The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-10-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for October ~.
1S07-Paul Before the Roman Gov.
ernOr-Acta 2AslO.2S.

1
International Lesson for October ~.
| 1s87-Paul Before the Roman Gov.
ernor-Acts 24,1O-25.
tArranged from Peloubet's Notes.1
GOLDEN TExT.-Fear thou not, for
nlts stGToN ;nsISs, a. the whole story
OF Paurs transference to Cesarea, his trial
%sSs Acs. Is = isS 70 g. 9, ana sssp $ -
night t9t q the a5th and TIE 18th: trial Sefore
Felix. Tuesday Msy 80; imprisonment at
THE LESSON.
| I. The Plot.-As soon as Paul was
taken to the castle 40 of their number
conspired to kill him, binding them
selves not to eat or drink till they had
murdered him. But Pauls nephew in
some way learned of the plot and re-
vealed it to the commander.
u: Paul Transferred to Cesarea.--
As soon as the Roman colonel Lysias
learned Of the plot he arranged to have
Paul start that same nj ght for Cesarea
under guard of 400 infantry and 70
| cavalry. They left Jerusalem at nine
o'clock that same evening, bearing a
letter to Gov. Felix, recounting the
circumstances.
| III. Trial Before Felix.-Within five
days the high priest Ananias, accom-
| panied by deputation from the San
hedrim, and by professional advocate,
Tertullus. arrived in Cesarea to present
their charges against Paul.
| The charges brought against Paul
were: l. Treason against Rome. "a
mover of sedition among all the Jews
throughout the world" referring to the
mobs of the Jews against him in almost
every city, as if he were to blame for
them. 2. Heresy against the Jewish
religion, ringleader of the sect of
the Nazarenes. Ringleader. the leader
OF ring. or riotous body 8. Sacrilege
in profaning the temple. as charged by
the Jews of Asia.
~. Paul's Reply to the Charges.-vs.
1921 The introduction, verse 10. was
courteous, but not flattering.
lhe answer to the charge of treason
was simple denial, sustained by
plain statement of facts and the utter
absence of any witnesses or proof.
| In answer to the second charge of
heresy he acknowledged the fact, but
denied that it was heresy.
| Paul brought forward three reasons
why his way of worship was not a sect
| or heresy. l. Because with it he wor-
SHIPPED the same God of my (our) ia
theirs whom his accusers worshiped. He
was true Jew. 2. He held to the Jew
ish law. while he rejected many of their
interpretations of it. Christ and the
Gospel fulfilled, not annulled, the law.
And in the prophets. The Jewish
Scriptures which foretold Christ. 3.
Is. "And have hope toward Gods" In
reference to God, founded on His rev.
elation. His hope was shat there shall
be resurrection Of the dead:" Immor.
tai life and glory. just as his accusers
themselves believed; Paul, pointing to
them as he spoke. "Of the Just and un-
just:" Bringing q double motive Of
hope and Of warning.
The answer to the third charge, of
sacrilege (Vs. 17-21), is a direct denial,
through statement Of the facts.
II. "Now after many" Several years.
from Jerusalem. 1t was four years
since he was there. II came to bring
aims to my nation:" The large sums
he had been collecting in Corinth and
Macedonia. sand offerings" The Gus
tomary Pentecost sacrifices in the tenn
pie. This was the exact opposite of
sacrilege.
There was no answer to Paul's argu-
ment, for there could be none.
v. Two Years in Prison at Cesarea.-
VS.. 22, 23. Felix, for fear of the Jews,
who were turbulent people, and knew
his wicked deeds, and for the sake of
making money out Of Paul Tvs. 26, 27),
deferred his decision. Knowing the
character OF the disciples, and that
Paurs story accorded with what he
knew OF them, Felix avoided outrageous
injustice to Paul, and yet did not set
the Jews against himself. by simply de.
ferring his decision. Paul's oonfine-
ment was as easy as possible, because
Felix knew that Paul was innocent.
and yet for the reasons given above he
was afraid to release him. This i'm
prisonment lasted for two years ".
e7).
vi. Felix Before Paul.-vs. a, Is.
"a. when Felix came:" He resided
only part of the time at Oesarea, and
had now returned. HE sent for Paul:"
Either from curiosity to see such q we'll
known man, or from some remnant of
conscience and thought Of better life,
or, as In verse 81. in order to extort
money from him.
rs. sand as he reasoned" In this
private interview with two such un-
godly people as Felix and his wife Tru-
silla in a palace, amid all the dazzling
circumstances OF rank and power. 'Of
righteousness" Our English Justice"
includes In Greek ethics the duties
which man owes to man. Temper
ance:" The Greek word has a far
broader significance than the English
temperance; it denotes especially self