Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-10-20
THs SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for October "a.
isos-f'nui Before King AErippa-
Acts xGiID-.y2.
lArransed from PelouLet.s Note-.l

shall confess Me before men, him will D
CONFESS also before my Father which q.
In llcaven.-Matt. 1922
| THE SECTION includes chapters Is ana
20. the whole story of the trial OF Pau
| before ASrippa.
TlME.-First of August. a. d. CO. Two
| years after the last lesson.
| PLACE. -Cesares. a miles northwest OF
Jerusalem
LESSON NOTES
The New Governor. Festus.-24:27
| After Paul had lain in prison for two
years Felix was removed on account of
| grave complaints of his conduc' and
PorciuS FeStus was appointed in his
stead. Festus was a much better man
/ than Felix.
Paul's Address.-26: 1-23. Festus and
his brilliant court King Agrippa, Queen
Bernice. the principal officers of the
troops quartered ut Cesarea and the
most Influential of the civil magistrates,
were gathered together. Festus arose
and stated the object of their coming to-
| gether. The prisoner had been We
hemently accused as one worthy of
death. He had appealed to Caesar and
must be sent 10 Rome. But Festus, not
being well acquainted with Jewish laws
and customs. could not make out any
definite charge against him that would
| be n reasonab BILE excuse for sending him
as prisoner TO Rome. Paul began his
address with his usual polished cour-
tesy. He well knew that an awkward
and rusty weapon was of no advantage
10 the Christian warrior. Then for the
third time in the Acts is related the
story of his conversion. the wondrous
.lnnr ana trht l.
| Christ.
10. "Whercupon," after hearing the
call. Il was not disobedient unto the
| Heavenly vision:" Yet the seeming cost
and the struggle were very great.
90. But showed first unto them of
Damascus" Immediately after his con-
version. Then after two or three years
he returned to Damascus and preached
! again. And ut Jerusalem" For a
brief time. going there from Damascus.
He also visited there. and of course
preached ut other times. "Throughout
all the coasts (borders) of Judca:" The
exact time of this preaching is not
known. as no record is given of it. But
there was abundant opportunity for it
between \. ID. 40. when Paul left Jeru-
salem. and \. ID. 4s. when he began his
first missionary journey. And then to
the Gentiles" over large part of the
known world. THAT they should re-
pent," the first, deep. essential duty.
An Interruption by Festus.-Vs. 81,
IS. "a. "Festus said with n loud voice"
of establishment and positive assurance.
Paul, thou are beside myself" Thou
art mad, insane; the same word that is
translated mad in the next verse.
%. Il am not mad" Paul speaks for
himself, and let's Fcstus make the appli-
cation for himself. But speak forth
the words OF truth and soberness:"
From Fcstus' standpoint. that of world
illness. the words of Paul were the fan
cies of crazy. unbalanced brain; but
from Paul's standpoint. that of eternal
life and spiritual life, they were simply
true and earnest.
The Appeal to Agrippa.-Ns. 1920.
| Paul turns from Festus, and appeals to
King Agrippa TO confess that he is
speaking not of fancies, but of facts, of
actual occurrences.
20. For the king knoweth of these
things:" Agrippa as jew was ac-
quainted with Scripture, and as a ruler
in Palestine was familiar with the facts
of Gospel history.
p. king Agrippa, belieyest thou the
prophets" If he believed the Scrip
turcs, then Paul could prove from those
premises the truth of the Gospel he
was preaching.
%. almost thou persuadest me to be
Christian:" There are two quite di-
vergent opinions as to the meaning of
these words. The view taken in the
common version, that Agrippa's better
nature was touched, and that he spoke
sincerely. saying in effect, if you 90 on
Il little longer, and speak many more
such words. you will persuade even me.
The other Interpretation is that of the
Il. V. With but little persuasion thou
wouldst fain make me a Christian. 1t
was a sarcasm.
20. Il would to Cod" Earnestly de-
sire of God. the only source of such
blessed good. Were both almost, and
altogether" U) This is the natural
rendering if we adopt the translation
Of our authorized version in verse %.
(2) If we adopt the Il. V. of verse IS.
then Paul's answer is: II would that
you were persuaded. whether with little
trouble or with great" Afford and
Prof Riddle suppose that Paul takes up
the words of Agrippa in n sense slightly
different from that in which Agrippa
used them. to give point to his reply:
81 could pray God that both i'm little and
in great measure ii. e., in everything,
not only thou" etc. "Such as ] am, eX-
cept these bonds:" The chains he had
upon him while he was speaking. He
would have them free TO exercise their
religion for the good of others.
Vindication. but the Appeal to Caesar
| Stood.-Ns. 3O-J2. 30. The king rose"
and the others in the order OF their
rank
81. Nothing worthy Of death or OF
| bonds" This was true verdict and a
complete vindication. He still must 90
10 Caesar, since he had appealed TO him;
| Bud because this YVES Gods way by
| which be corsld best reach Rome.
/ --------------
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
The beauty Of bicycle is only enamel
deep.
4 mans nerVe often males a coward