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 they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch: 23 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; 26 and when he 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. 27 Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius. 29 And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea: 30 which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”
Golden Text.— “The hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” Verse 21.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What was the experience of the church at Jerusalem in connection with the death of Stephen? To what extent were they scattered? Verse 19. Note 1. (2) To whom did some of them speak especially at Antioch? Verse 20. Note 2. (3) What was the result of this work? Verse 21. (4) When the brethren at Jerusalem heard of the good work, what did they do? Verse 22. (5) When he found what the Lord was doing in Antioch, how was he affected? What exhortation did he give? Verse 23. (6) What is said of the character of Barnabas? What was the result of his labors? Verse 24. Note 3. (7) By what means did he seek help in his work? Verse 25. Note 4. (8) What is said of the united labors of Paul and Barnabas? What name was first given to the disciples at Antioch? Verse 26. Note 5. (9) What other laborers came from Jerusalem to Antioch? Verse 27. (10) What was the name of one of these prophets? Of what did he specially prophesy? Did this come to pass? Verse 28. Note 6. (11) How did the disciples show that they believed this prophecy? Note 7. (12) By whom did they send their donation to Judea? Verse 30.
Besides the notes, read the article of the same title as the lesson, in the first part of paper.
NOTES.
1. Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, sixty miles from the more northern coast of Palestine. It was the first objective point in the first missionary tour of Barnabas and Paul. Antioch was the then capital of Syria. It was on the Orontes River, 300 miles north of Jerusalem, and 16 miles from the sea. The population at that time, according to Gibbon, was half a million, and quite cosmopolitan, embracing all nationalities and all conditions of men.
2. “Men of Cyprus and Cyrene” (in the northern part of Africa) were among the Christians who found their way to Antioch, and these were the first to speak of the Gospel there to any but Jews. This was not less than seven or eight years after the Lord had given the commission to preach the Gospel to all nations; it was even after Peter’s experience at the house of Cornelius in Cesarea. Yet the Christian Jews, with rare exceptions, had no burden for the salvation of any but their own race.
3. Barnabas.—It was a wise decision to send such a man as Barnabas to Antioch. He had demonstrated his faith by his sacrifice for the cause (Acts 4:36, 37), and by his firm adherence to the truth during the persecution in Jerusalem. And he needed the experience of being brought in contact with the actual work of the Lord among the Gentiles; for he was designed as an apostle to the Gentiles. Moreover, he was “of the country of Cyprus,” which was intimately connected in trade with Antioch.
4. Tarsus had been Paul’s headquarters (being his native city) ever since his flight from Jerusalem several years before (Acts 9:26-30). But the brethren had heard of his work (Gal. 1:21-24).
5. “A whole year” was spent by Barnabas and Paul in establishing this important church. It was composed of persons of all classes, and their natural differences and national and social prejudices must needs be harmonized. Naturally much teaching would be required in order to bring them into a spirit of unity in the Gospel. The church was a large one, for they “taught much people.” Such a charge required not only the goodness and faith of a Barnabas, but the wide discernment, aptness, activity, and erudition of a Paul.
6. The prophecy of Agabus was fulfilled. During the reign of Claudius there were famines in all the then known world, but not in all parts at once. The first region afflicted was Palestine. The prophet Agabus is again mentioned in Acts 21:10, 11.
LESSON 6.—MAY 10.—FAITH IS THE VICTORY.
NOTE.—This series of lessons is entitled, “Studies on the Gospel Message.” For Introduction and excellent suggestions as to their study, we refer the student to the Lesson Quarterly.
INASMUCH as the Word of God is the Seed, it follows that whatever is promised by the Word of God is contained in the promise itself. Faith is the act by which we obtain from the Word of God, as a present reality, the benefit of what has not yet been manifested to physical sight. Heb. 11:1, R.V. This is the only basis upon which we can deal acceptably with God. Heb. 11:6. Faith must always deal with the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), regarding the performance as certainly involved in the promise (Rom. 4:20, 21). Thus faith in the promised Seed (Gen. 3:15), whose name was to be called Immanuel, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23), who was the manifested power and wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24), brought humanity the present experience of the blessings of the Gospel. The Seed, which was Christ or the Messiah (Gal. 3:16), the life of all that lives (John 14:6), was given in the promise of the Seed (Gen. 3:15). In this gift of the Seed of all things was contained germinally the gift of all things, visible and invisible. Col. 1:16, R.V. But the possession of these things depended wholly upon a living faith in the promised Seed. As soon as faith in the word of promise as the Seed, and as containing in itself the things promised, was exchanged for a fleshly confidence in that which is merely outward and visible, the power of the promise was no longer experienced. Even the visible things—the land, the temple, the service—already revealed through faith in the promise, were lost. This is the summary of the experience of God's people during the long centuries of the preparation, and before “the fulness of the time was come.” Gal. 4:4. It was the dealing of men with the unseen things of the kingdom, through their faith in the Word of God, which made possible the experiences recorded in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Abraham's test was to reveal whether his faith rested in the flesh of Isaac as the fulfilled promise of a son in whom the Seed should be called, or whether he still rested only upon the power of the word of promise. Heb. 11:17-19.
All these men of faith believed in the coming kingdom, and lived and died in that faith, altho not yet receiving the kingdom outside of the promise. Verse 13. But this very faith brought to them the power of the kingdom, “the powers of the world to come” (Heb. 6:5), and made the invisible kingdom a reality to them (Luke 17:20, 21). As righteousness is the scepter of the power of the kingdom (Heb. 1:8), believers in the promised Seed as the hope of the restored kingdom shared in the restoring power to save them from sin, and thus became righteous through their faith.
QUESTIONS.
What is contained in every promise of God? Why is this?
What does the Scripture declare faith to be? What present experience results from the proving of things not seen?
Is there any other basis for an acceptable experience with God?
What must be the basis of any genuine faith? What does faith see in a promise of God?
What was the promised Seed afterward declared to be?
How did these blessings become a present reality as soon as the Seed was promised?
What was really given in the promise of the Seed?
In what way could the benefit of this gift be realized?
How may the experience of God's people with His promises before the manifestation of Christ in the flesh be briefly stated?
Of what is the eleventh chapter of Hebrews the record?
What was the supreme test of Abraham's faith?
What brings the experience of the kingdom of God within?
Upon what definite promise must the faith lay hold which results in righteousness?
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Not Saved by Keeping the Law
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The Bible as a Complete Creed
The man who writes, or prints, his creed in a book containing anything less than the whole Bible, ignores more or less profitable doctrine, and sets for himself a goal short of perfection, short of a thorough furnishing for good work. If he intends, after prescribing his creed, honestly to pursue the search for truth, he will need addenda comprising all that has been omitted of the inspired Word. For “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
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Faith and Hope
Faith rests on the word of a personal God, whether that word be promise or precept. Hope rests on God’s promise. Faith makes the reality present. Hope makes the promise fruitful. In that soon-coming day, faith will be lost in sight, and hope in glad fruition.
Faith Is Not Emotion
Faith is not emotion, not ecstasy, not feeling. It is simple trust or dependence on the word of God. But not on His word as a book, but as His word, the word of the personal Father.
Fear God and Give Him Glory
There is but one Being in all this universe whose greatness entitles Him to be feared, and that is God. “Fear God, and give glory to Him.” There is but one Being worthy of our all-absorbing love, and that is the same God, the God who “is love.”
