Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-10-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for October -,
| 1So7-Paul Before King AErippa-
Acts 20;1O-32.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.l
GOLDEN TEXT.-Whosoever therefore
shall confess Ne before men, him will
confess also before my Father which Is
in Heaven.-Matt. 1922.
THE SECTION includes chapters Is and
26. the whole story of the trial Of Paul
before Agrippa.
T1ME.-First of August, A. D. 60. Two
years after the last lesson.
PLACE.-Cesarea, A miles northwest OF
Jerusalem.
LESSON NOTES.
The New Governor, Festus.-24:27,
After Paul had lain in prison for two
years Felix was removed on account of
grave complaints of his coaduct and
Porcius Festus was appointed in his
stead. Festus was a much better man
| than Felix.
.Paul's Address.-26:1 1873. Festus and
his brilliant court, King Agrippa, Queen
! Bernice. the principal officers of the
troops quartered at Cesarea and the
most influential of the civil magistrates,
were gathered together. Festus arose
and stated the object of their coming to-
| gether. The prisoner had been ve-
hemently accused as one worthy of
death. He had appealed to Caesar and
must be sent to Rome. But Festus, not
being well acquainted with Jewish laws
and customs, could not make out any
! definite charge against him that would
be reasonable excuse for sending him
as prisoner to Rome. Paul began his
address with his usual polished cour-
tesy. He we'll knew that an awkward
and rusty weapon was of no advantage
to the Christian warrior. Then for the
third time in the Acts is related the
story of his conversion, the wondrous
change wrought in himself by Jesus
| Christ
10. 'Whereupon," after hearing the
call. IL was not disobedient unto the
Heavenly vision:" Yet the seeming cost
and the struggle were very great.
20. But showed first unto them of
Damascus" Immediately after his con-
version. Then after two or three Years
he returned to Damascus and preached
again. ''And at Jerusalem:" For a
brief time, going there from Damascus.
He also visited there. and of course
preached at other times. ''Throughout
all the coasts (borders) of Judea:" The
exact time of this preaching is not
known. as no record is given of it. But
there was abundant opportunity for it
between A. D. 40, when Paul left Jeru-
salem. and A. D. 4s. when he began his
first missionary journey. "And then to
the Gentiles" over a large part of the
known world. THAT they should re-
pent." the first, deep. essential duty.
An Interruption by Festus.-Vs. "a,
25. "a. ''Festus said with loud voice.
of establishment and positive assurance.
Paul, thou are beside thyself:" Thou
art mad, insane; the same word that is
translated mad in the next verse.
25. Il am not mad:" Paul speaks for
himself, and let's Festus make the appli-
cation for himself. But speak forth
the words of truth and soberness:"
From Festus' standpoint, that of world
illness, the words of Paul were the fan
cies of crazy. unbalanced brain; but
from Paul's standpoint, that of eternal
life and spiritual life, they were simply
true and earnest.
The Appeal to Agrippa.-Vs. 26-29.
Paul turns from Festus, and appeals to
King Agrippa to confess that he is
speaking not of fancies, but of facts, OF
actual occurrences.
&c. For the king knoweth of these
things:" Agrippa as Jew was &C
quainted with Scripture, and as a ruler
in Palestine was familiar with the facts
of Gospel history.
~. king .Agrippa, believest thou the
prophets?" If he believed the Scrip
lures, then Paul could prove from those
premises the truth of the Gospel he
was preaching.
%. "Almost thou persuadest me to be
a Christian:" There are two quite di-
vergent opinions as to the meaning of
these words. The view taken in the
common version, that Agrippa's' better
nature was touched. and that he spoke
sincerely, saying in effect, if you go on
a little longer, and speak many more
such words, you will persuade even me.
The other Interpretation is that of the
r. V. With but little persuasion thou
wouldst fain make me Christian. 1t
was sarcasm.
20. II would to Gods" earnestly de-
sire of God, the only source of such a
blessed good. "Were both almost, and
altogether" ~ This is the natural
rendering if we adopt the translation
Of our authorized version in verse %.
(2) If we adopt the r. V. of verse 20,
then Pau's answer is: Il would that
you were persuaded. whether with little
trouble or with great" Afford and
Prof. Riddle suppose that Paul takes up
the words of Agrippa in sense slightly
different from that in which Agrippa
used them. to give point to his reply:
Il could pray God that both in little and
in great measure Ii. e., in everything),
not only thou" etc. Such as am. ex-
cept these bonds:" The chains he had
upon him while he was speaking. He
would have them free to exercise their
religion for the good OF others.