The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-03-19
The Sunday Schools.
LESSON FOR NEXT SUNDA Y
March 22nd, 1885.
FIRST QUARTER
LESSON XII. PAUL, VINDICATED.

-0--
ACTS 26 1892.
10 Whereupon, o king Agrippa, was no
disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
90 But showed first unto them of Damascus
and atJerusa1em, and throughout all the coast
of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they
should repent and turn to God, and do work
meet for repentance.
81. For these causes the Jews caught me IL
the temple, and went about to kill me.
p Having therefore obtained help of God
continue unto this day. witnessing both u
| small and great, saying none other things thar
those which the prophets and @ oses did say
should come
%. That Christ should suffer, and that he
should be The first that should rise from the
dead, and should show light upon the people
| and to the Gentiles
"a. And as he thus spake for himself, Fesius
said with loud voice, Paul, thou art beside
thyself; much learning doth make thee mad
25. But he said, 1 am not mad, most noble
Festus; but speak forth the words of ruth aud
soberness.
26. For the king knoweth of these things, be-
fore whom also speak freely; for 1 am per-
suaded that none of these things are hidden
| from him; for this thing was not done in a
| corner.
27. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?
I know that thou believest.
2s Then Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou
| persuadest me to be a Christian.
29. And Paul said, 1 would to God, that not
only thou, but sIso all that hear me this day,
were both almost, and altogether such as am,
except thes bonds.
| 80. And when he had thus spoken, the king
rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they
| that sat with them.
| 81. And when trey were gone aside, they
talked between tn mselves, saying, This man
doeth nothing worthy of death OF bonds.
81. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man
might have been Set liberty, if he had not ap-
| pealed unto Caesar.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Having therefore obtained
help of God, L continue unto this day.
TIME.-A. d. go. fmmt diately following the
last lesson
PLACE.-Cesarea, the Roman capital of Pal
estine.
This lesson contains the concluding
portion of Paul's address, or defense, be-
fore Agrippa. The Jews had come from
Jerusalem to Cesarea, to make their ac-
cusations against Paul, and before Festus
had completely failed to make out case
The Governor now desired that King
Agrippa, who was visiting at Cesarea,
might hear Paul, in order that he might
suggest to Festus subject matter for re-
port to the Emperor at Rome.
Paul argues that he was obedient to the
Heavenly misunderstanding to the manner
of his conversion, when Christ appeared
to him while he was on his way to Da-
mascus to persecute christians. He had
preached the Gospel of Christ faithfully,
preaching first to them of Damascus, then
of Jerusalem, and throughout all the
coasts of Judea, then to the Gentiles 1t
was for this faithful preaching that the
Jews caught him in the temple at Jerusa-
lem, and sought to kill him.
Having obtained the help of God" as
shown in his deliverance from the hands
of the mob, he had continued preaching
the doctrine for which he had been reviled
and threatened-the doctrine that Christ
should suffer and die, and that he would
rise from the dead. and show light INTO
the people, and unto the Gentiles. This
doctrine was too much for Festus, who
regarded Paul as evidently insane, either
from studying the Scriptures, or attempt
ing to interpret them. But Paul speaks
boldly, saying that the King knoweth
these things, because Paul knew that
Agrippa had been educated Jew, of the
family of Herod, and had full knowledge
of all the Jews religious affairs. He calls
Agrippa's attention to the testimony of
the prophets concerning the character of
the Messiah, and boldly asserts that the
King believes the Prophets. His Ian
guage and manner had great weight with
Agrippa, who declared that he was almost
persuaded to be christian. Whereupon
Paul answered in the language of the Goth
passage of the lesson. The bonds re-
ferred to were the chains with which he
was bound.
Then his hearers went aside and con-
suited concerning the prisoner, declaring
that he had done nothing worthy of death
or bonds, and Agrippa saying that. but
for his appeal to Caesar, he might be set
at liberty.