Passaic City record., 1893-08-19
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
AUGUST 20.
Lesson Text: ssPaul Before Felix"
Acts xiv, 1925 Golden
Text: l Cor. xvi, 13-
Comme ntary.

TO- HThen Paul. after that the governor
had beckoned unto him to speak, answered .
Last week we left Paul about to address the
people from the castle stairs just after his
arrest The next day he is brought before
the Jewish council, but both the. address from
the stairs and his words before the council
caused such an uproar that the chief captain
had 10 rescue and care for him. The next
night the Lord stood by him and strength
ened him (chapter xiii. I'D. Then because
of plot to kill him he is sent under strong
escort to Cesarea. In this lesson he is be-
fore the governor Felix. and also the high
priest and elders who have come from Jeru-
salem to appear against him. They have
Just accused him. and now he is about to
answer for himself.
IL. ''There are yet but twelve days since
went up to Jerusalem for to worship The
story of this book then from chapter xxi, Is,
to this event occupied but 12 days, but how
full they were for Paul? Consider the last
II hours of the Lord Jesus ere He was nailed
TO the cross, how much they meant to Him,
and how large a portion of each gospel is
taken up with the record. Whether our
hours or days mean much or little let all be
for Him.
70. '.And they neither found me in the
temple disputing with any man, neither
raising up the people, neither in the syna-
gogues, nor in the city" So that their accu-
SaJlOuS, even though 1nduo Dy OIdCOE Ior-
tullus were all lies. 1t is very trying to be
publicly accused of things of which you are
perfectly innocent, but it is very glorifying
10 God if one can be patient under such cir
cumstances (I Pet. H., 1921 iv., 14).
10. "Neither can they prove the things
whereof they now accuse me-" Only lies and
not q particle of foundation. But so it was
with Jesus Himself, and He answered moth
ing Mark XIV, 3-5) giving us an example as
to how we ought to act. 1t is we'll sometimes
to be as deaf and dumb Cps. xxxviii., IS, 14).
IA. $50 worship the God OF my fathers,
believing all things which are written in the
law and in the prophets" And yet that was
counted heresy because he believed the word
of God rather than mans Interpretation OF
that word. In some quarters it is counted
kind Of heresy to so believe in these days,
but we are surely safe in following Him who
said SAll things must be fulfilled which
were written in the law of Moses. and in the
prophets, and in the Psalms concerning Me.
Is. fAnd have hope toward God, which
they themselves also allow, that there shall
be resurrection of the dead, both of the
just and unjust" Some of the most inn
portant Old Testament texts on the resur-
rectton are Job xix. 1927, margin lisa. XVI,
10; Hos. vi. 2, and Dan. xiii, 2.
16. ''And herein do l exercise myself, to
have always a conscience void of OfenSe to-
ward God and toward men" Believing and
teaching that all the saints shall meet the
LOru III Cn0 dlr anu Do dC tu0 IuuSiuoul scat
of Christ I Thess. iv., 16, IT Rom. xiv, 10
II Cor. ", f0) to be judged for their works.
Paul sought so to live that in that day his
works might not be burned up or disap-
proved Q Cor. ill.,, 15 tx, 27, r. ".
IT, S.Now after many years came to bring
aims to my Nation and offerings AS from
Antioch (chapter XII, 80, 30), so from other
places the saints sent thank offerings to Jer-
usalem, for if Jerusalem sent them the good
news OF Jesus, the Messiah, it was but right
that they should remember the saints there
in temporal gifts.
49, F'Whereupon certain Jews from Asia
found me purified in the temple, neither with
multitude nor with tumult" There was no
ground for his arrest except their hatred OF
the man and his teaching. His teaching was
strictly Scriptural and heartily indorsed by
the Lord Jesus Himself Chapters xviii, 9,
10 xiii, ~, 50 that their hatred was really
hatred of God and His truth Our COM
fort is that, if faithful to Him, we must ex-
pect fellowship in His sufferings Luke K,
16 John XIV, 20).
49, ..Who ought to have been here before
thee and object if they had aught against
me- Knowing they could prove nothing,
they thought best not to appear. In view OF
eternity and the judgment seat, what solid
comfort there is in the words, If God be for
us, who can be against us?' s'Who shall lay
anything to the charge OF Gods elect. (Rom.
viii, 81, 33)?
90 s'Or else let these same here say IL they
have found any evil doing in me while
stood before the council" His appearances
before the council and the happenings there
are recorded in chapter xiii, LILO. 1t was
that same night that the Lord appeared to
him and strengthened him (verse III so there
could have been nothing displeasing to the
Lord in his conduct.
81 Except it be for this one voice, that
cried, standing among them. Touching the
resurrection of the dead am called in ques-
ton by you this day." See chapter xxiii., 6.
1t was this saying before the council which set
Pharisees and Sadducees against each other,
so that the chief captain had to rescue Paul
from them. How great truth like the two
resurrections or the coming OF the Lord Will
set religious people against each other.
%, sWhen Iysias. the chief captain, shall
come down, I will know the uttermost of
your matters 1t is a great comfort to the
true child of God to know that God is thor
oughly acquainted with the utterinost of all
His matters. He knows us eventO the lmag-
iinations of the thoughts of our hearts (Gen.
vi, S; II Chron. xviii, 81 He also sees the
end from the beginning and will perfect all
that concerneth us Isa XVII. 10; Ps.
cXXxviii., 81.
20. And he commanded a centurion to
keep Paul and to let him have liberty. SO
it was with Paul repeatedly Chapters xvii,
8; xviii, 10). See in this the power OF
God that His servant might have greater OPP
portunity to testify OF Him. The eyes OF
the Lord run to and fro throughout the
whole earth to show Himself strong on be-
half of those whose hearts are perfect toward
Him"
"a. s'He sent for Paul and heard him con-
cerning the faith in Christ" This opportu-
nifty was perhaps given for the sake OF Dru-
silla but anyway Paul must have reloiced In
the privilege of telling again the story OF the
Christ who met him on the way to Damas-
Gus and gave him forgiveness OF sins and
eternal redemption acts xiii. 80, 80; Heb.
TX, 12).
25 sfHe reasoned of righteousness. tenn
perance and judgment to come. In tue
power of the spirit Paul spoke OF Jesus as the
only righteousness for the sinner (Rom X.
8, A., the manifestation of that righteousness
in the life Of the believer Pom. viii. Titus
H., 12), and the certainty OF our appearing
before Jesus Christ as our Judge Acts xvii,
31l. Felix was evidently moved. but SAID
Not Eow "--Lessop Helper