Passaic City record., 1893-08-05
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
AUGUST g.
Lesson Text s'PauI at MiIetus,"
Acts Xxx, 22-35 - Golden
Text. Heb. xiii,
commentary.

%. "And now behold 1 go bound in the
spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things
that shall befall me there. Last week We left
Paul at Ephesus alone, his companions hav-
ing gone to Macedonia. Then followed the
uproar, after which Paul left Macedonia,
went as far as Greece, tarried there three
months then returned through Macedonia,
and we now find him at Miletus ON his way
to Jerusalem, fastening to be there If possi-
BILE by Pentecost (verse 16). Touching at
Miletus on their homeward voyage, he sent
to Ephesus to have the elders come down to
him. and our lesson to-day is his farewell to
them He reminds them OF his manner OF
life among them and of his teaching. Doing
must precede teaching. See Math. v, 19
Acts l., L; Mark vi, 30, Josh. j., Ez.
vii, TO-
%. t5ave that the Holy Ghost witnesseth
in every city. saying bonds and Affections
abide me-" While he did not know what
particular events might befall him, he had
general knowledge that it would be as it had
been, and even so to the end. 1t was in his
commission that he should suffer (Acts ix.,
16), and large foretastes had he already in
the stoning at Lystra and the securing and
Imprisonment at Philippi.
"a. '.But none OF these things move me,
neither count / my life dear unto myself, so
that I might finish my course with joy"
The ambitions of this servant of Christ may
be seen in such passages as this in connec-
II. q = ".
20; Gal vi, IA. To make known the gospel
of grace to make Christ known through
these bodies, to be in all things pleasing
unto Him and have his service accepted OF
Him, these were his constant aim, and in
these directions he exhorted his son Timo-
thy Gil Tim. H., iv., 49,, and through his
writings exhorts all believers.
25. '.And now, behold, l know that We all
among whom 1 have gone preaching the
kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. :"
In some way he knew that he would not
meet them again till he should meet them at
the judgment seat of Christ, and therefore
he would speak to them the more earnestly
and waste no time on vain words. Ii when
We speak to people, even in ordinary con-
yersation. we felt that We might not meet
ahem again in this world. we would be more
apt to say something about Jesus and things
eternal.
26. "Wherefore take you to record this
day that am pure from the blood of all
men," not only in the sense of having
wronged, corrupted or defrauded no man
| Gil Cor. vii. 2), but he had cleared himself
of all responsibility in reference to their
souls salvation. Ii we, as the messengers Of
| God faithfully declare His messages of sal
| walton. then we are clear of the blood of
| those who hear, whether they believe or not.
| See Eek. Ill, 7-9 xxxiii., 1913.
81. "For have not summed to declare
/ unto YOU all the counsel of God" That
| which he had received of the Lord he had
| made known unto them without diminishing
| word I Cor. XIV i. 3 Jer. XVI, q. He had
kept back nothing (verse 20) through fear of
| man. He believed in his heart that IL his
| was to please men he was not worthy to be
called a servant of Christ (Gal. l.. 10). So
| he lived and labored not as pleasing men.
/ but God. who trieth our hearts q Thest H.,
| A. What needful word this is, '.He that
| hath My word, let him speak My word faith
| fully" der. xiii. 2S).
| 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves
| and to all the flock, over the which the Holy
| Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
| church of God, which He hath purchased
| with His own blood" One of the risen
| Christ's last words to Peter was a threefold
exhortation to feed His sheep and lambs
| (John xxi, Is, I'D and Peter passes it on to
| us. saving ssFeed the flock of God which is
| among you" Q Pet. ", p. Nothing can feed
| us but the word of God. The written word
| is full of Him who is the living word, and He
| Himself said, s'He that eateth Me, even he
| shall live by Me- (John vi, 57).
| 90 "For I know this, thai after my depart
| ing shall grievous wolves enter in among
| you, not sparing the flock 1t was Paul's
| delight to maintain himself by his own labor
| that he might haveto giveto the needy things
temporal and spiritual But there were and
| there are those who, protesting to be shep-
| herds, not only do not feed the flock, but
| take good care to live upon the flock-wolves
in sleeps clothing (Math. vii, Is; K, 16).
| 80. ''Also Of your own selves shall men
arise. speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after Them 1t is one thing for a
| man to be accused of drawing people after
| him, while his whole aim Is to point them to
Jesus q Cor. Ill, 4, 81. 1t is quite another
matter for man to live and labor for the
| 81. "Therefore watch and remember that
| by the space of three years / ceased not to
| warn every one night and day with tears. ;"
] Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and
scatter the sheep of Ny pasturage, saith the
Lord (Jer. xiii, u. See also Eek. xxxiv.,
| 2. Prayerlully, tearfully and Increasingly
| had Paul labored for their souls welfare, and
| as he foresaw the possibility of false teach
| ers and souls ruined and lost his heart was
| grieved.
| 80. "And now. brethren, commend you
| to God and to the word of His grace. which
| is able to build you up and to give you an in
heritance among all them which are sancti-
| fed" He knew that if they would only hold
| fast to the word of God they would not waver
| nor be led astray. The only safety then and
now is ''to the law and to the testimony. Ii
| they speak not according to this word. surely
| there is no morning for them" lisa. viii, 40,
| r. VI.
SO. 81 have coveted no mans silver or
| gold or apparel" He was not seeking theirs,
| but them. He wanted nothing from them,
but he had something to vethem Though
| he was poor, yet he made many rich though
| he seemed to have nothing, yet he possessed
all things q Cor w.. .O). When any gave
him gifts, he was especially glad for them,
because it was just so much added to Their
account in heaven.
SO. s'Yea, ye yourselves know that these
hands have ministered unto my necessities
| and to them that were with me-" Therefore
when the false teachers would come, seeking
theirs and not them, only wanting to make
something out of them. not caring Tor their
souls. they could say 'sThus did not Paul.
He never asked us for anything for himself"
See further instruction upon this point In Ii
Thess ill.,, 8.
35. ST have showed you all things, how
that 80 laboring ye ought to support the
weak and to remember the words OF the
Lord Jesus. how He said, 1t is more blessed
to give than to receive" 1t is not recorded
that Jesus ever said just these words, so that
possibly Paul has here given us some OF the
unrecorded words of Jesus. This principle,
however, was certainly in His teaching and
very prominent Ouke VI. 80 XIV, Is, 49,
Lesson Helper.