Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-03-11
faE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for March a, 1907
saul. the Prosecutor. Converted-Aets
e:I-I2, 1870.

THE SECTION includes the conversion
Of saul and his preparation fer his great
work Tvs I-5Q.
TIME.-A- D. 81. Most authorities place
the conversion Of Paul in this year. put
Prof. Ramsay makes it about 80. and Prof.
! Thatcher in "a or IS.
PLACE.-Eear Damascus. 40 miles north
east OF Jerusalem.
EXPLANATORY.
/. Pauls Bitter Opposition to Christ.
VS.. l, 2. 1. And" Z. V, But, in con-
trast with Philip. yet" ever since the
persecution begun on the day of
Stephens death (s:1), and continuing
through the work of Philip recorded in
the previous chapter; probably few
weeks. Breathing out threatenings,"
etc: He lived, as it were, in an atmos-
phere of threats and slaughter
?. Letters TO Damascus" The work
of persecution had been so successful
that large part of the Christians were
driven away from Jerusalem and Vi
cinity; very probably not few. in leav-
ing Palestine, had gone TO Damascus.
These letters were Pauls authority.
H. Christ Appears to Saul on the Way
to Damascus.-Vs. 3-8. 3. AS He Jour-
neyed:" Perhaps on horseback. as
usually represented by painters, or on
a camel, according to Canon Cook.
Suddenly (about noon. 22:6) there
shined round about Him light from
Heayen:" The light was above
the brightness Of the sun" (26:13) 1t
was in the midst of this glory that
Christ was seen by Saul q Cor. 1879,
so that he can enumerate himself among
hrss
His resurrection.
4. Fell to the EARTH" Blinded and
amazed The whole company fell with
him. Heard a voice." Clear and dis
tinct to him, but mysterious sound to
others ". y. Why persecutest thou
Me"' He thought he was prosecuting
the disciples of poor rabbi, an i'm
postor, crucified maIfactor; and in
stead, he now saw that he was perse-
cutting this glorious being, this living
and glorified Jesus, worthy indeed I,
be the Messiah.
5. who art thou, Lord?" 81
am jesus" Saviour. helper, of whom
he had heard, and perhaps had seen at
some time e. Cor. $3.50, but now so
changed.
1T is hard" ETC.: These words land
The first clause ofv g. are rightly omitted
from the Revised Version. But they be-
long to the story, for Paul himself ut
tiers them in 26:14. ''Io kick against
the pricks:" i. e. goads, as unruly oxen
sometimes did. The more they kicked
against them, the more they injured
themselves. without escaping from
their work
6. Trembling ard astonished:" Many
sinner feels in the same way when he
first sees himself as he is. sees the true
picture of his moral character and past
life, in contrast with the vision of Jesus
and of God in their holy character
What tilt thou have me TO do?" This
is the next step in the inquirer's prog
ress. He would see clearly what is re-
quired of him. He would make his de-
cision, with all the facts before him.
I. The men which journeyed with
him stood speechless:" In 26:14, it
says they all fell TO the earth. They
may have risen again before the blinded
saul arose on hearing the voice. "Hear-
ing voice 6the sound. but seeing no !
man" We are told 10y ST. Paul himself
tchap e2:5) that they did not hear the
voice. What IS meant is clearly that
they did not hear the words as words
could attach no meaning to the sounds. |
. "Aad when his eyes were opened"
Probably after some interval. saw no
man saw nothing. He was totally
blind from the brightness of the light. |
Ill. Three Days Of DARKNESS and Con-