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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S May, 1941 INTERNATIONAL LESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Childrens Division Object Lesson Golden Text Illustration By B. B. S utcliffe By G retchen S ibley By H elen F razee -B ower By E lmer L. W ilder By A lan S. P earce Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain , President of Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind.
JUNE 1, 1941 BROADENING CHRISTIAN HORIZONS: THE ANTIOCH
ever quarter. Cleaving “to the Lord” would bring satisfaction to their hearts, protection for their faith, and efficiency for their service. m . T he E stablishment (25-30) With “much people” being “added unto the Lord” (v. 24), and with these people ignorant of much they would need to know, Barnabas found that alone he was not able to do what would be required. He therefore went to Tarsus and brought Saul to Antioch to help in the work. These two labored at Antioch a whole year “and taught much people.” Out of that teaching the disciples were “called Christians first in Antioch” (v. 26). Who can doubt that the burden of their teaching during that memorable year was the person and work of the Lord Jesufe Christ? That was a “Bible conference” fit to be the example of all other Bible conferences. That the teaching issued in right liv ing is evidenced in that, when a certain prophet named Agabus, “signified by the Spirit” that there would be a great and widespread famine, these disciples at Antioch, “every man according to his ability, determined to send relief” to fellow believers in Judea. Because of the general callousness to human suffer ing which was prevalent in that day, this action on the part of the Christians was a remarkable exhibition of the com passion of Christ within them. In like spirit, can we say, “The love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Cor. 5:14) ? Points and Problems 1. '«“Persecution . . . preaching” (Acts 11:19). These two words always, go to gether in the vocabulary of the true church. The devil has made many mis takes, but one of the worst has been his notion that by persecution he could keep the church from preaching the gospel. 2. “Persecution that a r o s e about Stephen” (v. 19). When Stephen died for his faith, doubtless there were world ly wise men who argued what a mis take it was for a fine young man like him to lose his life as he did. If he had been a little less dogmatic about his beliefs, and a little, more "tactful” in his preaching, he might have been spared for a long and useful life of service! Well, the best answer to this sort of argument is to note what actu ally happens: Stephen preaches without any compromise. The Jews kill him. The
MOVEMENT A cts 11:19-30
Act* 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenlce, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching* the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preach ing the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 28 Who, when lie came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and 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 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 28 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled them selves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Chris tian» first in Antioch. 27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of. Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man accord ing to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: 80 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. GOLDEN TEXT: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Bom. 1:16). DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 Thess. 5:12- 22 . Outline and; Exposition I. T he C ommencement (19-21) F OLLOWING the martyrdom of part and a signal success for Satan. But it was permitted by God, who was using Satan’s efforts in order to advance the [These lessons are developed from outlines prepared by the Committee on Improved Uniform Lessons of the In ternational Council. The outlines are copyrighted by the International Coun cil of Religious Education and used hy permission. Scripture portions quoted are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated .]
cause of the gospel. The advance was made when the believers had to leave Jerusalem and scatter abroad. These be lievers were Jews, many of them natives of other localities than Jerusalem, and they departed for their own cities. Some went to Phenice (Phoenicia), some to Cyprus, and some to Antioch. As they went, they preached the Word to none but Jews. They were still ignorant of what the church was and thought them selves merely one more sect among the Jews, such as Pharisees or Sadducees. Some, who were inhabitants of the island of Cyprus, and some of the city of Cyrene in Africa, went to Antioch and preached to the Greeks. The result of this preaching was that “the hand of the Lord was with them.” His blessing rested upon the witness given, His Spirit applied the Word, and “a great number that believed turned unto the Lord” (v. 21, R. V.). T he I nstruction (22-24) When the church at Jerusalem heard of the work done at Antioch, they sent Barnabas to make examination and to report on the movement. Barnabas was “a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.” Hence he was able’to see “the grace of God” resting upon these newly converted Gentiles. Because he was made wise by the Holy Spirit, he had just one exhortation for these people. He did not try to get them to accept anything of Judaism, not even circumcision. He exhorted them “that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” He knew they would be the objects of attack from outside their circle as well as from in side. But he also knew that, having this purpose of heart, they would be enabled to overcome every attack from what- BLACKBOARD LESSON t o r i flm n o r « shaitied of th e gospel of CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POUJER OF GOD UflTO SplUflTIOflTO EUERy OITE TOOT 6Ell£U£TH;TO THE JEUJ FIRST, HADJiLSO TO THE GREfck A / — * o A
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Stephen, there broke out a perse cution which may have seemed, to those involved, to be a mistake on God’s
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