The National tribune., 1893-08-17
SUNDAY MEDITATION

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A Study Of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for Aug.
u, 1893.
Subject: st. PauI's Address to Agrippa. Acts,
26:I0-32.
lone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated aboye.l attijf
INTRoDUcT1oN
We remember ST. Paul went from Ephesus to
Jerusalem to carry aims to the poor Christians
there and to explain to the Jewish Christian
Council the reason why he included in his Mis-
sion Tours Gentles as well as Jews. Jews who
had witnessed his methods in Asia Minor saw
him at Jerusalem, told the people Of St. Paul's
liberal attitude toward Gentiles, and stirred
up great prejudice against him. Either mis-
tax emily or on purpose they also charged st.
Paul with introducing into the Temple some
of his GENTLE converts. A great Juror of oppo-
sition sprung up against the Apostle, and the
mob would surely have taken his life had he
not been rescued by the Captain of the Roman
guard Soon he was brought to trial. One
question involved was the doctrine of the resur-
of Sadducces. who were bitterly opposed to said
doctrine could not impsrtially sit in Judgment
on one accused rs st. Paul had been. One re-
suit OF the very start would be bitter contest
between the Pharasees and the Sadducees.
When it was seen that no trial at all fair could
be held at Jernsaem-that st. Paul was in
greatest danger of being assassinated--he was
elandestiaely removed to Cesarea. The case
was brought to the attention Of the Roman
Governor, Felix; then to that of his successor,
Festus Both regarded him innocent, but
neither had courage. in face OF Jewish hatred
of the accused, to release him. When it was
proposed to send him to Jerusalem for trial,
ST. Paul appealed bis case to Rome. knowing
no Justice would be done him at Jerusalem.
We come now to the speech of st. Paul be-
fore Agrippa
AgrTppa.
He was known as Herod Agrippa the Second.
He was SON of Herod Agrippa. Hence he was
a great grandson of Herod the Great. He was
born abeut A. d. 81. For while he was King
of ChaIcis Emperor Claudius removed him,
and afterwards he became King of a region in
Guiding Cfesarea. Although he protested to De
Jew in religion, it is fact he furnished 1000
men at one time to sght against the Jews. He
was certainly first Roman, secondly Jew.
He was the last of the Kings Herod being the
seventh in line. He died at Rome a. ID.
100. His moral character was very defective.
Early writers claim Bernice was to him even
more than sister. Bernice herself stands for
beauty serviBg infamous purposes. 1t was the
father of this Agrippa who put to death ST.
James and imprisoned st. Peter. The Agrippa
of this lesson. though rcputed immoral. was
yet ordinarily just in rule, and in fact is counted
the best of the Eerods.
Rev. DR.. Bellows, when pastor of All Souls
New York, said: "Agrippa was King who,
although educated in Jewish faith and customs,
and protesting for polite reasons to be of their
religion, probably despised the Jews, and the
faith of Moses as much as that of Christ. His
family had been educated at Rome, and he
probably shared the religious opinions of the
Romans. whose vassal he was, and looked npon
the whole civilization, philosophy, and theo-
logical notions of the dependent province he
ruled over az British Satrap looks upon the
religion, culture, society and ethics of prov
ince in India-a thing far below his own stand
ards, 10 which he never thinks Of giving any
sympathy assent, except az provisional
method Of dealing with the conditions of his
Government"
ST. Paul at Rome.
We cannot see always the reasons why we
suffer; why We cannot carry out our plans;
why men and circumstances oppose US. His
tory is series of sequeIs. There was a provi-
dence in st. Pants forced stay at Rome. Rev.
Dr. Charles Parkhurst says: Paul's bonds en-
abled him to execute theIoHe great purpose of
his life, to preach the Gospel at Rome. At
Ciesarea he appealed to Cesar. and this carried
him to Rome for trial. But the greatest work
done by Paul during his imprisonment was the
writing of fve of his Epistles during the leis-
ure which God had thus endorsed upon him.
Paul wrote, during this time the letter to the
Colessians which contains such profound
treatise on the person and work of Christ; the
letter TO the Ephesians, which Co!eridge char
acterzes as the "divinest composition OF man y;
the letter TO the Philippians, which reveals tho
very heart of Paul; the little letter to Phile-
mon. which has done so much to overcome the
spirit of servituie in the world : and that Sec
ord letter to Timothy, the dying Apostles
p9an of victory through Christ. Any one of
these letters alone would be sufficient COM
pensation for the imprisonment of Paul."
AcTs. 26: 1892
/. Preliminary.
1t would be well in study to consider in
its entirety the speech of st. Paul before
Agrippa. But the lesson begins at V. 10
Verses TO 10 give a resume of st. Paups early
life and conversion. Emphasis is put on the
wonderful vision granted him when on way to
Damascus. We notice st. Paul in emergencies
reinforces his courage by rehearsing the story
of his conversion. He manages to weave this
account into his defense SO as not only to serve
his own case, but to Introduce Christ and Him