The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-08-10
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR SUNDAY. AUGUST 70
Paul Before Felix" Acts xiv. 10 90
Golden Text; Cor. xvi, ,l3.
Commentary.

TO- "Ihen Paul, after that the governor |
had Deckoned unto him to speak, answered. ,
Last week we left Paul about TO address the |
people from the castle stairs Just after hi. |
arrest. The next day he Is brought before
the Jewish council, but both the address from
tho stairs and his words before the council
caused such an uproar that the chief captain
had 10 rescue and care for him. Tho next
night the Lord stood by him and strength.
ened MIN (chaPter xxiii., 1i). Then because
OF plot 10 kill him he Is sent under strona
escort to Cwsarea. In this lesson he is be-
fore the governor Felix, and also the high
priest and elders who have come from Jer,.
salem To- appear against him. They have
Just accused him, and now he Is about to
answer for himself
II. "There are yet but twelve days since I
went mp to Jerusalem for TO worship" The
story OF this book then from chapter XXI, is.
TO this event occupied but IL days. but how
full they were for Paul2 Consider the last
II hours OF the Lord Jesus ere lie was nailed
10 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 OF little let all bo
for Him.
II. "And they neither found mo In the
temple disputing with any mnn, neither
raising up the people. Mother in the syna.
gogues, nor In the city," So that their Hccu.
sations. even though made by Orator Ter.
tullus. were oil lies. II Is very trying 20 be
publicly accused Of things Of which you are
perfectly innocent, but II IN very glorifying
TO God II one can bc patient under such cir.
cumstances II Pet. H., 1921 iv., lD.
IL "Neithcr can they prove the things
whereof they now accuse me-" Only lies sand
not a particle OF foundation. But so II was
with Jesus Himself, and He answered moth.
ing Mark w.. 35), giving us an example IA
to how we ought to act. IL N well sometimes
to be as deaf and dumb ops. NNxviii., 13. l4).
A O.. a.. 4 q a. sl - a..
believing all things which are written In the
law and In the prophets" And yet that was
counted hercsy because he believed the word
of God rather than mans Interpretation of
that word. In some quarters II IL counted n
kind OF heresy to SO believe in these DAYS,
hut we are surely 6fe in following Him who
snid, "All things must be fulfilled which
were written I'm the law OF Moses, and In the
prophets, and in the Psalms concerning Me-"
IS. "And have hope toward God. which
they themselves also allow thnt there shall
be n resurrection of the dead, both OF the
just and unjust" Some OF the most i'm
portant Old Testament texts on the rcsur-
rection are Job XIX, 1927, margin (; lisa. XVI
10 Hos. vi. 2. and Dan xii. 2.
10. "And herein do / exercise myself. 20
have always a conscience void Of ofrcnse to.
ward God and toward men" Believing and
teaching that all the saints shall meet the
Lord in the air and bc at the judgment son,
OF Christ Il Thess. w., 10, II Rom. xiv. 10
III Cor ". 10) 10 be judged for their works
Paul sought 80 tu live that in that day his
works might not bc burned up or di-ap.
proved q Cor Ill.,, 10 ; ;iN., ~, r. W.
II. "Now after many years 1 came 10 bring
aims TO my Nation and offerings" A. from
Antioch (chapter xi, 20, 3O), so from other
places the saints sent thank offerings 20 Jer.
salem, for II Jerusalem sent them the good
news OF Jesus, the Messiah, II was but right
that they should remember the saints there
IN temporal gifts.
lS. "whereuPon certain Jews from Asia
found me purified In the temple, neither with
multitudt'Aor with tumut." There was nc
| ground for his arrest except their hatred Of
the man and his teaching. His teaching was
l.strir,iu, Ser. plural and heartily indJrsed ty
th Jesus Himself Chapters xviii, 0,
SC SC tisss, thst 81 Aeirhatsea lFrs raills
hatred OF God and His truth. Our com
fo IS tnat. ~ faithful TO Him, we must ex
prct fellowship In His sutfsrings (Luke x.r
lS's John Az 2O).
- VINO ought 10 have been here befor,,
theo esd objevt II they had aught agains'
mr. hnowins they &C dld prove nothing
they Thought best not 10 appear. In view OF
eternity and the Judgment scat, what solid
comfort there Is In tho words, III God be foi
~. who can be against us?' "Who shall lay
anything to the charge Of Gods elect" (liom-
viii. u, 23)I
20 Or else lei these same here say II they
stood before the council" His appearance
before the council and the happenings there
are recorded In chapter NNiii.. 10. IL wa.
tina; same night that the Lord appeared to
him and strengthened him Verse ~ SO there
could have been nothing displeasing to the
Lord in his conduct.
II Except II be for this one voice. that
cried, standing amongthem. Touching the
resurrection of the dead am called in qucs-
ton by you this day 500 chapter NNiit., Il.
IL was this saying before the council which set
Phari-ecs AMI SadduceCs against each other,
so that the chief captain had TO rescue Paul
from nm. Itow great truth ike the two
rcsurri tions or The coming Of the Lord will
SIT religious peopl" against each other.
%. when Lysias. the chief captain, shall
come down, | will know the uttermost OF
your matters II il u great comfort to the
true child OF God 20 know that God is thor
oughly acquainted with the uttermOst Of all
Ills matters. He knows us even to the imag-
nations OF the thoughts Of our hearts Gen.
Vi. 3 Chron. xxyiii., ~. He also secs the
end from the beginning and will perfect all
hat concerneth US Qlsa. xlyi., l0 Ps.
.NNNyih., ~.
%. And he commanded a centurion TO
Keep Paul and to let him have liberty" So
Il was with Paul repeatedly (chapters xvii,
s. xviii, l0). See in this the power OF
God that HIS servant might have greater OPP
pOrtunity to testify Oi Him. "The eyes OF
.he Lord run TO and fro throughout the
whole earth 10 show Himself strong on be-
half OF those whose hearts ARE perfect toward
Him"
81 He sent for Paul anl heard him con.
c.rninG the faith IN Christ" This opportu
nifty was perhaps given for ths sake Of Dru
silln, but anyway Paul must have reJoiced in
the privilege Of telling again the story Of the
Christ who mct hin un the way 10 Damas-
,ys and gave him forgiveness OF sins and
eternal redemption Acts xiii, ~, 30i Heb.
tx, ~.
2j. ne reasoned NJ righteousness. tenn
peranre and Judgment II come In the
power ofthe spirit Paul spoke Of Jesus ~ th8
Only righteousness for the sinner lliom. ",
3, A the manifestation ot thar righteousness
in tn life Of the believer nOm. viii, 4 Titus
H.. l2), and the certainty OF our appearing
btforn Jesus Christ as our judge Acts xviii,
BIZ. Felix was evidently moved, but said.
mot row. Lesson Helper
no CONSOLATION ron THEu.