Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-10-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON II. OCT. 10 ACTS 20;
1880.
Golden Text: III Any Man Suffer as
Christian, Let Him Not BE Asiia med
Lesson.

| Place.-JeruSalem.
! Paul'S Journey to Jerusalem.-We have
brought Paul to the gates of Jerusalem.
| Let us remind ourselves of the specia!
purpose of his journey thither. for that
purpose throws much light on the narra-
| tive that follows The Epistle to the
Romans was written from Corinth Short
! ly before Paul started for Jerusalem.
| Look at the fifteenth chapter of that
| epistle. He there tells the Roman Chris
| tiahs that he had longed to visit them
Tor many years, and that now at length
he felt able TO go. having no more place
| in those parts,'' that is. in the Asiatic
and Greek provinces. Not that all the
heather were converted; but churches
had everywhere been planted. which was
PauFs special work q Cor. 9. 6, 100, and
now ne could leave others to water them
and go on elsewhere. But there was one
| thing more to be done. He must first go
up TO Jerusalem for a certain. purpose:
after that he would be free for fresh work
III the west. Verses "a. %; Acts 10. 81
Pauis First Reason.-What was Pauls
| purpose in thus going up to Jerusalem?
IL was twofold-to report to the mother
Church all that he had DONE and to unite
more closely the Jewish and Gentle be-
IeNers. How was this to be done? The
Jerusalem believers were poor; and he
resolved to make a collection for them
er one which he had carried up from
Antioch sixteen years before (Act IL. 81
oo). rms Is the collection mentioned in
Cor. 10. l-3: Rom. 10 %. %: and more fully
III : Cor. chapters s. o. It's design Is re-
vealed in Rom. -. 81. where Paul actual
~ asks the prayers of Christians In far
OH Italy that the Jerusalem church may
accept the gift evidently hoping it would
be the means of closing the long-standinS
preach. And to make it more impressive
ne takes with him representatives from
Inc various Gentle churches that they
may present 1t and witness in their own
persons the reality of Gods work by his
instrumentality. See Cor. 16. 3; Cor.
= IL; Acts 20. 4. Observe also that in his
defense before Felix he expressly says
that the object of his visit in Jerusalem
was TO bring aims to his nation" (ActS
~ ID
Pauts Second Rcasou-But Paul had
another object. He wished not only to
appease the Judaizers Chat is. the be-
leVing jews. but to make a last effort
10 win the unbelieying Jews to Christ
RMS also is revealed in the Eplstle to
the Romans chaps. 9. 10, II. He speaks
there OF great heavlness and continual
sorrow on account of the blindness OF
his "kinsmen according to the flesh" o.
1-5), and of his hearts desire and prayer
that they may be saved" 90 y. And had
not the fullness of the Gentiles already
come in a sense? Could he not now go
and tell the Jews that God had grated
IN the Gentiles. and would they not then
at length be persuaded and as nation
embrace the Gospel? He hardly expected
II, but he expected persecution and per-
haps death: but he would do his part
Accepting this view, we see at once why
PAU was so anxious to be in time for
Pentecost. when both unbelievng and be-
IaNt- M la
parts.
Reception by Friends.-At the best the
friendship of the Christian Jews in Jeru-
salem was very doubtful. while the en-
nifty of the non-Christian Jews was frank
and bitter. The day after his arrival
Paul was received by the elders. with
James, the presiding elder or bishop. at
their head. Imagine the meeting: Paul.
telling his wonderful story of Gospel tri-
umphs at Philippi. Corinth. Ephesus and
elsewhere; the Gentle delegates. Tro-
phimus, Luke and others, with the coll
lections. themselves the trophies of this
holy war; James, the Chairman" who
had come to an understanding with Paul
long before (Acts 10. 10; Gal. @ 81: the
Pharisee Christians. listening with doubt
ful and envious ears; the waverers. not
so bitter against Paul. but fearing that he
had gone too far" Now look at the re-
suit: When they heard il they glorified
the Lord" Paul and the collection had
conquered. The prayers of the Roman
Christians had been heard.
Reception by Foes.-Pauls old Pharisee
friends probably did not now recognize
him. gray and worn as we may suppose
him to be. But it is Pentecost time and
others besides he have come from long
distances to the holy city; and among
them are some Jews who knew him only
a year ago at Ephesus. See verses 27-29.
First, they meet him i'm the street along
with another familiar Ephesian face; and
then In the temple, not raising a tumult
against Penterost twenty-eight years
ago? What If il should end with the cry.
What shall We do to be saved?" What
did 1t end with? Only with the wild cry
that had preceded 1t, Away with him."
AT first ii seemed successful: and we can
not wonder at 1t. for surely a more skill
full speech was never delivered. First, he
uses their own vernacular tongue instead
Of the modern and foreign Greek Then
what does he say? There is nor word
OF rebuke. Nay. he even compliments
that angry crowd, Jealous toward God
as we all are this day" Does he boast OF
his freedom from Jewish bondage? No:
his boasting is of his Pharisee education
AT the feet OF Gamaliel." Does he at
tack their faith? No; he just gives a
plain and straightforward account of his
own conversion. He speaks respectfu,ly
Of the Sanhedrir call the estate of the
alders'D: he calls the Jews at Damascus
the brethren" ne does not obtrnde the
hated name of Jesus. but speaks of him
simply as He" or that Just One" he
'eferS to Ananias i'm terms which his au-
Hence would approve. He does refer
% the martyr Stephen" but II is only TO
condemn himself. And the people listen.
ntu that one word "Gentiles" Sins ont
ana In an instant all is over Paups
great effort has failed. The nath,n has
'nce more rejected Christ. (Stoci)
Hints to Teachers.
Fetween the lesson on Paul the travel
II and this one on Paul the prisoner there
: an interval of fortnight of which the
vents should be briefly presented. as
hey open new chapter in the life of the,
apostle.
Thts lesson opens with Paul a captive
standing on the stairs between che tenn
DE AMI the tower OF Antonio. Beside him
Roman officer. and below him is a
non. eager for his blood What does
'aui snow us I'm these circumstances?
PiTH AND POINT. IS.