Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-03-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lcsson for March Z. lse.-
saul the Pen.eeutor. Coaverted-Acts
v;1-1a, I.-2o.
[Arranged from P,lonhet,s Notes l

saul, the Per.eeutor. Coaverted-Acts
S;1-is. ls-2o.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes
GOLDEN TENT.-This Is a faithful say
Ing. and worthy OF all acceptation. that
Jesus Christ came into the world TO save
sinners Tim. lis
THE SECTION includes the conversion
OF saul and his preparation for his great
work (Vs. l-SOl.
TiME.-A- u. 81. Most authorities Mace
the conversion OF Paul in this year. Tut
Prof. Ramsay makes Il about So: and Prof.
Thatcher i'm - or s.
PLACE.-Near Damascus. 40 miles north
east OF Jerusalem.
EXPLANATORY
l. Paufs Bitter Opposition TO Christ.
VS.. l, .. l. And" Il. V. But. in con-
trast with Philip. yet" ever since the
persecution begun on the day of
Stephens death (S:1, and continuing
through the work of Philip recorded in
the previous chapter; probably few
weeks. breathing out threateninCs,"
etc; He lived. as il were, in an atmos-
phere of threats and slaughter.
:. Letters TO Damascus" The work
OF persecution had been so successful
that a large part of the Christians were
driven away from Jerusalem and vi
cinity; very probably not a few, in leav-
ing Palestine, had gone TO Damascus.
These letters were Paul's authority.
ii. Christ Appears to Saul on the Way
TO Damascus.-Ns 3-s. ,. AS He Jour
neyed;' Perhaps on horseback. as
usually represented by painters, or on
n camel. according to Canon Cook.
suddenly (about noon. 22:6) there
shined round about Him light from
Heaven" The light was above
the brightness of the sun" (a6:l3. IL
was in the midst OF this glory that
Christ was seen 10y Saul Il Cor. 1881.
so that he can enumerate himself among
those who had beheld the Lord after
His resurrection.
4. Fell TO the earth" Blinded and
amazed. The whole company fell with
him. Heard a voice." Clear and dis
tinct TO him. but a mysterious sound TO
others ". -. why persecutest thou
Me?" He thought he was prosecuting
the disciples Of poor rabbi. an i'm
postor. cruciiied malfactor: and in
stead, he now saw that he was perse-
cutting this glorious being, this living
and glorified Jesus, worthy indeed 10
Ice the Messiah.
.. who art thou. Lord?" II
am Jesus Saviour, helper, of whom
he had heard, and perhaps had seen at
some time G. Cor. 5:l5), but now SO
changed.
1T is hard" etc: These words land
The first clause of V. 6) are rightly omitted
from the Revised Version. But they be-
long TO the story. for Paul himself ut
ters them in 26:14. ITO kick against
the pricks:" /. e., go1ds, as unruly oxen
sometimes did. The more they kicked
against them, the more they injured
themselves, without escaping from
their work
q. trembling and astonished:" MANY
sinner feels in the same way when lac
first sees himself as hc is, sees the true
| picture OF his moral character and past
life, in contrast with the vision OF Jesus
and of God in their holy character.
What wilt thou have me to do?" This
rs the next step in the inquircr's prog
ress. He would see clearly what is re.
CURED of him. He would make his de.
cision. with all the facts before him.
:. The men which journcycd With
him stood spcechlcss:" In 2G:14. il
says they all fell 10 the earth. The
may have risen again before the blinded
saul arose on hearing the voice Hear.
ing voice (the sound). but seeing no
mani" We are told by st. Paul himself
tchap. 22:o) that they did not hear the
voice What ~ meant is clearly that
they did not hear the words as words
could attach no meaning TO the sounds.
S. And when his eyes were opened: :"
Probably after some interval. saw nc
mani" Saw nothing. He was totally
blind from the brightness OF the light
III. Three Days of Darkness and Goa.
fiict.-N.9. "IIe was three DAYS without
sight" The state of his mind NAV be
gathered from the fact that he took nc
food or drink during that interval. And
versed as he was in the Bible, he could
even in his blindness, search the Scrip
lures, and, under the guidance OF the
! Holy Spirit, was enabled clearly to dis
Germ the whole scheme of Christian
doctrine in its fulness and truth. With
out doubt, these three days were n sea
son OF intense inward conflict, alone
and in darkness.
Nv. Conversion.--Vs 1O-12:17. 1s: 10.
~ certain disciple . . named Anna.
Mas" 1t is good 10 have some one TO
redeem the name. We know nothing
further about him except that che was
a good man, having good report of all
the Jews which dwclC' at Damascus
(22:12).
H. Brother Saul" Showing that he
accepted him as fellow-disciple
Sight Holy Ghost" The re-
ceiving Of sight expressed the opening
OF the eyes OF his mind to the new light
from Heaven, and was 20 him "A proof
shat he had received the power Of the
Spirit. the extraordinary gifts and quail
fications needful for his work
V. The Young Convert at Work. v
10. When he had received meat" /. e..
food. The three days fast ". % and
the intense in--nrd conflict had obvious
ly brought ABOUT q state Of extreme
prostrauon. He was strengthened.
Ills physical condition was attended to.
20. ''Straightway:" Immediately.
Preached (pruclaimcD Christ or. v.
Jesus. in the synagogues:" lie gave
ais religious experience. tcstifying 70
what Jesus had done for him.
APT AMn ApTtCTG