Passaic City record., 1893-09-09
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER 10.
Lesson Text: sPauI at Rome,', Acts
xviii, 2O-31-Golden Text:
Rom. t., documentary.

90 ssFor this cause therefore have caIle,
for you to see you and to speak with you, be
cause that for the hope of Israel am bount
with this chain. During the three month
at Malta many miracles were wrought b,
Paul in the name of the Lord Jesus. ant
many must have heard the gospel oversees L
| I'D. In due time arriving at Rome, Pau
was suffered to dwell by himself with 9
soldier that kept him, and after three day:
| he called together the chiefs of the Jews and
made known to them why he was prisoner
and why at Rome. Before Agrippa he had
! spoken of the hope of the promise made oi
/ God unto the fathers as something concern
ing the IL tribes (xxvi-. 6, y.
| 81 e'And they said unto him, We neither
received letters out of Judea concerning
| thee, neither any of the brethren that came
! showed or spake any harm of thee.'' They
did not have daily papers with the news from
| all the world in each ISSUE 1t may have
been some comfort to Paul to know that
tongues in this part of the world had not yet
opened fire on him. He had been enjoying
his share of it elsewhere and had found some
| pleasure in it QI Cor. xii. 100.
%. ssBut we desire to hear of thee what
thou thinkest, for as concerning this sect we
| know that everywhere it is spoken against -
In chapter xiv, 5, the followers of Jesus are
| called the sect of the Nazarenes. If Paul had
not been spoken against at Rome up to this
| time, it would now be evident to him that his
Master had, and his fellowship would besure
| to come. But Paul was ready for his prayer
| was to know Him, and the power of His
resurrection, and the fellowship of His suf-
ferings (Phil. iii, 10)
! 49, "He expounded and testified the king
| dom of God, persuading them concerning
Jesus both out of the law of Moses and out of
the prophets from morning until evening"
Having gathered unto him in his lodging a
| company of Jews, he as his custom was,
| preached unto them Jesus as Son of David
and coming King from their own Scriptures
| Schapter xvii, Q, 8; XIX, g.; xiv, 14).
| Doubtless Acts xiii, 1911. Is fair sample Of
| bis preaching anil reasoning. He sought to
convince them that Jesus of Nazareth was in
| deed the promised Messiah, that it was all
| foretold that He should die and rise again,
and that now they we're to receive Him, serve
Him patiently and faithfully and wait for
His return (Acts ill.,, 1921; I Thess l., 9, 10 ;
Titus H., 11-13).
"a ssAnd some believe the things which
we're spoken, and some believed not" We
are nowhere taught that the good news will
be universally received in this age. Some
seed will fall by the wayside. and some on
rocky soil, but a portion will find good
ground some will be saved. and the church
Shall be completed (Math. xiii, 1928 /; I Cor.
*, %; Eph. ", 27). Even in the next age,
when satan shall be bound, there will be de-
eeivers who will only yield a feigned obedi-
snce and will follow satan when he comes
out of the pit Cps Xvi, 3, margin Rev. Xxx,
7,8)
25. ssAnd when they agreed not among
themselves they departed after that Paul had
spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost
by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers"
That it was not the prophets who spake or
wrote, but God by His spirit through the
prophets is everywhere taught. Compare
Acts L., H., IT iv., 25, and notice who it is
that speaks. David in his last words said,
ssThe Spirit of the Lord spake by me. and
His word was in my tongue (II Sam. xiii,
D. Peter says it was the Spirit of Christ who
spoke through the prophets q Pet. l., 10. ~.
26. Hearing ye shall hear and shall not
understand, and seeing ye shall see and not
perceive 1t was not very encouraging tc
fhe prophet to be told that the people would
neither perceive nor understand his message,
but Jeremiah and Ezekiel had thesame pros
pect before them. ssThey shall fight against
thee" 'sThe house of Israel will not harken
unto me- Ger. l., s19; Ezek. Ill, y. The
messenger of the Lord has only to deliver
that it will accomplish the Lords pleasure
| Elsa. w., ~, and take refuge and comfort in
Luke K, 16.
81 ssFor the heart of the people is waxed
gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and
| their eyes have they closed, lest Ishould heal
! them.' The difficulty Is not on Gods side,
| but wholly on the side of man, who will not
listen to God. 1t is written that the Lord
hardened the heart of Pharaoh and also that
| Pharaoh hardened his own heart eek. K, 1,
| 90, 27 viii, is, 32.) The Lord did it by CIV
| ing him command which he would not
| obey, and Pharaoh did it by refusing to obey
| the Lords command. God is always right,
| but man wrong.
%. s.Be it known therefore unto you that
| the salvation of God is sent unto the Gen
| tiles. and that they will hear it,. Compare
chapter xiii, 46, At. ITO the Jews first, '
was Pauls motto and custom (Rom. l., 16).
| Had it been continued to this day who can
tell what the result might have been? Obedi.
| ence is our part. Results are with God, and
! He will see to it. That God would gather
| from Jews and Gentiles without distinction
and on the ground of simple faith in Christ
! those who would form the body of Christ was
a mystery revealed to Paul (Rom. xvi, 20
| 26 Eph. iii. 1-12.
| 90. "And when he had said these words the
| Jews departed and had great reasoning
| among themselves" The word preached
does not profit unless it is mixed with faitl
| in those who hear it (Heb. w.. % Tnt
weapons OF our warfare are intended to cas'
! down reasonings and every high thing tna
| exalteth itself against the knowledge OF Goc
1 and bring into captivity every thought to ths
obedience Of Christ QI Cor. K, 8, margin,
! To profit by the word we must receive 1t VIII
| meekness GAS. l., 81
80. sAnd Paul dwelt two whole years in hi
/ own hired house and received all tnat CANT
in unto him." doubtless accomplishing tn
/ will Of God and glorifying God as much a
when iourneying through Asia and Macedo EDO
| nie Being no longer able to go to people
God brought people to Him, and though n
was bound he reioiced that the word OF Goo
was not bound Gil Tim. H., 81.
81. preaching the kingdom OIL Coo ane
teaching those things which concern tn
Lord Jesus Christ with all condolences, NJ
man forbidding him. The adversary can
not hinder beyond Gods permission, and
4 was His pleasure that for these two years tn.
word should have free course. The bool
opens with Jesus between His resurrection
i and ascension preaching the kingdom, an.
with the question Of the disciples, Lord
wilt Thou at this time restore again tn
kingdom to Israeli (Acts t., 5, 81? 1t close
with Paul at Rome in hired house stil
preaching the kingdom. After these l60
years we are still more or less bound, bu
preaching Jesus Christ and still waiting 10
the kingdom while we continue to pray
seThy kingdom come" IT we had more Q
Paui's spirit and faithfulness, we would
more to hasten the kingdom.-Lesso