Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

IHE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 20.
Text ofthe Lesson. Acts xiv. 1o-25-3Iem-
DRY Verses. I4-16-Goldea Text. I Cor.
xvi. 13-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
TO- Then Paul, after that the governor
had beckoned unto him to speak, an
swered." Last week we left Paul about to
address tho 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 to rescue
and care for him. The next night the Lord
stood by him and strengthened him
(chGpter xiii, III. Then because of plot
to kill him he is sent under strong escort
to CRsarea. In this lesson he is before the
governor Felix, and also the high priest
and elders who have come from Jerusalem
to appear against him. They have just &C
cused him, and now he is about to answer
for himself
II. 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 ~ days, but how
full they were for PAUL. Consider the last
l. hours of the Lord Jesus ere He was nailed
to the cross, how much they meant to Him.
and how large portion of each gospel Is
taken up with the record. Whether our
hours or days mean much or little let all be
for Him.
IL. 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 &C
cusations, even though made by Orator
Tertullus, We're all lies. 1t is very trying
to be publicly accused of things of which
you are perfectly innocent, but it is very
clarifying to God if one can be patient I'M
der such circumstances Il Pet Ii, 1921; Nv,
~.
IS. Neither can they prove the things
whereof they now accuse me-" Only lies
and not particle of foundation. But so it
was with Jesus Himself, and He answered
nothing (Mark XIV, 30, giving US an ex-
ample as to how we ought toact 1t swell
sometimes to be rs deaf and dumb Ops.
xxxviii. 10, ~.
IA. 80 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 be-
lieved the word of God rather than mans
Interpretation of that word. In some quar-
tiers it is counted a kind Of heresy to so be-
lieve in these days, but we are surely safe
in following Him who said, "All things
must be fulfilled which were written in
the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and
in the Psalms concerning me-"
10. And have hope toward God, which
they themselves also allow, that there shall
be a resurrection of the dead, both Of the
just and unjust" Some of the most i'm
portant Old Testament texts on the resur-
rection are Job xix, 25-a7, margin; Isa XVI,
10; Hos. vi, ., and Dan. xii, q
16. And herein do / exercise myself, to
have always a conscience void of offense to.
ward God and toward men" Believing and
teaching that all the saints shall meet the
Lord in the air and be at the Judgment seat
Of Christ Il Thess. iv, 16, II; Rom xiv, 10;
ii Cor. V, 10) 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 Il Cor. iii, Is; tx, p, II. VI
II. Now after many years / came to
bring aims to my nation and offerings"
As from Antioch tchapter xi, 20, 30), SO
from other places the saints sent thank of.
ferings to Jerusalem, for II Jerusalem sent
them the good news of Jesus. the Messiah,
it was but right that they should remem-
Der the saints there in temporal gifts.
Is. "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
teachingwas strictly Scriptural and hearth
ly Endorsed by the Lord Jesus Himself
Chapters xviii, 0, 10; xiii, IL, so that their
hatred was really hatred of God and His
truth. Our comfort is that, if faithful TO
Him. we must expect fellowship in Hiss
ferings duke Y, lG; John XIV, 90)
10. 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 usf" who
shall lay anything to the charge OF Gods
elect" Rom. viii, 81, 33)?
20. 'Or else let these same here say II
| stood before the council" His appear
ance before the council and the happenings
there are recorded in chapter xiii, ITO. 1t
was that same night that the Lord appeared
TO him and strengthened him Verse ID, 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
q OF AT "a al I M, In,
question by you this day." See chapter
xiii, g. 1t was this saying before the coua-
Gil which set Pharisees and Sadducees
against each other, 50 that the chief captain
had to rescue Paul from them How a
great truth like the two rcsurrections or the
coming of the Lord will set religious peo-
pie against each other
q. when Lysias, the chief captain, shall
come down, will know the uttermost Of
your matters" ! is great comfort to the
true child of God TO know that God is thor
oughly acquainted with the uttermost of
all his matters. lie knows us even to the
imaginations of the thoughts Of our hearts
Gen. vi, 5; | Chron. xviii, o. He also
sees the end from the beginning and will
perfect all that concerneth Va lisa. Xvi, 10;
Ps, cxxxyiii, s..
%. And he commanded a centurion to
keep Paul and to let him have liberty"
SO it was with Paul repeatedly Chapters
xvii, 8; xviii, i6). See in this the power
Of God that His servant might have greater
opportunity to testify Of Him. "The eyes
Of the Lord run to and fro throughout the
whole earth 10 show Himself strong on be-
half OF those whose hearts are perfect to-
ward Him"
"a. He sent for Paul and heard him CON
corning the faith in Christ" This oppor-
tunity was perhaps given for the sake OF
Drusilla, but anyway Paul must have re-
jpioed in the privilege Of telling again the
story of the Christ who met him on the way
to Damascus and gave him forgiveness Of
sins and eternal redemption (Acts xiii, IS,
90; Heb. tx, ~.
%. ale reasoned Of righteousness, tenn
peranee and judgment TO come" In the
power of the spirit Paul spoke Of Jesus as
the only righteousness for the sinner Rom
x, 3, ~, the manifestation of that righteous
ness in the life Of the believer QRom viii, 4;
Titus ii, 12l, and the certainty Of our ap-
pearing before Jesus as our Judge tActs
xvii, 81. Felix was evidently moved, but
said Net pow,h
Attention Ladies'.