The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-03-11
IHE mSlBBl1HSHOOl LESSON
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MARCH II.
Lesson Text: ''Saul. the Prosecutor,
Converted" Acts tx, 1-2; 1920
Golden Texts l Tim, l.,
15-Commentary.

J., z. We last heard OF saul making havoc |
Of the church ut Jerusalem after tho martyr
dom OF stephen. We still find him in the
same spirit OF enmity against Christ and His
followers, but now he is reaching out TO
other cities, even to Damascus, with author
iy from the high priest to arrest n bring
to Jerusalem all such disciples of the Lord as
he might find. They are spoken Of rs men
and women OF the way (see marginl, remind
ing us OF Chrlst's W words, II am the
way" (John xiv. O.. God thus far suffers
Saul TO be satan's agent in purifying His
church. Not even satan can touch u child OF
God without Gods permission Dob l., 10;
Zech H.. 81, and when the adversary is al
lowed to try the people Of God. either direct
ly or by human instrumentality, We arc to
see only the hand of God and remember
Rom. viii, 90. 90. See Ps. xviii, IA; lxxvi., |
10, Dan. xL., So; xii, 10; Rev. H., 10. rs very
helpful.
S.4. "saul, Saul, why pcrsecutest thou
Meg' thus far and no farther is heavens |
decree for Saul. and now He who loved him
in all his sin, and who had suffered him thus
far in his devilish work, arrests him as he is
is about 10 enter Damascus. The light from
heaven smites him to tho earth. and the
voice from heaven enters his soul. The light
was brighter than the sun at MONDAY, and
the voice spoke in the Hebrew language |
Chapter XVI, -. ~. All the party saw
the light and fell TO tho earth in fear. but |
Saul alone heard the words which were
spoken. for they were only for him.
8. "Who art thou, Lord? l nm Jesus,
whom thou persecutest." In one OF Suuls
accounts OF this he gives the Lords answer
rs ~ nm Jesus Of Nazareth, whom thou per-
secutest" (chaptcr XIII, 81. In all Saurs
life he had never heard anything so startling
or upsetting as this. He verify believed
that he was doing right in the sight OF God
In prosecuting these followers of One whom
the highest authorities had put TO death rs a
blaspheme-. Sec his own testimony In
chapters xii. and XVI.
6 Lord, what will Thou have me to do?"
He is full OF trembling and as.onishmcnt,
hut in u moment he sees that he has been
oil wrong and tho prosecuted ones have been
right. He seems humblcd and by the spirit
confesses that Jesus is Lord Ct Cor. xii, 81.
He is told to 60 on to Damascus and await
orders. The "What wilt Thou2" OF this
verse and the "Where wit Thou" Of Luke
xii, ., when sincerely addressed to the
Lord. will not fail to obtain sure guidance.
Z. 1t is evident that those with Saul heard
n sound OF words, but it is also evident, from
chapter xiii, Q, that they heard not the
words spoken. Something Of the same kind
is written in Dan. ", 10. 1t Is sometimes
asked II those who are left when the church
IL taken shall hear the Lords voice or see
the event. Perhaps the records concerning
Daniel and Saul may give some light.
s, .. Three days In Damascus, blind ard
fasting and awaiting Il further message from
the Lord! What rcmembranccs, what per-
s%istence. what screenings of heart, what
humbling before God, what light from
heaven must have sllouo In his soul during
those days of outward darkness. How he
would think of what Stephen saw and said,
and Of the patience and faith of others who
had suffered for Christ through him. TIL
Lord was dealing wondrously with him, but,
oh. so lovingly, 10y His Spirit and His word.
10. "The Lord knoweth them that are His,
and lie knoweth them by name" Oil Tim. H..
~; lisa. Kill, y. He could send an angel to
do His bidding. as Hc often has done, for
they excel in strength and do His command
Inents, hardening unto the voice OF Hts
word: They are His ministers who do His
pleasure Ups. Gill;, 20, 21), but He sees fit to
use human instrumentality and calls n Philip
in Samaria or an Ananias In Damascus to do
His bidding. II wc hold ourselves ready for
any manner OF service wholly ut His COM
mandment q Chron. xviii, 2l), He will
surely show us His way for us and guide us
into the good works prepared beforehand
(Eph H., 100.
IL, IL. Ananias is sent to tho street and
the house, and the person Is named to whom
no il ITO go; and his occupation Mt the time is
also mentioned. Ananias Is also told what
Saul sees rs he prays. Let us not forget nor
fail to believe that God Is thus intimately
acquainted with each OF us. Our ways and
words md thoughts, both in the darkness
and the light. ara all known to Him (Ps.
cxXxix., l-12: Eek, xi., 81; therefore let our
honest prayer be, ''Search me. o God. md
know my heart; try mo and know my
Thoughts"
II. 1t must hare been another new ex-
periencc for saul to have n disciple OF Jesus
put his hands upon him and address him rs
"Brother Saul" but l am sure he did not
feel like knocking him down for thus ad-
dressing him, though l once heard a minister
of the gospel, in good standing among men,
say that he would like to treat n man that
way who would call him "brother." True
humility is never vexed nor irritated, but IL
at rest when nobody praises, or even when
blamed or despised.
IS. He received sight, he was filled with
| the SPIRIT, and confessed Jesus rs Lord in
baptism. He Is u new man. II new creation,
old thugs are passed away and all things
are become new. on Cor. ", ~. He is
crucinsd with Christ and risen with Christ
to a new life. Although he still lives, 1t Is no
longer Saul OF Tarsus, but Christ Jesus who
now lives in him rs Lord (Gal. H.. 800. He
has become blind to all but Jesus Christ. He
knows no other master. He has q heart only
for Him and abody that is henceforth wholly
at His disposal.
10. He partook OF food and was strength
ened and continued some days with the dis
ciples at Damascus. Every disciple would
soon hear OF 1t; it would spread far and wide
that the great prosecutor had become n dis
ciple OF Christ. Many would want to see for
themselves, before they could believe such II
thing. and even tho disciples ut Jerusalem
would not at first believe that he was Il dis
cipls (verse 26). Many of us are apt 10 be-
liove that some things are too hard for the
Lord, but we should remember Jer. xxxii.,
H. xxxiii., 8.
20. "And straightway he preached Christ
In the synagogues. that He Is the Son OF
God. He increased the more in strength
and spake boldly in tho name OF the Lord
Jesus, proving that He is indeed israeF5
Messiah oversees go, 29). Both at Damascus
anil ut Jerusalem tho enemies OF Christ
sought to kill him, but God took care OF His
chosen ve. sci and for n time sent him to his
home in Tarsus. As witnesses for Christ We
,,r.t ahtpa for Hin umnpu fbpsa whD know