The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-10-20
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
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Lesson Of the Day by Rev. Stearns.
Festus succeeded Felix, and both were
willing to please the Jews at Paul's ex-
pense (xxiv., 27; XIV, 81. Paul appealed
to Caesar; therefore the case had to 60 to
Rome. King Agrippa coming to C@sarea,
Festus states the case to him as far as he
knows 1t, which Is that 1t concerns zone
Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul af-
frmed to be alive" (xxv.. 19). Agrippa de-
string to hear for himself, Paul Is brought
forth in the presence of Agrippa, Bernice,
Festus and the chief captains and princi-
pal men Of the city and allowed to speak
for himself. He states briefly his early
history as an enemy Of Jesus, and then
more fully his conversion on the way to
Damascus and his commission from the
Lord Himself.
10. "Whereupon, o King Agrippa, was
not disobedient unto the heavenly vision"
When he heard one speaking to him from
heaven, saying IT am Jesus, whom thou
persecutest," he could no longer doubt but
that he had been greatly mistaken and that
Jesus OF Nazareth was actually alive andin
heaven, and at once he yielded to Him,
saying. Lord, what wilt thou have me to
do?" We cannot expect such vision or
voice from heaven, but the word of God
should be to US as much voice from
heaven as that which he heard. NJ.
20. "Repent and turn to God and do
works meet for repentance" This he
preached everywhere, proclaiming that
God was in Christ, God manifest In the
flesh, and that the only way to turn to
God was to turn to Christ q Cor. ILL.,, 11),
and then let your life prove that you had
really turned to Him, for while no works
OF ours can save US, yet II saved by His
finished work We will surely show 1t by our
works.
81. "For these causes the Jews caught
me In the temple and went about to kill
me-" Jesus was the cause of all their
hatred. There are gods many and lords
many In Christendom as we'll as in heath
endom, but there Is only one living and
true God. who 80 loved US as to give His
only begotten Son for US. and when we re-
ceive Him He and His Spirit will be mani
fest in US and will provoke more or less
opposition from the world and also from
religious people who do not truly know
Him, for the carnal mind, whether reli-j
gious or otherwise, is enmity against God
(Rom. viii, y. ~
%, 23. "From Moses and the prophets he,
continually proclaimed that It had been
foretold that the Messiah should suffer and
die and rise from the dead before He could
be Israel's Messiahor light to the gentiles."
SO also our Lord Himself, for Moses and the
prophets set forth that His sufferings must
preoede His glory duke XIV, 25-27). We
receive Him, and by His finished work are
saved eternally, but If we would reign with
Him In glory we must be content to suffer
with Him this little while, and by life and
doctrine proclaim Him to all the world
(Math. K, '87-Ss; Rom. VIII, II; II Tim. IL,
"a. "Paul, thou art beside thyselt. Much
La orDtn Iath olya ua haH
not been speaking the; wisdom Of men, but
had been telling earnestly the story of
Jesus and to this day those who are much
In love with Jesus and carried away with
Him are accounted. beside themselves.
They said OF Christ, 'tHe had devil and Is
mad" (John K, 20). The prophets testified
that people said, "The man of the Spirit Is
mad" "He that depsrteth from evil Is ac-
counted mad" (Hos. TX, ~ margin, and
Isa. lix., Is, margin). a4 ~
IS, 26. II am not mad, most noble Festus,
but speak forth the words Of truth and So
berness." Yet these are the very words
that are not palatable to men Of the world.
The time will come, Is even now come, when
many who bear the name Of Christ will not
endure sound doctrine. They have form
Of godliness, but deny the power thereof
or Tim. w., 8; ill.,, 81. Like Festus, they
know all about 1t, but they will not yield
to It and be obedient to 1t. They know all
about Him who is the only Saviour, but
will not submit to Him or be ruled by Him.
AZ. "King Agripps, believest thou the
prophets? I know that thou believest."
From verse three 1t would appear that the
king was we'll acquainted with the Jews
and their affairs and the promises concern
ing them and their Messiah, but It Is not
what we know that helps US, but only the
knowledge we make use OF. 1t Is not the
food we look at and can talk about and
even prepare for others that benefits our
selves, but only that which we personally
appropriate. We must receive Him.
k2s. "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Al
most thou persuadest me to be q Chris
tian." Another translation Is, Lightly
art though persuading thyself that thou
canst make me a Christian" The word
"Christian," 80 common with US, is not
word much used In the Bible, being only
found in two other places acts d., 2S; I
Pet. w., 16). The word "saintr or "be-
lever" or "brethren" Is much more com.
mon.
20. "I would to God that not only thou,
but also all that hear me this day, were
both almost and altogether such as am,
except these bonds" He was addressing
the king and the governor and the chief
captains and mighty men, and yet felt that
with the exception Of his bonds he was bet
ter of than they and that what he had they
might we'll desire to have. What could 1t :
be? What but this, that their position and
honor were but temporary and transient,
while he, though for time their prisoner,
was one with Him who was at Gods right
hand, q Joint heir with Christ, q king and
a priest unto God (Rom. viii, II; Rev. l., 5,
6; ", 9, 1O), and that he would surely in
dine finn a eniov His heavenly kingdom
80, 81. "This man doeth nothing worthy
Of death or Of bonds" This was the con-
clusion Of the king and governor and the
others as they went aside after Paul had
finished. PLATE bore the same testimony
concerning our Lord Jesus, and yet the
Jews had Jesus cruciled and Stephen
stoned and James slain, and they would
have killed Paul. Oh, how they hated
Jesus Of Nazareth!
80. "This man might have been set at
liberty II he had not appealed unto Cesar"
Shall we say, What pity he appealed to
Caesar? Or shall we say, eyes, my Father,
this Is 80, because that Thou hast found 1t
good2" (Math. xi., 26, French Testament).
Sometimes God does directly, and some
times He permits to be done, but He always
oyerrules and controls for His glory and
the highest good Of His people whom He
unchangeably loves even In their per-
yerseness. n Paul erred, as think from
the testimony, In going to Jerusalem at
this time, the Lord still loved him, ap-
peared to him and will surely get him to
Rome, as he said.-Lesson Helper.