T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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THEME—A New Christian Center. OUTLINE 1. Antioch Awakened, vs. 19-21. 2. Arrival of Barnabas, vs. 22-23. 3.
Associating Saul Persecution brings praise to God. The enemies of the truth thought to stop the progress of the Gospel, but they really were the means of its wider dissemin ation. They reasoned that if they cut down the stalks they would kill the seed, but the grain was scattered and brought forth a great harvest. Satan’s purpose in scattering the church is found in 4:16,17. “ Saying, w hat shall we do to these men? for th at Indeed; a notable miracle hath been done by them Is manifest to all them that dwell at Jerusalem; and we cannot deny It. But th at It spread no further among the people, let us stralghtly threaten them that they speak henceforth to no man In this name.” But God had a purpose in permitting it. ( 1 : 8 ) “ But ye shall receive power after th at the Holy Ghost Is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and In Judea, and In Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The disciples themselves did not un derstand the plan of the Lord. They would have confined their ministry to their own nation. God makes the wrath of man to praise Him. God made,the wicked ways of Joseph’s brethren to work out blessings for both themselves and for Egypt. Pha raoh’s wrath brought glory to God. Nebuchadnezzar furnaced the Hebrew children, but God made the furnace fur nish glory for His name. ■ So here the malice of the Jews is made to minister mercy to the Gentiles. God sent to this wealthy, populous city which was a center of Social and com mercial power, a few humble, disciples, laymen, “day-laborers” for the Lord. Unordained by man—no apostolic hands had been laid on them—but the hand of God was with them (Luke 11:20). ’’But If I w ith the finger of God cast out devils, ho doubt the Kingdom of God Is come upon you.” Many believed and turned to God. (1 Thess. 1:9,10) “ For they themselves shew of us what Greeks. Some persecuted believers found refuge in the city and preached the word unto both Jews and Greeks.
LESSON - EXPOSITION T. C. Horton
in the Work, vs. 24-
26; 12:25.
4. Assisting the Poor, vs. 27-30.
INTRODUCTION ■We now come to the third great center of religious activity as recorded in the book of Acts. Note the comparison between the syn optic Gospels and Acts. Matthew,—the Jewish Gospel, with Jerusalem as the center,—corresponds to the first period of Acts which deals largely with Pente cost and the Jerusalem church. Mark is the Gospel of activities and finds its counterpart in the Samaritan section of Acts. Luke is the Gospel for the Gentiles and gives us the picture of the broadening sympathies of Christ as found in the par ables of the Good Samaritan, the Lost Sheep, the Prodigal, etc., and agrees with the portion of Acts which we are study ing. WORDS AND PHRASES FOR STUDY Preaching the Word. Hand of the Lord. Believed., Turned. Ears of the Church. Grace of God. Purpose e.f Heart. Cleave unto the Lord. Good man. Added unto the Lord. Christian. Signified by the Spirit. According to his' ability. The lesson pivots on the 21st verse, “The hand of the Lord was upon them.” 1. ANTIOCH AWAKENED, vs. 19-21. “A great number believed on the Lord.” Antioch was the capital city of the Greek kingdom of Syria. The builder of this city was Seleucus who named it for his father, Antiochus—one of thé great generals of Alexander. A large population of Jews had been gathered there, attracted by the concessions granted to them by Seleucus, who gave them equal political privileges with the
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