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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
September, 1936
INTERNATIONAL LESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division Golden Text Illustration Object Lesson B y B. B. S utcliffe B y B essie B. B urch B y H elen G ailey B y A lan S. P earce B y E lmer L. W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C l a in , Dean, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio
respond to the Word. Her heart, like that of every human being, had to be opened; and this the Lord did, so that she heard with understanding, accepted by faith what she heard, and- at once gave evidence that a mighty change had been wrought within her heart (v. 14). By being bap tized, she then acknowledged publicly the death to the old nature, and she recog nized the oneness of God’s people, con straining them to enter her home (v. 15), III. P aul ’ s O bject (Rom. 15:18-21). Paul could and did boast concerning what God had wrought through him among the Gentiles (v. 18). Some people thought that Paul was afraid to go to preach the gospel at Rome. Therefore he desired them to know that he was set apart as the apostle to the Gentiles and that as such he possessed that whereof he could boast “through Jesus Christ” (cf. vs. 15-17), for regardless o f what had been done through others, the Lord had certainly, wrought signs and wonders through Paul, which had led the Gentiles into obedience both by word and deed to the gospel. The Holy Spirit had wrought these signs and won ders through Paul (v. 19), thus enabling him to preach the gospel from Jerusalem to the far section “round about unto Illy- ricum.” That implied that Paul had visited and preached in Cilicia, Cappadocia, Lyca- onia, Pamphylia, Lycia, Pisidia, Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia, and elsewhere. And in ali o f these places he had “ fully preached the gospel.” Paul’s aim was to preach the gospel where it had not previously been preached. He wished to lay- the gospel foundations rather than to build upon the groundwork laid by some other man (v. 20). Hence he was reluctant to go to Rome where the gospel already had been given, lest he build on another’s foundation. Paul’s work fulfilled the prophets’ writ ings (cf. v. 21). Isaiah had declared that when Israel turned from the truth, God would provide that the truth would be given to another people. Paul was the instrument used to fulfill this prophecy—• he took the gospel to many Gentile places. Concerning the sovereign control of God there could be no complaint. Furthermore, Paul was careful to let the saints at Rome know that he was feady and glad to preach the gospel at Rome also, in order that he might have some fruit from among them and that he might be comforted in their mutual faith (cf. Rom. 1:9-16). Points and Problems 1. The passage in Acts 16:6-10 contains some valuable suggestions regarding the important matter o f divine guidance. The Apostle Paul did not sit down and expect thus to be guided. He knew that you can not guide a ship which is standing still. So he started out to do something, to preach the Word in Asia, but was “ forbid den of the Holy Ghost” to preach there. Halted in one direction, he promptly turn ed to another direction and was stopped
OCTOBER 4, 1936 THE MACEDONIAN CALL A cts 15:36 to 16:15; R omans 15:18-21
Paul heard was “ Come over into Mace donia, and help us,” which interpreted by Paul meant; “ Come over into Macedonia, and preach the gospel.” Assured that the mind of the Lord was his portion, Paul went forward with confidence that the work of the Lord would be accomplished. The gospel lyas Paul’s only equipment with which to answer that call for help, and indeed, Macedonia stood in need of nothing else. At that time Macedonia not only possessed an abundance of material riches and had a profound philosophy, but it led the world in the arts and sciences, and was the cehter of culture. With all of its possessions and cultural wealth, r however, Macedonia was poor and needy, helpless and hopeless, because it was with out the gospel. Paul’s obedience gave to Macedonia that which was most needed— the “good- news.” II. P aul ’ s O pportunity (Acts 16:11-15). Paul did not abide in the rural sections of Macedonia, but made his way directly to.the chief city, Philippi (vs. 11, 12). It was in Philippi that the first church in Europe was established," a church typical of all true churches. It began by the re ceiving of the simple preaching and teach ing o f the gospel, and it included in its membership people from differing locali ties and spheres o f life. There was the Asiatic seller of purple, a woman of ap parent wealth and culture; the Greek slave girl, ignorant and debased through the work o f the demons that had possessed her; and the Roman jailer, a brutal and wicked man. These the gospel reached and ' brought together for fellowship. Having abode “certain days” in the city, Paul and his companions went forth on the Sabbath day to a place by a river’s side where, as Luke expresses it, “We supposed there was a place o f prayer” (v. 13, R. V .). There they found a group of women to whom they immediately preach ed the gospel. Arqong these women was one named Lydia, a seller of purple, un doubtedly possessing considerable wealth and influence (v. 14). She was the first- ■ fruits of the gospel in that place. She had been prepared by the Lord to hear and BLACKBOARD LESSON
Lesson T ext: Acts 16:6-15; Rom. 15: 18-21. Golden T ext: “ Go ye therefore, and teach allnations” (Matt. 28:19). Outline and Exposition I. P aul ’ s O bedience (Acts 16:6-10). P aul had been chosen and called by the Lord -for missionary service among the Gentiles. Our lesson concerns his second missionary journey, during which he had gone through Phrygia and the province of Galatia* and would have preach ed in* Asia (v, 6). But it is not the con ditions that man sees that determine the place o f the missionary. The teeming mil lions of Asia certainly offered a promising •field fo r the gospel, and if the place for God’s servants were conditioned solely by the evident need, we might wonder why the Holy Spirit forbade Paul’s going there. But the need that is seen by human eyes is not the only consideration, and for His own unrevealed reasons the Spirit needed Paul elsewhere. And it .was well that Paul had the attitude of submission to the Spir it’s leading. Next Paul endeavored to go into Bithy- nia (v. 7), but again the Spirit “ suffered them not.” Once more, the visible need was not the only consideration. It has been said that as the Battle of Waterloo changed the’ face o f Europe in the days of Napoleon, so this leading of the Spirit changed the face of the world in the days of Paul, for by that Spirit the apostle was led to Troas and then to Philippi, thus es tablishing the gospel in Europe. W e may thank ■God for Paul’s obedience to the Spirit at that time, for our possession of the gospel today is due to Paul’s planting of the gospel then. At Troas a vision was given Paul (vs. 9, 10). The exact manner in which the Spirit forbade Paul’s entrance into Asia, and suffered him not to enter Bithynia, is not revealed, but at Troas Paul received a vision which directed his future course. W e cannot demand that the Holy Spirit ' employ the same methods of leading with us today as He used with Paul, nor can we demand that the Holy Spirit always use one particular mode with us. It was at Troas that Luke joined the apostle, and thence in company they went to Philippi. In the record to this point, Luke has used the pronouns “they” and “them,” but in the account following, the pronoun “we” (v. 10) is used. The cry [These lessons are developed from outlines prepared by the Committee on Improved Uniform Lessons of the Inter national Council. The outlines are copy righted, 1934, by the International Council o f Religious Education and used by per mission .—E ditor .]
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