Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-08-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 10.

Text of the Lesson, Acts xxi. 27-39-Mem-
DRY Verses. so, 31-Coidon Text, Phil. 1,
90 Commentary by the Rev. D. u.
Stearns.
81. And when the seven days were al
most ended the Jews which were of Asia,
when they saw him in the temple stirred
up all the people and laid hands on him"
After parting with the elders of Ephesus
Paul and his companions continued their
voyage and in due time landed at Tyre in
Syria; then on to CsRsarea, whGSe they tar
ried some days with Philip AMI his daugh-
tiers, after which they continued on to Jeru-
salem and were gladly received by the
brethren. Then that Paul might not seem
to the Jealous lawkeepers to disregard any
of the laws and so prevent their anger he
does questionable thing, which does not
accomplish any good. Both at Tyre and at
C9sarea Paul was warned by the Holy
Spirit not to 20 to Jerusalem oversees 4, H.
but he would not be persuaded Verse 14).
30 Crying out, Men of Israel, helpl
This is the man that teacheth all men ev-
erywhere against the people and the law,
and this place" Not a word of truth in
either of these charges or in the one follow
ing So that Paul could truly say. "They
laid to my charge things that knew not"
30 For they had seen before with him
in the city Trophimus an Ephesian whom
they supposed that Paul had brought into
the temple" Their last charge, therefore,
was grounded on mere supposition In
their fancied zeal for God they were dis
obeying the very commands of God, for it
is written, Let none of you imagine evil
against his brother in your heart" (Zech.
vii, 10; viii ~. They knew nothing of the
love which thinketh no evil, is not easily
provoked, rejoiceth in the truth, hopeth all
things Il Cor. xiii, so.
30. And all the city was moved, and the
people ran together, and they took Paul
and drew him out of the temple, and forth
with the doors We're shut" How much of
the devil there may be under the cloak of
religion and apparent zeal for God! What
righteous Indignation ~ and the whole
city moved, but it is all the work of the
wicked one BE calm, Paul, for the unseen
Almighty One careth, and legions of angels
are ready to do his bidding. See II Kings
vi, IS, II; rs. XXXiv, I; Math. XVI. 50.
81. And as they went about to kill him
tidings came unto the chief captain of the
band that all Jerusalem was in an uprOar."
Death is the devils last and worst that bel
can do to a child of God, but even then bel
is only black servant to usher Us into theI
presence of our Lord, who has taught us not
to fear them which kill the body (Math. x,
2S) He has taught us not TO be offended i'll
we are put out of the company of rciigiousI
people, and even if they Kill las John xvi,
l,2)
81 And when they saw the chief cap
tain and the soldiers they left heating of
Paul" This was probably enc of the three1
beatings which he speaks of in II Cor. XII,
% His back had many ii scar ere this, butt
he took pleasure in all tlistresses for Christ
sake if only the power of Christ might rest
Upon him I'll Cor. xii, 9, l0) We do we'll
always to consider Him that endured SUCH
contradiction of sinners against Himself
lest we be weared and faint in our minds !
for not many of us have, like Paul. resisted
unto blood Heb. xii, B. ~
80. Then the chief captain came mean
and took him and commanded him to Id
bound with two chains and demanded :
who he was and what he had done" Of
these bonds also he had been forewarneC
Verse II and chapter XX, 80, but these were
neither his first nor his last chains for Je :
sus' sake tchapter xviii, 20, II Tim i, l6)
These chains were but for IA time and to
the glory of God, but we read of everlasting
chains for lost spirits (Jude q, ii Pet. ii, y |
Not present suffering, but the eternal is ID
be feared tMath y, IS; XIV, 80, II; Rev xiv
10, II; XX, Is. xxi, 81.
"a. And some cried one thing, some AN
other, among the multitude, and when b
could not know the certainty Cor the tn
multi he commanded him to be carried int
the castle. Iuls Is very suggestive of tn
tunuit of today among religious people
There is such c-ying of one thing and an
other by higher and lower and no critics
by the different denominations and by Oh =
posts and pre-, that it would almost seen
impossible t. know the certainly of any
thing, but those who cling to the book ma
know and will know i: they only take Col
at His word lisa. viii, ~, r. W
3d. And when he came upon the stair
so it was that he was borne of the solde1
for the violence of the people" Violend
and strife in the city, sure enough (Rs.
g. But the day will come when Jerusaler
shall be called a city of truth, when hd
walls shall be salvation and her gate
praise; when the work of righteousnes
shall be peace, and the effect of righteou
l ness quietness and assurance forever (Zecl
viii, 3; lisa TX. Is; xxi, ~.
81. For the multitude of the people TO
lowed after crying Away with himw
they cried out concerning his Master QLuE}
xiii. IS; John xix, l5), and He taught
that we must expect His treatment if fat
full unto Him John XIV, 20) How few of
e in these days seem to be counted worthy
5 this honorl Is it because we are so lit
like Him, so unfaithful to testimony,
mixed up with the world, or is it becau
We fear suffering for His sakei
81. And as Paul was to be led into Il
castle he said unto the chief captain. Ma
| speak unto theet Who said, Canst tho
speak Creek" During all this uproar al
4 tumult Paul was doubtless communiI
with his unseen Friend and Master II
heart would be saying: Il am Thine,
Lord. for Thy service. What wilt Thou ha
me to do" Chapter xvii, 23, tx, 6)i Ca
tain and soldiers and angry mob were not
ing to him as compared with his own Ca
, tain.
3S. Art not thou that Egyptian whid
before these days madest an uproar al
leddest out into the wilderness 1000 ms
that were murderers?" Here is comp
ment for a faithful follower of the NEE
and lowly Jesus A man who preach
peace and went about rescuing people fro
the hands of the father of all liars and mt