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- May 5, 1909. THE PRESBYTERIA
Sunday School
ICONIUM AND LYSTRA.
Acts 14: 8-22.
Lesson for May 16, 1909.
GOLDEN TEXT.?' All the gods of the nations are idols; but
the Lord made the heavens."?Psalm 96: 5.
n a II v uam r d c a n i m rc
VHIUT MVITIU nununiviQi
M.?Acts 14: 1-10. T.?Acts 14: 11-28.
W?2 Tin!. 3: 10-17. ^ Th.?Mark 6: 1-6.
P.?1 Cor. S: 1-6. * S.?2 Cor. 6: 1-10.
S.?2 Cor. 4: 5-18.
TOPICAL OUTLINE.
Varied Missionary Experiences?
A miracle at Lystra, vs. 8-10.
Paul worshipped, then stoned, vs. 11-19.
Successful work at Derbe, vs. 20, 21.
Return to Lystra, Iconium and Antiocb, vs. 21, 22.
LESSON COMMEN TS.
Paul and Barnabas remained a long time at the Pisidian
Antiocli and its neighborhood, and firmly planted a Christian
church, which had no connection with the synagogue, and was
composed largely of Gentiles, who were received directly, and
not by way of Jewish proselytlsm. They were finally driven
out of the territory bv the nerseeution instigated hv the Tewa
who used especially the influence of "women of honorable
estate" who had become proselytes to Judaism.
They came unto Iconium, about seventy five miles east of
Antioch. Iheir experiences in these two towns were very similar.
They went to the synagogue and so spake that a largo
number of Jews and Greeks (probably Greek Jews) believed,
but many Jews were "disobedient." Paul's message of Glad
Tidings came in a form demanding obedience. The disobedient
Jews stirred up the souls of the Gentiles and made
them evil-affected against the brethren, especially Paul and
barnabas. The town was divided in factions. But men's souls
were stirred up?some for, and some against I he Gospel.
The apostles remained there a long time. They were bold
in their speech and aggressive In their work. The Lord
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by tlielr hands." In course of time the population took sides,
"part held with the Jews and part with the apostles." An
attack was finally made on the apostolic party by the opposite
party in which were included "their rulers" The apostles
became aware of it in time to flee. But they left behind them
a permanent work, in an established congregation of Christians,
composed of the same elements as the church at Antloch.
The easiest path of escape from the impending danger, led
them "unto the cities of Lyoaonia." This region may not
have been on the route they had planned. It is probable that
the urgency of their danger determined their course. It was a
wild and semi-barbarous region. Tlio population was sparse
and the towns small. There were few Jews In that region,
and wo find no mention of synagogues. It was a region not
i under the direct government of the Romans, and the lanpnflpp
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that the Lycaonians knew enough Greek to understand Paul,
with some difficulty, or that Paul could use their tongue to
some extent. At any rate, the apostles were now In a distinctly
foreign country, with the distinctive problems of foreign
missionaries to solve. We are not told their experiences,
except in the two principal towns of the region, Lystra and
Derbe.
At L.ystra there was a poor unfortunate, like him at the
beautiful gate of the temple. He heard Paul preach. Apparently
he was accustomed to hear Paul. The apostle, in the
iN OF THE SOUTH. 15
absence of a synagogue, was perhaps preaching in the street,
or the market place. This cripple attracted his special attention.
The apostle could see the man's faith. Faith is sometimes
visible in men. The cripple had "faith to be made
whole," or "saved." The apostle addressed him in a loud
\oice, ' Stand upright on thy feet." The man's faith seems to
have been the caube of Paul's special interest in him, not the
necessary condition to his healing. Healing of the lame was
wrought by the Master, and through the apostles, indiscriminately
whether faith existed in the healed or not. Healing
was 111 order to faith or its increase.
The multitude saw the miracle, and went wild with excitement,
supposing the gods had come down to earth. They
mougni p.arnabas was Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury. There was
an old story current among them that Jupiter and Mercury
had visited that region in visible form long ago. They
jumped to the conclusion that they had returned. These were
a rude, uncultured people, and as is usual with such, were
Thoroughly superstitious. Superstition reaches conclusions at
a jump. Without hesitation they designated Barnabas, Jupiter,
the chief of the gods, and Paul, Mercury, the messenger
and spokesman of the gods. Perhaps there wis that in the
appearance and manner of the two that suggested this mistake.
Barnabas was probably the older man and Paul looked
less majestic and benignant. He certainly toolt the lead in
speech. The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was beyond the
walls of the city, accompanied by the throng, brought the
things of appropriate sacrifice to the gates wheie the apostles
were, to sacrifice to them. This, in their eyes, was a horrible
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vuni& ?.i/ uu. i uey rusnea iortn, rent their clothes, a token of
deepest distress, and appealed to the multitude to desist. They
declared themselves men, and not gods?men whose special
mission was to put sin end to this very idolatry, which they
called "vain things." They spoke of the living God, who madeall
things. In the past, this true God had "suffered all the
nations to walk in their own ways." But He had never
left any nation without testimony of himself and his character.
The laws and conduct of nature are God's witnesses always
and everywhere.
Paul's argument against heathenism finally succeeded in
preventing the proposed worship.
But the Jews at Antioch had been deeply offended. They
sent emissaries to Iconium to hunt the apostles down, and,
joined by others at Iconium, they followed them to Lystra.
There they sot. the ear of the multitude
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must have some theory to account for everything. They could
not account for the apostles by calling them gods, then who
and what were they? Paul's explanation was not satisfactory.
But the explanation given by these Jews from Antioch and
Iconiuin was satisfactory. Perhaps these explained that they
cast out devils through the prince of the devils.
They caught Paul, stoned him in the street, and, thinking
him dead, they dragged him out of the town to rot. Why
Itarnabas was not treated in the same way we are not told.
There were some disciples made at Lystra, among them were
probably an old woman, named Lois, and a younger, named
Eunice, and a boy, Timothy. The disciples were standing
around Paul's body, when he revived and arose, and they
went to the town, and the next day he and Barnabas wentto
Dei be.
They staid long enough at Derbe to found a strong church.
They were not molested by the Jews, who, having accomplished
Paul's death, as they supposed, went back to report the
destruction of Christianity.
Paul, at Derbe, was on the road home to Tarsus. Ther?>
must have been strong inclination to nrorood thifhor r?n?
instead, they re-traced their steps to Lystra, Iconiura and Antiooh.
Wonderful men! On this journey they introduced more
perfect organization in the church, appointing "elders in every
church." W. D. Hedletton.