The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-11-14
QUESTIONS.


Before whom was Paul making this last defence
OF what had be given an account in our previous
lesson2 What did he say Of his obedience to the
divine command p
V. 2l What does he say Of his arrest Where
do we find an account Of it Chap. xxi: $3.50.
v. % From whom had he received protection
Had this been promised in his commission What
had he preached? What word is used to eharac-
terize his special work
v. %. How does he sum mp the testimony OF
Moses and the prophets? Mention some passages
to prove these points See Isaiah ill., Cor. XIV
% Isaiah XIII: 6.
V. "a. What effect had his earnest speech on
Festus2 How did he interrupt Paul? Meaning
of beside thy self ?" What is said in Acts Ii
1872 How had Paul shown much earningY
V. %. What was Pauls reUly2 How did he
show his courtesy and dignity?
V. rs. To whom did he now sppeal2 Why
must Agrippa have known Of these things
V. 27. What searching question did he ask ?
Could AgriDpa deny his Jewish faith
V. %. What amount Of conviction did Agrppa
oonfessS What did it show
v. 90 What noble answer did Paul maker ln
what respect was the prisoner better of than his
judges? What followed this defence VS.. 1892
NOTEs ON TIE LESSON.
We left Paul, in our last lesson, making
an address before Festus and Agripps. He
was defending himself, but so shaping that
defence as to preach Christ to his royal
hearers. In the 18th and 20;h verses Of
this chapter, Paul gives his opinion of the
reasons why the Jews hated and prosecuted
him. First, he was not disObedient to the
heavenly vision which proved the Messiah
ship of Christ, and second, he had published
this new faith far and wide.
V. 21. These then were the "causes" why
the Jews went about to kill him. 1t was
their bigOtry, and their enmity to the gospel
of Christ.
V. %. he had however been prOViden-
TALLY preserved in the midst of the greatest
danger and this divine protection had been
promised him in his commission. So that
by the help of God he continued to bear wit
ness to the truth of the gospel as a minister
and an apostle of Christ And he had
preached to all classes and conditions of men,
as he says in Col i: %, "Wsrning and teach
ing every man )" and only such dOctrines.as
were foreshadoWed in the Old Testament
Scriptures, thus keeping constantly before
the minds of his hearers the connection be-
tween the Mosaic system and the gospel.
V. %. Besides stating his methods Of
preaching, he sums NJ his doctrines under
three heads /. That Christ should suffer.
See Luke xiv: 25. 2. That he should rise
from the dead as the first fruits of the resur-
rection. l Cor. XIV: %: and 8, that he
should show light to the people and the Gen
tiles. Luke il: 81.
V. "a. Paul no doubt became very ami
mated as he diseOursed on these great themes,
and Festus, cold and Sceptical, ignorant Of
both the Jewish and the Christian religion,
was unable to account for such earnsstness
in regard to resurrection from the dead
A belief in such doctrine was an absurdity
to his mind, and he thought Paul religious
fanatic. Hence his impulsive interruption,
and his assignment Of the reason that much
learning" had made Paul mad. "The natu-
raj man receiYeth not the things Of the
Spirit of God; for they are fOOlishneSs unto
him; neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned."
V. %. Everywhere and under all circum-
stances Paul maintains the dignity and court
esq of Christian gentleman. There is not
a shade of bitterness in his reply, and be does
not forget to address Festus as :" most no
ble." He claims that his words were the
utterances of sound mind, and that he was
not carried away by fanaticism or excitement
V. rs. And now Paul confidently appeals
to Agrippa, who as a Jew could not be ig-
norant of these things. They took place at
Jerusalem, at the time Of great feast, when
the largest assemblies of Jews were present.
One reason for this appeal may have been to
remind Festus that what appeared to him as
only the raving of mailman might be very
plain to one who understood the subject.
V. q. He addressed to Agrippa a ques-
ton as skillful as it was sudden. He appeals
to his faith, and, without waiting for his re-
ply, he declares in the hearing of all present
that the King was believer in all the Pro-
phets taught.
V. rs. Some have supposed that Agrippa
admitted that he was very much moved by
Paurs discourse, and only needed little
more effort to induce him to become Chris
tian. Others think he only intended to be
complimentary to PauIs eloquence and earn.
estness, and others still, that his language
was ironical, as if he had said, "Why the
man undertook to defend himself, and now
he is trying to make convert out of me"
Surprising him to speak in this last way, it |
still seems evident that he was impressed |
and that he sought to hide his convictions,
and escape from any further presentation of
the truth. 1t svsils nothing to be "nOt far
from the kingdom of God" if We refuse to
enter.
V. %. Paul at once gave a serious reply, |
and embraced not only Agrippa but ''all
who heard him" in his longing desires for
their genuine conversion. He prayed that
they might be as fully devoted to Christ as
they believed him to be, and free from the
chains which he was wearing upiustlv -