T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S church. The basic work of Christianity is to bring men into communion with Christ.—Haldeman. v. 25. Barnabas seek Saul. That he was a .good man is shown in the fact that he would take so much pains to bring an active, useful man out of obscurity. It was he that introduced Saul to the disci ples at Jerusalem when they were shy of him, and it was he that brought him out of the corner into which he was driven, into a more public station.— Henry. v. 26. First called Christians in An tioch. It cannot be ascertained who assigned them this name. Hardly the disciples themselves for whom such ti tles as “brethren,” “saints” etc. were enough, nor the Jews, who would not have admitted what the name seem ed to imply—that Christ was the Mes siah. More likely the Romans or Greeks. It may have been given simply as a title of distinction derived from the watch word of their faith.—Weizsacker. Even the name might have originally been given as a mark of dishonor, but it is now a badge of glorious renown for all who wear it, the name of Christ being the highest either in heaven or on earth.—Sel. The name is used exclu sively by outsiders, as seen in the case of Agrippa, also 1 Pet. 4:16. Jews and Gentiles alike were called by this name, so it bears testimony to the oneness of Jew and Gentile in Christ.—Gaebelein. It means primarily Christ-ones. It was not a mere nickname. The Holy Spirit would not draw attention to the epithets of a jeering crowd and let it pass down the centuries as the accredited name (See Acts 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). It is significant that the Christian creed is in the name. It emphasizes the deity of Christ. We are not “Jesuits” but Christ- 'ians. The first part, “Christ,” meaning “Anointed,” is Greek. The thought of the word, “Messiah,” is Hebrew. The ending “ian,” is Latin. The very name emphasizes the universality of the Gos pel.—S. & W. They assembled themsel ves. As co-pastors for the time being, of the church there, they, so labored that the Gospel, even in that great and many-sided community, achieved for it self the name which will live and be gloried in as long as the world lasts, as the symbol of all that is most preci ous to the fallen family of man—the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.—Jamieson.
704 the church but were forced to break the bonds of Jewish prejudice and speak out.—Torrey. v. 20. Spake undo the Grecians. This word meaning “Hellenists” is a textual error. The best versions have “heath en.” Christianity for the first time breaks the Jewish shell.^-Farr. Come to Antioch. In this splendid world city where all nationalities of the Bast and West flowed together, every stranger in stantly was received into citizenship.— Laughan, Preaching thje Lord Jesus. They didn’t start in preaching about their immoral practices, i have never believed in preaching sermons upon specific evils. Preach the Lord Jesus. —Morgan. v. 21. Hand of the Lord with them. There is no proof that these men had the hand of bishops or council upon them, but “they had the hand of the Lord with them.” The great secret of success in Christian work is here indi cated.—Torrey. A great number be lieved. The success of their labors was not through superior ability, eloquence, industry or persuasiveness of their own, but solely through the power of the truth accompanied by the power of Christ operating through the Spirit. A faithfully preached Gospel in the hands of the Holy Ghost is sufficient to ex plain the entire phenomenon which ap peared at Antioch;—Whitelaw. Note the simple instrumentality by which this great awakening was brought about—■ the arrival in the city of a few wander ing preachers, pIt was a momentous day for Antioch when these men presented themselves before its gates.—Horn. Com. v. 23. Had seen the grace of God. Where the grace of God is it will be seen, as the tree is known by its fruits, and where it is seen it ought to be owned.—Henry. With purpose of heart. It is purpose of heart that characterizes a genuine follower of the Lord. (Dan. 1: 8 .)-—Haldeman. v. 24. He was a good man. It is far more important that a man be good than that he be brilliant if he is to edify young converts—Torrey. Full of faith. Faith was the taproot of his good ness.—Muller. Much people added unto the Lord. -It is not said that they were added to the church. One of the most pernicious of sentiments is that which leads a pastor or a church to be occupi ed with obtaining additions to the
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