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The Sabbath School

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 18, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 45.

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The Sabbath School

International Series.

LESSON X.—SABBATH, DECEMBER 4, 1897.

HEROD'S DEATH; ORDINATION OF BARNABAS AND SAUL.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 12:20 to 13:13, R. V.
20 "Now He was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon; and they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king's country. 21 And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people shouted, saying, The voice of a god, and not of 23 a man. And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 "But the Word of God grew and multiplied. 25 "And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministration, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
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 2 of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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 5 Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 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 7 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 8 Word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the pro- 9 consul from the faith. But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled 10 with the Holy Ghost, fastened his eyes on him, and said, O full of all guile and all villainy, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the 11 right ways of the Lord? 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. 13 "Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.

QUESTIONS.

  1. Relate the story of Peter's imprisonment and escape.
  2. Tell what became of his persecutor.
  3. But what about the Word of God?
  4. What charge had Barnabas and Saul received?
  5. To what place had they been sent, and where did they return?
  6. What workers were there in the church at Antioch?
  7. How did they employ their time? As they were thus engaged, who spoke to them? What did he say to them?
  8. What did the brethren then do?
  9. As Saul and Barnabas departed, by whom were they sent? To what place did they first go? From there where did they sail?
  10. At what place did they land in that island? How and where did they labor in the city? Who was their helper?
  11. To what place did they next proceed? Whom did they find there? What was his character?
  12. To whom had this man attached himself? What was the character of the governor of the island? With what favor did he receive the apostles and their preaching?
  13. What did the false prophet do?
  14. What did Saul then do? What name is here for the first time given him?
  15. How did he address the sorcerer? What question did he ask him?
  16. What did Paul say was upon him? What did he say should happen to him? How came Paul to use this language? What immediately happened to Elymas?
  17. What effect had this on the deputy?
  18. Where did Paul and his company then go? What became of Mark?

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. What portion of this lesson is an illustration of Isa. 40:6-8?
  2. In what capacity is the Word considered in this statement, "the Word of God multiplied"? Consider Matt. 13:3-8, 18-23.
  3. Who was recognized as the leader in the early church?
  4. By what may a false prophet always be recognized? Give some Scripture texts on this subject.