The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-15
, THE SUNDAY.SCHOOL.
International Lessons-By Henry NJ. Circuit,
ID. 4 March io Paul before Agrippa.-
aefs OH. r.tQ

Two years have passed since Pauls rescue
from the mob at Jerusalem and hurried re-
moval to Caeserea. He is still q prisoner,
but just now there has been o change OF
governors. Porcius Fsstus has come into
Felix's loom, better man than Felix, bat
not ALTOGETHER firm in the administration OF
justice, as this narrative shows. The twenty
fifth cha pter which we have passed over,
discloses the renewed attempts of the Jews
10 get possession of the Apostle. the proposal
OF Ftstus tia he go back to Jerusalem TO
trial, AMI bis appeal to Caesar. The right to
such an appeal belonged to every Roman
citizen, and save in extraordinary caseJ it
could net be overruled by any subordinate
tribunal And so Paul has been renandei
to prison. to wait an opportunity for his re-
moval to Rome.
whitehall Is thus waiting In bonds, King
Agrippa and Bernice make their appearance
at Caeseta. This was Herod Agrippa IL,
son of that Herod Agrippa of whose misera.
| BILE death we read in an earlier chapter (12:
2l-23). BY favor OF the Roman Emperor he
was rowitetrarch of portion of Syria with
the titli of king. OF him it is enough to
was his sister Bernice better than he. Few
re infamous women have found a place
in historE. These two have come to pay
their resi- ects to the new Governor. And
after sonic days it occurs to Festus to speak
to them pf the prisoner Paul. the result of
which is request on the part of the king to
hear thet imam himself.
I hot &va no 10 &c ha IN,
part OF Fsaups speech not only before these
two visit4rs, but in the presence of glitter
ing assersblage made up of the chief captains
and principal men of the capital city of the
province,
The spsech has the form of defence. But
in puIpo.e it was hardly that. Paul had ap.
pealed t4C;esar, and TO Cesar he was to go.
He had cue aim ever before him, and that
was to psssch Christ. 1t is easy to see that
that wasjhis his present aim. Addressing
himself 10 his chief nearer, he did not forget
the great company of Gentiles and Jews also
| before him.
Two Unworthy things marked the manner
of his speech. 1t was frank, courteous and
manly. Agripps, an Idumean by birth, had
6evoutFewess for mother; moreover his
father WIS rigid observer of Jewish rites.
He coulCtnot. therefore, be otherwise than
expert - oil the customs and questions
am ong tie Jews" Paul was happy TO have
such q hearer, and so said. But he did not
flstter hiSn with untruthful words.
Anoth$r thing, In his manner, was the
sympathetic way in which he put himself
into rela fons with his chief nearer. He
claimed ttill to stand by the hope he had
learned fsom the fathers, as Aerippa might
himself C:nce been bitter opposer of Jesus
OF Ntzarstb, and yet had been made disci-
ple and ltreacber Of that same Jesus; and so
he dared 81 ope that his be, Ter might yet be
won TO htm.
But Doiy a number of things in the matter
of his spi CHI should have attention.
1. No3 his claim that the religion of
the Oldt Testament and of the LorI
Jesus wis in substance one g D.
i great promise had been
made by Iod unto the fathers. The rem
nant of the twelve tribes cher ished the hope
OF its fulallment 1t characterized the relig-
ion of tha fathers. Had he surrendered that
hope? Nh, he stood by it. 1t was indeed for
this that DE was now being Judged. For II
was this (which made him a Christian. In
Jesus ana his kingdom and the redemption
completes by the resurrection, the ancient
promise Gas but fulfilled Thus he did honor
to the Oh Testament. 1t was the bud Of
which tn: gospel is the unfolding.
l. No@s his wonder that any believer in
the Jewith religion could regard ihe resurec-
ton of the dead as an incredible thing -
Agrippa twas doubtless in sympathy Sad.
dUc'e. 9eul would remind him that such
msrvels lad not been unknown in the past
history o. the Jewish race. Nor in the ns.
ture Of things was there anything in
credible 81 such risiDgs God can bring
back bis Creatures TO life. Jesus, il the Son
of &C d. might return to his iorsaken body.
UnbeIief las now many objections to tle
precious doctrine of the resurrection life.
But the difficulties are imaginary, not Ie Al
| ). Ncte his assumption that rejection of
Christ is 3ot blamelss because il is sincere
(9l4)-E2 once verify thought with him
self that lie ought to do many things con-
trary to tse name OF Jesus. Nevertheless the
heavenly soice had taught him that all this
while he Sas kicking against the goads: the
piercing f:1monitions of conscience aud the
Holy Spiixt. He thought he was doing Gods
service. ie did that which he did
in ignotance. He was earnest to
madness in his opposition to Jesus.
And yet here appears that his ignorance
was not tlameless God had been urging
him on infO the better way, and he had oeen
resisting. poes this show that it ia not enough
TO be morSl, contcientious religiously earn.
est, self-danyipg and jealous even? 1t does.
Beyond az this, one must search the Scrip
lures for phe whole truth. Nor should be
resist the providence of God, and the divine
Spirit Mach OF our Ignorance is sinful In
il we are tot blameless. Light has come into
| the WOflO3 ana tney VINO love and desire Ii
will not VI Tx in fatal darkness
4. NotS what he teaches rs respecting the
nature arti reward of that change which the
gospel SEEKS to effect (16 1S)-"To open
their eyessand to turn them from darkness
TO light, AID from the power of Satan unto
God" Sufch is the nature of the change; an
enlightenihg of the mind, and renewal OF
the heart and life
The darkness is mans ignorance of spirit
uel thiDgs1 And We find this in other than
heather AID Jewish minds How slow are
men to seesthe rightfulness of Gods claims
the trustwirthiness OF Christ rs a Saviour,
and our Rerishipg need apart from him
Nothing isiso hard as TO convince them oil
sin. Therf there is mans need OF moral re.
| newal. Aid what is that? 1t is in his sub
lection to Another rule than that OF God, his
rightfHl ruler. Satan has usurped domin
ion, and men are his willing subjects. They
yield to hit solicitations. he is that prince
whose dom Mon Christ would destroy. Now,
in conversion, uen are turned both from
darkness IL light, and from Satan's rule to
obedience 70 God.
"Tbe reward of this great change is ''for.
giveness E sins. and inheritance among
them that IRE sanctihed." Or we might,
perhaps, BITTER say that this is part of the
change itsff. BY this change we come I'm.
der the smile OF God, and into all the riches
| 81 - x-ortoc ff