Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON WI, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 10.


Tess of the Lesson. Acts xxi. s.-39-Mem.
DRY Verses. 60. :1-Sioidcn Text. Phil. I.
90 Commentary by the Rev. d. n.
Stearns.
27 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 Cesarea, where they tar
ried some days with Philip and 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
docs questionable thing. which does not
accomplish any good. Both ut Tyre and at
Cesarea Paul was warned by the Holy
Spirit not to 20 to Jerusalem tverses 4. III.
but he would not be persuaded tverse 10.
IS. 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 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 ="
%. Fer 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" Czech.
vii, 10; viii, Ia. They knew nothing of the
love which thinketh no evil, is not easily
provoked, rejoiceth in the truth. hopeth all
things Il Cor. xiii, 30.
80 And all the city was moved, and the
people ram together, and they took Paul
and drew him out OF the temple. and forth
with the doors were shut" How much Of
the devil there may be under the cloak OF
religion and apparent zeal for Godl 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, IL, II; Ps. xxxiv, !; Math. XVI, S.
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 he
can do to child of God, but even then he
is only black servant to usher us into the
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 il
we are put out of the company of religious
people, and even if they kill us John xvi
l,2l
80. And when they saw the chief cap
tain and the soldiers they left beating OF
Paul" This WIS probably one of the three
bcatings which lie speaks of in III Cor. XII
%. His back had many IL scar ere this, but
he took pleasure in I'LL distrcsses for Christ's
sake if only the power of Christ might rest
upon him I'll Cor. xii, 0, l0). We do well
always to consider Him that endured such
contradiction of sinners against Himself
lest we be wearied and faint in our minds
for not many of us have, like Paul, resisted
unto blood uieh. All, 3. A.
SO. "Then the chief captain came neal
and took him and commanded him to be
bound with two chains and demanded
who he was and what he had done" OF
these bonds also he had been forewarned
neither his first nor his last chains for Je
sus' sake (chapter xviii, 20; ii Tim. /. 10y
These chains were but for time and fol
the glory of God but we read of everlasting
chains for lost spirits Jude 6; ii Pet. ii, a.
Not present suffering, but the eternal is to
be feared (Math. X, %; XIV, 30. IL; Rev. xiv
10, IL; Xxx, Is. xxi, 81.
"a. And some cried one thing, some an
other, among the multitude, and when he
could not know the certainty for the tn
multi he commanded him to be carried into
the castle" This is very suggestive of tn,
tumult of today among religious people
There is such Il crying of one thing and an
other by higher ard lower and no critics
by the different denominations and by che
posts and pres that it would almost seem
impossible to know the certainty OF any
thing, but those who cling to the book may
know and will know if they only take Goo
at His word lisa. viii, 20, II. W
35. And when he came upon the stair.
so it was that he was borne of the soldier,
for the violence of the people" Violenc,
and strife in the city, sure enough Ops. lv
81 But the day will come when Jerusalem
shall be called city of truth; when hel
walls shall be salvation and her gates
praise; when the work of righteousness
shall be peace, and the effect of righteous
ness quietness and assurance forever lZech
viii, 3; Isa. tx. Is; xxxii, ~.
ST. For the multitude of the people fol
lowed after, crying, Away with himr' 81
they cried out concerning his Master Luk,
xiii. 49, John xix, Isl, and He taught u,
that we must expect His treatment if faith
full unto Him John XIV, 20). How few OF u.
in these days seem to be counted worthy Of
this honori Is il because we are so littl,
like Him. so unfaithful to testimony, 81
mixed up with the world, or is it becaus,
we fear suffering for His sakey
81. And us Paul was to be led into tn,
castle be said unto the chief captain, MAY
speak unto theei Who said, Canst thou
speak Creek" During all this uproar anC
tumuit Paul was doubtless communin.
with his unseen Friend ard Master Hi.
heart would be saying: II am Thine, {
Lord. for Thy service. What wilt Thou hav,
me to do" (ehapter xvii, %; tx, 6)i Cap
tain and soldiers and angry mob were moth
ing to him as compared with his own Cap
tain.
80. Art not thou that Egyptian which
before these days madest an uproar ant
ituutSI OuL liltD the NllucTueSS 4,UDO mel
that were murterersf" Here Is a compli
ment for a faithful follower OF the meek
and lowly Jesus. a man who preached
peace and went about rescuing people from
the hands of the father Of all liars and muir
derers John viii, AZ TO be accused of beinl
the leader of 1900 murderers-that is
feather for your cap Paul, more fellowship
with your Master. Blessed privilege to b,
misunderstood and falsely accused if ONLY
for His sake
80. But Paul said, | am man which
am jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, citi
zen of no mean city, and beseech thee SUI
fer me to speak unto the people" Though
suffering in body from the beating and tn,
rough handling, his heart longed to tell 1
possible once more the story of Jesus. Tn,
false accusation was not worth noticing
but it was worth while to get another op
portunity to speak Of Jesus. Fellow be
lever we are citizens Of no mean city. Com
pare Phil. iii. 90. with Rev. xxi, g Is YOU
heart so stirred by this heavenly citizen
ship that you long above all things t.
speak Of Hmm
Attention Ladies'.
Al. l.