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Sept. 22, 1909. THE PRESBYTERIAN
Sunday School
PAUL A PRISONER?THE ARREST.
Acts 21:17-39. Lesson for October 3, 1909.
vavji_uc.rN i ta i.?"Tnou therefore endure hardness, as a
good soldier of Jesus Christ."?2 Timothy 2:3.
DAILY HOME READINGS.
M.?Acts 21:17-26. Th.?Acts 22:17-29.
T.?Acts 21:27-40. F.?Luke 23:8-23.
W.?Acts 22:1-16. S.?Acts 16:35-40.
S.?Rev. 2:1-11.
CUODTCD r* ATrouiosi
wi ivo ut\ v/n i tvniom,
Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth,
or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbor's wealth
or outward estate.
TOPICAL OUTLINE.
Paul assailed by the Jews. Vs. 27-31. .
Paul protected by the Roman Authorities. Vs. 32-36.
Paul's defense. Vs. 37-39.
LESSON COMMENTS.
Introductory. Having completed his third missionary tour,
Paul arrived at the holy city. He had organized churches;
wrought miracles, written epistles, confirmed believers ahd
preached the gospel in Asia and Europe. Mnason of Cyprus
entertained him in Jerusalem. The next day after his
arrival, he made a report of his work to the elders, and when
tuey heard it, they glorified God and advised him to follow
a. policy of conciliation toward the Jewish Christians who were
still zealous for the law. As for the Gentile believers, the
rtolivornnnoa r\f tKn T *
?... ..xu iinuuuaij uciu iu jei usiiiem were
obligatory upon them. They were not required to observe
the Mosaic ritual, but to "keep themselves from things offered
to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from
fornication." Paul, therefore, took their advice to harmonize
the Jewish and Gentile elements in the church and assumed
the vow of a Nazarite with four others in the company. Ho
submitted to the usual rites o^ purification with them and
assisted them in meeting the expenses of the offering. Doubtless
the motive of the elders in giving this advice was "to
vindicate nis aoubtrui claim to be esteemed a Jew, by publicly
conforming to the rites and ceremonies of the law." Numbers
6:13-21. Paul respected the law as a rule of life, but
not as a basis of justification before God.
Comment. Having fulfilled the conditions of the vow, at
the close of seven days, he went into the temple through the
Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:2), but the precautions he took did
not prevent the Jews from creating trouble. His presence
angered the Jews from Asia Minor, who were present in the
cuuri or trie tempie. *rney Knew mm at Ephesus where he
had lived and labored for three years. They regarded him
as their enemy and they stirred up the people against him,
apprehended him and falsely accused him. (Acts 24:18). He
did not desire to oreate any disturbance, but these zealots
called upon the Jews to expel Paul from those sacred precincts;
alleging that he was a dangerous man for the people
to hear and that he was an enemy to their law and temple.
(Acts 24:5, 6). Furthermore, they accused him of polluting
the holy place by bringing Greeks or Gentiles into
it. They said that they had seen Trophimus, from Ephesus,
there and he was with the apostle in the city. A slab has
recently been excavated with the following Inscrlotion- "Nn
man of alien race is to enter within the balustrade and fence
that goes round the temple. If any one is taken in the act,
let him know that he has himself to blame for the penalty
Oi death that follows. Peloubet. The people of the city became
excited; and, with mob violence, dragged Paul out of
the court of the temple and closed the gates. And as they
tried to take his life, Information was sent to Lysias, the
chief captain, In the tower of Antonla near by, that there was
a disturbance in Jerusalem.
The Roman authorities at once went to the place and'
quelled the riot and rescued Paul. The Jews ceased to beat
[ OF THE SOUTH. 13
him when they saw the soldiers. Lysias, however, ordered
him to be bound with chains and demanded of him who he
was and what he had done. But the tumult continued as
the indiscriminate rabble thirsted for his blood. Lysias had
him carried into the castle for examination and safety. As
he was brought to the stairs that led up from the court of
the temple to the castle he was lifted up by the pressure
of the crowd. "This little circumstance is mentioned, not
to show how carefully the Roman soldiers guarded and protected
Paul, but simply as a vivid reminiscence 01 the scene
by Luke, who well remembered seeing his beloved teacher,
as the soldiers led him up the stairs, completely lifted from
his feet by the resistless nwasiiro -? *- * ' *
- vi cue wuwu ueuiua, so
that without intending it, the soldiers carried him instead
of leading him." Alexander. The multitude followed him
with their yells, crying "Away with him"; as the same charming
writer records the chief priests and the rulers and peapie,
who demanded the crucifixion of the Lord of glory. (Luke
23:18).
As Paul was hurried to the castle oa Antonia, he asked
permission to speak to the chief captain, who commanded a
thousand men. Lysias was surprised that this Hebrew could
speak the Greek language; and inquired if he were the
Egyptian who formerly made trouble and led four hundred
murderers into the wilderness. Paul replied that he was
a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia. in Asia Minor? nnH i.~ -???
a citizen of an excellent city. The great apostle to the Gentiles,
therefore, earnestly asked Lysias to permit him to ad-,
dress the people and defend himself. Permission being
granted, he spoke from the stairs to the crowd in the Hebrew
language. We have a record 01 this marvelous address
in the twenty-second chapter.
Doctrinal and Practical. 1. True religion imparts divine
tranquility in trouble. A sweet composure abides in the
1 ? 1 "
ouui ui i.ve uenever tnat is not disturbed by external circumstances.
Paul was calm, while all around was stormy. The
accusations of the Jews from Asia; the confusion of the mob;
the infliction of bodily injury; his apprehension by the Roman
authorities and his examination by Lysias wrung from
him no complaint; revealed no fear; produced no despondency;
affected not his manliness. The following words were
St. Theresa's book-mark:
"Let nothing disturb thee!
Let nothing affright thee!
All passeth away:
God only shall stay.
Patience wins all.
Who hath God needeth nothing,
For God is his all."
2. Christian ministers and Sabbath School workers are frequently
misunderstood and misinterpreted in their work and
conduct The fact is that the Church itself Is an enigma
to the world. "The world knoweth us not, because It knew
Him not." (John 3:1). The Jews supposed that Paul was
a disturber of the peace; but he really wished to harmonize
the Jewish and Gentile elements in the church. They
thought he was an enemy of their nation, law and temple; but
they were mistaken. He, therefore, suffered greatly at their
hands. Every true Christian is, at heart, a martyr. Ignorance
led to the crucifixion of Jesus. Acts 3:17. These
things, however, do not destroy happiness or tarnish character.
"Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt;
Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled,
Yea, even that wnich mischief meant most harm
Shall in the happy trial prove most glory*
3. "Talebearers and tale-hearers are alike guilty. Whether
is more damnable, to be a teller or receiver of tales and of
evil reports, it is hard to say; for as the tale-bearer hath the
devil in his tongue, so the tale-hearer hath the devil in his
ear." (Prov. 6:19, Eph. 4:31). Bernard, quoted by. Peloubet.
4. Paul was a man of great mind and culture. He could 1
speak Greek and Hebrew. It has been said that he was
the only learned Christian of his time. Christianity is the
friend of education. E. P. Davis.
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