the acts of the apostles-第24部分

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to　be　found　there。　In　the　days　of　the　apostles　it　had　become　a　city　of
luxury　and　vice。

The　gospel　was　publicly　taught　in　Antioch　by　certain　disciples　from　Cyprus
and　Cyrene；　who　came　〃preaching　the　Lord　Jesus。〃　〃The　hand　of　the　Lord　was
with　them；〃　and　their　earnest　labors　were　productive　of　fruit。　〃A　great
number　believed；　and　turned　unto　the　Lord。〃

〃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。〃　Upon　arrival　in　his　new　field　of　labor；　Barnabas　saw　the　work　that
had　already　been　accomplished　by　divine　grace；　and　he　〃was　glad；　and
exhorted　them　all；　that　with　purpose　of　heart　they　would　cleave　unto　the
Lord。〃

The　labors　of　Barnabas　in　Antioch　were　richly　blessed；　and　many　were　added
to　the　number　of　believers　there。　As　the　work　developed；　Barnabas　felt　the
need　of　suitable　help　in　order　to　advance　in　the　opening　providences　of　God；
and　he　went　to　Tarsus　to　seek　for　Paul；　who；　after　his　departure　from
Jerusalem　some　time　before；　had　been　laboring　in　〃the　regions　of　Syria　and
Cilicia；〃　proclaiming　〃the　faith　which　once　he　destroyed。〃　Galatians　1：21；
23。　Barnabas　was　successful　in　finding　Paul　and　in　persuading　him　to　return
with　him　as　a　companion　in　ministry。

In　the　populous　city　of　Antioch；　Paul　found　an　excellent　field　of　labor。　His
learning；　wisdom；　and　zeal　exerted　a　powerful　influence　over　the　inhabitants
and　frequenters　of　that　city　of　culture；　and　he　proved　just　the　help　that
Barnabas　needed。　For　a　year　the　two　disciples　labored　unitedly

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in　faithful　ministry；　bringing　to　many　a　saving　knowledge　of　Jesus　of
Nazareth；　the　world's　Redeemer。

It　was　in　Antioch　that　the　disciples　were　first　called　Christians。　The　name
was　given　them　because　Christ　was　the　main　theme　of　their　preaching；　their
teaching；　and　their　conversation。　Continually　they　were　recounting　the
incidents　that　had　occurred　during　the　days　of　His　earthly　ministry；　when
His　disciples　were　blessed　with　His　personal　presence。　Untiringly　they　dwelt
upon　His　teachings　and　His　miracles　of　healing。　With　quivering　lips　and
tearful　eyes　they　spoke　of　His　agony　in　the　garden；　His　betrayal；　trial；　and
execution；　the　forbearance　and　humility　with　which　He　had　endured　the
contumely　and　torture　imposed　upon　Him　by　His　enemies；　and　the　Godlike　pity
with　which　He　had　prayed　for　those　who　persecuted　Him。　His　resurrection　and
ascension；　and　His　work　in　heaven　as　the　Mediator　for　fallen　man；　were
topics　on　which　they　rejoiced　to　dwell。　Well　might　the　heathen　call　them
Christians；　since　they　preached　Christ　and　addressed　their　prayers　to　God
through　Him。

It　was　God　who　gave　to　them　the　name　of　Christian。　This　is　a　royal　name；
given　to　all　who　join　themselves　to　Christ。　It　was　of　this　name　that　James
wrote　later；　〃Do　not　rich　men　oppress　you；　and　draw　you　before　the　judgment
seats？　Do　not　they　blaspheme　that　worthy　name　by　the　which　ye　are　called？〃
James　2：6；　7。　And　Peter　declared；　〃If　any　man　suffer　as　a　Christian；　let　him
not　be　ashamed；　but　let　him　glorify　God　on　this　behalf。〃　〃If　ye　be
reproached　for　the　name　of　Christ；　happy　are　ye；　for　the　spirit　of　glory　and
of　God　resteth　upon　you。〃　1　Peter　4：16；　14。

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The　believers　at　Antioch　realized　that　God　was　willing　to　work　in　their
lives　〃both　to　will　and　to　do　of　His　good　pleasure。〃　Philippians　2：13。
Living；　as　they　were；　in　the　midst　of　a　people　who　seemed　to　care　but　little
for　the　things　of　eternal　value；　they　sought　to　arrest　the　attention　of　the
honest　in　heart；　and　to　bear　positive　testimony　concerning　Him　whom　they
loved　and　served。　In　their　humble　ministry　they　learned　to　depend　upon　the
power　of　the　Holy　Spirit　to　make　effective　the　word　of　life。　And　so；　in　the
various　walks　of　life；　they　daily　bore　testimony　of　their　faith　in　Christ。

The　example　of　the　followers　of　Christ　at　Antioch　should　be　an　inspiration
to　every　believer　living　in　the　great　cities　of　the　world　today。　While　it　is
in　the　order　of　God　that　chosen　workers　of　consecration　and　talent　should　be
stationed　in　important　centers　of　population　to　lead　out　in　public　efforts；
it　is　also　His　purpose　that　the　church　members　living　in　these　cities　shall
use　their　God…given　talents　in　working　for　souls。　There　are　rich　blessings
in　store　for　those　who　surrender　fully　to　the　call　of　God。　As　such　workers
endeavor　to　win　souls　to　Jesus；　they　will　find　that　many　who　never　could
have　been　reached　in　any　other　way　are　ready　to　respond　to　intelligent
personal　effort。

The　cause　of　God　in　the　earth　today　is　in　need　of　living　representatives　of
Bible　truth。　The　ordained　ministers　alone　are　not　equal　to　the　task　of
warning　the　great　cities。　God　is　calling　not　only　upon　ministers；　but　also
upon　physicians；　nurses；　colporteurs；　Bible　workers；　and　other　consecrated
laymen　of　varied　talent　who　have　a　knowledge　of

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the　word　of　God　and　who　know　the　power　of　His　grace；　to　consider　the　needs
of　the　unwarned　cities。　Time　is　rapidly　passing；　and　there　is　much　to　be
done。　Every　agency　must　be　set　in　operation；　that　present　opportunities　may
be　wisely　improved。

Paul's　labors　at　Antioch；　in　association　with　Barnabas；　strengthened　him　in
his　conviction　that　the　Lord　had　called　him　to　do　a　special　work　for　the
Gentile　world。　At　the　time　of　Paul's　conversion；　the　Lord　had　declared　that
he　was　to　be　made　a　minister　to　the　Gentiles；　〃to　open　their　eyes；　and　to
turn　them　from　darkness　to　light；　and　from　the　power　of　Satan　unto　God；　that
they　may　receive　forgiveness　of　sins；　and　inheritance　among　them　which　are
sanctified　by　faith　that　is　in　Me。〃　Acts　26：18。　The　angel　that　appeared　to
Ananias　had　said　of　Paul；　〃He　is　a　chosen　vessel　unto　Me；　to　bear　My　name
before　the　Gentiles；　and　kings；　and　the　children　of　Israel。〃　Acts　9：15。　And
Paul　himself；　later　in　his　Christian　experience；　while　praying　in　the　temple
at　Jerusalem；　had　been　visited　by　an　angel　from　heaven；　who　bade　him；
〃Depart：　for　I　will　send　thee　far　hence　unto　the　Gentiles。〃　Acts　22：21。

Thus　the　Lord　had　given　Paul　his　commission　to　enter　the　broad　missionary
field　of　the　Gentile　world。　To　prepare　him　for　this　extensive　and　difficult
work；　God　had　brought　him　into　close　connection　with　Himself　and　had　opened
before　his　enraptured　vision　views　of　the　beauty　and　glory　of　heaven。　To　him
had　been　given　the　ministry　of　making　known　〃the　mystery〃　which　had　been
〃kept　secret　since　the　world　began〃　（Romans　16：25）；〃the　mystery　of　His

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will〃　（Ephesians　1：9）；　〃which　in　other　ages　was　not　made　known　unto　the　sons
of　men；　as　it　is　now　revealed　unto　His　holy　apostles　and　prophets　by　the
Spirit；　that　the　Gentiles　should　be　fellow　heirs；　and　of　the　same　body；　and
partakers　of　His　promise　in　Christ　by　the　gospel：　whereof；〃　declares　Paul；
〃I　was　made　a　minister。　。　。　。　Unto　me；　who　am　less　than　the　least　of　all
saints；　is　this　grace　given；　that　I　should　preach　among　the　Gentiles　the
unsearchable　riches　of　Christ；　and　to　make　all　men　see　what　is　the
fellowship　of　the　mystery；　which　from　the　beginning　of　the　world　hath　been
hid　in　God；　who　created　all　things　by　Jesus　Christ：　to　the　intent　that　now
unto　the　principalities　and　powers　in　heavenly　places　might　be　known　by　the
church　the　manifold　wisdom　of　God；　according　to　the　eternal　purpose　which　He
purposed　in　Christ　Jesus　our　Lord。〃　Ephesians　3：5…11。

God　had　abundantly　blessed　the　labors　of　Paul　and　Barnabas　during　the　year
they　remained　with　the　believers　in　Antioch。　But　neither　of　them　had　as　yet
been　formally　ordained　to　the　gospel　ministry。　They　had　now　reached　a　point
in　their　Christian　experience　when　God　was　about　to　entrust　them　with　the
carrying　forward　of　a　difficult　missionary　enterprise；　in　the　prosecution　of
which　they　would　need　every　advantage　that　could　be　obtained　through　the
agency　of　the　church。

〃There　were　in　the　church　that　was　at　Antioch　certain　prophets　and　teachers；
as　Barnabas；　and　Simeon　that　was　called　Niger；　and　Lucius　of　Cyrene；　and
Manaen；　。　。　。　and　Saul。　As　they　ministered　to　the　Lord；　and　fasted；　the

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Holy　Ghost　said；　Separate　Me　Barnabas　and　Saul　for　the　work　whereunto　I　have
called　them。〃　Before　being　sent　forth　as　missionaries　to　the　heathen　world；
these　apostles　were　solemnly　dedicated　to　God　by　fasting　and　prayer　and　the
laying　on　of　hands。　Thus　they　were　authorized　by　the　church；　not　only　to
teach　the　truth；　but　to　perform　the　rite　of　baptism　and　to　organize
churches；　being　invested　with　full　ecclesiastical　authority。

The　Christian　church　was　at　this　time　entering　upon　an　important　era。　The
work　of　proclaiming　the　gospel　message　among　the　Gentiles　was　now　to　be
prosecuted　with　vigor；　and　as　a　result　the　church　was　to　be　strengthened　by
a　great　ingathering　of　souls。　The　apostles　who　had　been　appointed　to　lead
out　in　this　work　would　be　exposed　to　suspicion；　prejudice；　and　jealousy。
Their　teachings　concerning　the　breaking　down　of　〃the　middle　wall　of
partition〃　（Ephesians　2：14）　that　had　so　long　separated　the　Jewish　and　the
Gentile　world；　would　naturally　subject　them　to　the　charge　of　heresy；　and
their　authority　as　ministers　of　the　gospel　would　be　questioned　by　many
zealous；　believing　Jews。　God　foresaw　the　difficulties　that　His　servants
would　be　called　to　meet；　and；　in　order　that　their　work　should　be　above
challenge；　He　instructed　the　church　by　revelation　to　set　them　apart　publicly
to　the　work　of　the　ministry。　Their　ordination　was　a　public　recognition　of
their　divine　appointment　to　bear　to　the　Gentiles　the　glad　tidings　of　the
gospel。

Both　Paul　and　Barnabas　had　already　received　their　commission　from　God
Himself；　and　the　ceremony　of　the　laying

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on　of　hands　added　no　new　grace　or　virtual　qualification。　It　was　an
acknowledged　form　of　designation　to　an　appointed　office　and　a　recognition　of
one's　authority　in　that　office。　By　it　the　seal　of　the　church　was　set　upon
the　work　of　God。

To　the　Jew　this　form　was　a　significant　one。　When　a　Jewish　father　blessed　his
children；　he