Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-04-11
Che freeman.
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. J. o. sHERBURN.


April o.: Saul Preaching Christ-Acts ssls-Sl'
The indications are that the ordeai
through which Saul of Tarsus passed al
tie time of his conversion was very try
ing one even to the physical man. Inc
first sentence of this lesson indicates that at
the end of tie three days of blindness and
of fasting he was greatly enfeebled, and
some time was required in which to regain
his ordinary vigor, by the natural methods
of recuperation. He remained with the
disciples at Damascus, and when able
commenced at once to preach Jesus in the
Jewish synagogues of the city. Saul was
of that make up that it was not to be
THOUGHT of that he would remain quiet
after the great change wrought In him, as
he had been one of the most violent perse'
cutors so, when converted. he becomes
one of the most aggressive defenders OF
Christianity. We can we'll understand the
CONSERVATION of the Jews at Damascus
when they find that he, whose coming as
n persecutor was doubtless known before
hand among them, has become the most
powerful advocate Of the new doctrine ID
all the city. He not only declared that
Jesus was the Son of God. but argued it
SO convincingly that there was no honest
escape from his conclusions. With his
exercise in this kind of work came an
increase of power, as there always does
when men faithfully use there powers,until
not Jewish leader in the city was able to
answer his arguments. 1t would be highly
gratifying to us if we had some outline OF
the reasoning Saul used with such effect;
for, whenever in his writings we find
chain OF argument, every link is perfect
and the conclusions follow irrisistably.
We have not such an outline, but we can
almost imagine its features, and can well
appreciate the force of the conclusions to
which it led.
As had been their practice with the Mas
ter and with Stephen, when the Jews
found Saul is reason ng unanswerable they
sought 10 rid themselves of the reasoner.
They could kill him as he had helped
them to kill others, and thus, at least,
cease to hear his conclusive arguments.
This was after many days. and the time
was some three years after his CON
version, as we must conclude from Gal
III. Saul by some means became
apprized of the design of the Jews, and
also of the plan by which they sought to
execute it. They watched the gates OF the
city, doubtless intending if he passed out
to put some desperadoes on his track who
would murder HIM outside the city.
The disciples at Damascus were now
anxious to save Saul, though at his coming
they would have felt relief at his death
Some of their houses doubtless were
bulded against the city wall and from one
of these he was let down on the outside
and thus escaped the craft of the Jews.
At Jerusalem he attempted to join the
company of the disciples, but though three
years had passed. they yet remembered
we'll the ferceness of the prosecutions
under Saul's leading In former times. and
were afraid of him. But Barnabus, who
had known more of him, and perhaps had
heard him in Damascus, or the East, gave
him recommend to fellowship and told
the disciples what change had come ovel
g. e. hot bo haI hanop,a nf tbl
boldest defenders of the new faith. Re
ceived TO the company of the believers in
Jerusalem no idea of policy, or hope oil
personal safety could keep him from
speaking in the name of Jesus. He used
the same powerful arguments. that he hat
learned to use so we'll at Damascus, with
the Grecian Jews at Jerusalem. They
unable to answer him, went about to slal
him. OF this the disciples learned and te
they, probably in secret, escorted him tc
Cesarea, their sea port, and sent him away
to his native city. After Saul had de
parted there came period of rest from
persecution to the churches Of Palestine
and this time seems to have been wei
employed in building up The kingdom o
Christ in those parts. 1t might almos
seem to us that the exemption which the.
enjoyed was purchased at too great a cost
They were obliged to give up Saul, ant
forego the benefit which must have com
from his valu ,ble services. but the caus
in general lost nothing even in this view
Saul was busy for the Master somewhere
and striking hard blows for the trut
wherever he went; and in this way tn
church was extended over more territor
than if Saul had remained at Jerusalem
To have remained would probably havt
been to meet death, and God had yet
great work for him to do; perhaps ais
the church in Palestine could best be bull
up at this period by a release from perse
cution for little. God knows the need
Of his church in every locality and in hi
embracing plan cares for her highes
interests and works for her creates
enlargement.