Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-10-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition Of the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy of Calm Re6ec-
sion-Half an Honr's Study of the
Scriptures-Time Well Spent.
Lcsson for October 24.


before King Agrppa.
Felix's convenient season" for hearing
seriously the truth that Paul preached,
never came; but hoping to receive money
from him. the governor often sent for the
prisoner to talk with him. We can mag
inc the sort of conversations they would
have-the crafty and covetous Roman,
and the earnest, godly Paul. We cannot
say with certainty why Felix supposed
that Paul had. money. Reports Of the
large sum of which Paul had been the
bearer to the Jerusalem church may have
reused the suspicion in Felix's mind that
Paul was enough like the average Jew
to keep a part as commission. 1t is con-
jectured by some that Paul had private
fortune, which he had used in his jour
neys. Certainly the scanty income from
his occasional tent making could hardly
have sufficed for his expensive travels
by sea and land, though it may have been
adequate for his support during his so
journ in certain cities. During the cap
tivity at Caesarea, Paul was certainly not
idle. Some scholars think that he wrote
during that time some of the epistles
which are commonly supposed to have
been written at Rome, @. G., Ephesians.
At any tate, his influence must have been
eXcrted for the good of the churches, as
far as his degree of liberty allowed.
In the year CO. or perhaps early in 81,
Felix was succeeded in office by Porcius
Festus. The circumstances connected
with this change Of officers are very i'm
portant for the chronology of Paul's life
because this is one of the few dates that
can be fixed with even approximate accu-
n re IF Il
sephus and Tacitus, most writer's are Of
the opinion that this could not have occur
red later than 81 nor earlier than 60. But
Harnack, the German church historian,
placed the date several years earlier and
alters the whole Pauline chronology. FEES
tus seems to have been n man distinctly
superior to Felix. No sooner had he reach
ed Jerusalem than he was besought to
send Paul to Jerusalem for trial. He re-
fused, and Informed the Jews that the
hearing would be held in Caesarea. After
his return, Paul was brought before him,
and the witnesses made charges. Festus,
knowing that the charges were false, de-
sired nevertheless to gain favor with the
Jews, and asked Paul if he was willing to
be taken to Jerusalem for trial. He re-
piled, courteously but firmly, that such a
Jews but the Roman government was to
decide his fate. Appealing to Caesar, his
appeal was granted by the governor, after
consultation with the judges who sat with
him. Appeals to the emperor were not al
ways granted on request. The governor
had the power to grant or refuse the petit
ton.
Agrippa. the king, was son of Agrippa
/ lsno Acts no 70
the Herodan family so renowned for
crimes. His domain was in the north and
east OF Palestine. and he was a colleague
rather than a subordinate of Festus, yet
had no such power as his father. Ber-
nice was Agrippa's sister. She was also
II sister of Drusilla. the notorious wife Of
Felix, and was even more renowned for
her wickedness.
Festus laid Paul's case before Agrippa
as an act of official courtesy, relating the
circumstances of the hearing and the APP
peal. Agrippa expressed desire to hear
Paul and accordingly on the following day
an audience was given. Festus indicated
TO Agrippa. as being a Jew and one pre-
sumab,y acquainted with the Jewish re-
ligion, that he would be glad to have in
formation as to what the trouble was all
emperor with the prisoner.
Explanatory.
How courteous, how fclicitous is the
opening sentence of Paul's address, Verse
p. 1t was true that Agrippa was learned
in Jewish lore for rabbinic writer's confirm
this statement. Though such knowledge
had had little effect on Agrippa's moral
character, it did nevertheless fit him for
understanding Pauls statements better
than conld the Roman Festus. The ear
lier part Of the address, preceding the les
son, may be compared with the other ac-
counts of Paurs conversion.
What did Agrippa know about heaven
" visions? 1t shows the moral courage
of Paul that he could tell this story so
straightforwardly to n man utterly w
spiritual and out of sympathy with him.
First unto them of Damascus: he pre-
rccdcd thither Immediately his conversion,
but met with poor success. A second visit
is referred to in Acts 9: 23, %. The
"coasts Of Judaea" are the borders of Ju-
daea. its territory. This preaching, Of
which we have no full record, must have
interviewed between his conversion and
the first missionary journey, A. ID. 5S.
For these causes" causes which ceI-
tainly should have no standing in II court
of justce-the preaching of repentance
and salvation. Without the help of God
Paul could not have stood fast against the
many trials and dangers of his career.
There is a quiet JOY in those words, II
continue unto this day" They sum up
long history. with its storms as well as
its sunshine. The continuance is the main
thing; the trials of the way are largely
forgotten.
The simplest truths about the Messiah
found in the Old Testament, such as that
he must suffer and that he should be a
light to the Gentiles, were ignored or de-
MED by most Of the Jews at this time: so
tbat Agrippa. for instance, would proba-
bly, be little better informed than Festus
upon such subjects.
If we remember all the circumstances.
striving to put ourselves in the place Of
Fcstus, we need not be surprised that he
thought Paul insane. Undoubtedly Paul's
manner was more or less vehement, ana
such strange words could not come from
E,crc impostor. The man was evident
ly person of education, and must he
mentally unbalanced. Festus did not
speak in sarcasm or ridicule. He seems
rather to have pressed his honest opinion.
Again a courteous appeal to the Jew
Agrippa. 1t has little effect. however.
The king is too hardened to be touched
by the evident sincerity Of the prisoner.
Paul never lost a chance to preach Christ,
and began on this occasion in tactful
manner, referring to what Agrippa un-
u,aStionohly apcontad tho nrophata