The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-03-05
The Sunday Schools.
LESSON FOB NEXT SUNDAY
March Sth, 1855.
FIRST QUARTER
SON K. PAUL BEFORE FELIX.


FIRST QUARTER
LESSON <. PAUL BEFORE FELL
| ACTS "a. 1927.
TO- Then Paul, after that the governor had beckone
| unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as Ikno
| that thou hast been of many years Judge unto th
| nation, do the more cheerfully answer for mysel
IL. Because that thou mayest understand that ther
are yet but twelve days since went up to Jerusaei
for to worship.
putting with any man, neither raising up the people
neither in the synagogues nor in the city.
Is. Neither can they prove the things whereof the
now accuse me.
"A But this confess unto thee, that after the wa
which they call he resy. so worship the God of m
fathers, believing all things which written in tn
law and in the p ophets.
| Is. And have hope toward God, which they them
selves also allow that there shall be resurrection
| the dead, both of the just and unjust.
16. And herein do exercise myself. to have alway
conscience void of .offense toward God and tocar
men.
H. Now after many years came to bring aims to m.
| nation. and offerings.
| 49, Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found mi
purified iu the temple, neither with multitude, no
wiz tumult
49, Who ought to have been here before thee, ant
object, IT they had aught against me.
20. Or else let these same here say. If they hav
found any evil doing in me, while stood before thu
council.
81 Exceptft be for this one voice. that cried stand
ing among them, Touching the resurrection of thu
deed called in question by you this day.
%. And when Felix heard these things, having
perfect knowledge of that he deferred then
and said, When Lysias thechief captain shall come
down, will know the uttermost of your matter.
%. And he commanded centurion to keep Paul
and to let him have liberty and that he should forbid
none of his acquaintance to minister come unto
him.
"a. And after certain days when Felix came with
his wife Drusilla, which a Jewess, he sent for
Paul. and heard him concerning the faith in Christ
25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temper
ance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and
swered, Go thy way for this time; when have
venient season, will call for thee.
26 He hoped also that money should have been
given him of Paul, that he might loose him; where
fore he sent for him the oftener and communed with
him.
27. But after two years Porcius Festus came into
Felix's room; and Felix, willing to show the Jews
pleasure, left Paul bound.
GOLDEN TExT.-"A conscience void of ofYense
toward God, and toward men.-Acts "a. 16.
Time-This lesson extends through two years, from
A. D. $500.
Place-Cesarea, the Roman capital of Palestine.
See Descriptive Index.
Claudius Lysias sent Paul under the
strong guard on his way to Cesarea, and
at the same time wrote letter to Felix,
the Governor, setting forth the facts Of
PauPs experience with his accusers at
Jerusalem. The soldiers conducted their
charge by night to Antipatris, and on the
morrow the horsemen took him on his
journey, while the footmen returned to
castle. The horsemen took Paul and pre-
sented him before the Governor, who read
the letter from the chief captain, and in
formed Paul that he could be heard when
his accusers had also come.
Five days afterward, the high priest
Ananias came with the elders, and man
named Tertullus, who was the accuser of
Paul. This man addressed Felix with
the most fulsome fattery, telling him
what dangerous enemy Paul was. The
latter, in reply, challenges his accusers to
show wherein he had violated any of the
forms of law, and in his characteristic,
dignifed manner, proclaimed himself
disciple of Christ. He recalled the fact
that but few days before he had gone
up to Jerusalem to worship, and therefore
could not profane the temple, neither
could he, in so short space of time COM
NIT all the crimes of which they charged
him. He declared himself to be true
Jew, and denied that in accepting Jesus
as the Christ he had forsaken the faith of
his fathers. He called attention to the
fact that certain Jews from Asia" had
found him purified in the temple, but
those who had found him thus, were not
here accusing him, face to face, as was
the. e.Roman custom. Felix heard PauPs
defense, and informed him that he would
learn the particulars of his alleged of
Tense from the Chief Captain. Meantime,
Paul was detained, but not confined with
in a prison. After some days Felix
brought his wife, Drusilla, and sent for
Paul. This woman was Jewess, beauti-
full, but wicked, a sister of King Agrippa,
and was only called Felix's wife, as she
had left her husband to live with Felix.
He desired to hear Paul talk of the Christ.
In private conversation, Paul addressed
Felix as though he were sinner rather
than Judge. Preaching of Righteousness,
and Judgment to come, was
pointed to Felix, who felt his
great want regarding these things. He
had hope that by some means he would
be paid money consideration for free
ing Paul, and filled with this mercenary
thought, and hope, he held more frequent
with Paul than he would
otherwise have done. Paul was kept thus
loosely for two years, when Felix, desir-
ing to gain favor of the Jews, left Paul
to soldier, but not con-
fined to a cell. Porcius Festus was Il just
ruler, who succeeded Felix, A. D. 60, but
died in less than two wears.