first part. Note 3. (7) What was done by the church at Jerusalem in consequence? Ib., last part. (8) How was he affected by what he saw at Antioch? Verse 23, first part. (9) How did he begin his work among them? Ib., last part. Note 4. (10) What is said of his character? Verse 24, first part. Note 5. (11) In consequence of this characteristic in Barnabas, what success crowned his efforts? Ib., last clause. (12) Where did Barnabas go and for what purpose? Verse 25. Note 6. (13) Having found him, what did they do? Verse 26, first part. (14) How long did they continue to work together in this place? Ib., second part. Note 7. (15) Where did the name “Christian” originate? Ib., last clause. Note 8.

NOTES.

1. Phenicia, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.—Phenicia was a part of the Mediterranean coast lying between the sea and the mountains of Lebanon. Cyprus is a large island in the Mediterranean lying about 60 miles from the coast of Palestine. Antioch was the most northern large city on the east coast of the Mediterranean. It is situated on the Orontes River, about sixteen miles from the sea. In A.D. 347 it contained a population of 200,000, exclusive of children and slaves, and Chrysostom states that at this time more than one-half of them were Christians. It had water-works, baths, and fountains, and at night the streets were lighted with public lamps. The situation of the place seems to have been a good one for missionary operations. Its population was made up of all races and languages, and being one of the leading cities of the world at that time, it came to be a popular resort for travelers from all over the Roman Empire.

2. Preaching the word to . . . Jews only.—This was accounted for by the feelings and customs of the Jewish Christians at the time of the dispersion from Jerusalem. They had not begun to realize the full import of Christ’s teaching as recorded in Acts 1:8, that their message was to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. The church at Jerusalem was awakened to this fact by the work which was done in Samaria.

3. The church in Jerusalem was prepared for the reports which came to them from their missionaries in the north. The report of Peter and John bearing witness to the fact that the Holy Ghost had been given to the Gentiles in Samaria, made the fact of a similar acceptance of the Gentiles in Antioch easier for them to understand. The glorious river of the truth of salvation had broken through its man-made boundaries and was flowing out to all nations and all peoples.

4. Cleave unto the Lord.—Barnabas had discovered the strong tower of man’s safety. The secret of the Christian’s strength is to be in close, personal communion with the Lord, in order that we may be connected with the power of the Lord, and that that power may work in us, for us, and through us.

5. For he was a good man.—This had been shown in the way in which he strengthened the early church by his encouragement and his financial assistance. Paul and Barnabas were unlike in many ways, but each was liberal enough, broad-minded enough, and Christian enough to see the good in the other, even tho they worked along different lines for the accomplishment of the same purpose. They lived what they professed, and their lives were a continual sermon which no argument could gainsay.

6. Then departed Barnabas . . . to seek Saul.—The church had grown so rapidly, and Barnabas, realizing his need of counsel and assistance in view of the different elements of which the church was composed, unites Paul with his work. That Barnabas realized his need of assistance shows his fitness for the work.

7. A whole year.—It would seem that these two men of God realized the need of making this church an especially strong one. It had a commanding position in the world. As a base of operations, there must be no discord in it. The influence from this church would be widespread, and they realized the importance of having that influence just what God would have it, and of planting the truth firmly at Antioch.

8. And they were called Christians.—They were not Jews according to the prevalent acceptation of that term, neither were they Gentiles; but as one born and living in Greece is a Grecian, so one born into and living in Christ is a Christian.