The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-28
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST l..

Latter these things Pau departed
from Athens and anne to Cortnth." He Is
still led and controlled by the Spirit, and II
the Spirit had not now wanted him in Cor
NTH He would not have suffered him to 90
Chapter xvi, 6, y. Thus also we may
know His way for us. II we are honestly
living unto Him who has bought us to be
set apart for Himself, then wherever He
would have US to go the door will be open
and the way plain, and where He does not
want us He will close the door and hinder
US from going.
Aqutla, born In Pontus. lately come from
Italy, with his wife Priscilla" Then, az
now, the Jews were made to move on.
They had chosen Caesar instead Of their
Messiah, and instead Of rest, which Christ
would have given them, they have been to
this day driven hither and thither and per-
secuted in many lands. It Is written, 81
will command and I will sift Cor cause to
move) the house Of Israel among all ma
tions." 1t is also written, "He that scat
tered Israel will gather him" and, again,
IT will plant them upon, their land. and
they shall no more be pulled up out Of their
land which I have given them, saith the
Lord thy God" (Amos tx, 8, Is; Jer. XXI,
8. "And because he was OF the same craft
he abode with them and wrought, for by
their occupation they were t~entmakers."
Paul loved, when possible, to earn his own
bread, and he often testified that he did so
that he might not be a burden to any Of
them Il Thess; H., 0; II Thess. ILL.,, 81. He
said to the elders Of the church at Ephesus,
"Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands
have ministered unto my necessities and to
them that were with me (Acts Xxx, 34).
4. "And he reasoned in the synagogue
every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and
the Greeks" He would talk on the same
lines as at Thessalonica, showing from the
Scriptures that Israel's Messiah had to
suffer and die and arise from the dead be-
fore He could be the immortal man on
David's throne who had been foretold, and
that Jesus of Nazareth had fulfilled every
prediction concerning the suferings and
death and resurrection, and would certain
ly In due time fulfill every prediction con-
corning the kingdom and the glory (Acts
xvii, 2, 8; ILL.,, 21). The church of to-day
seems to think that many so called attrac-
tions are necessary to hold and win the
people, but 1t Is o fearful mistake. The
gospel Of God concerning His Son Jesus
Christ our Lord Is enough.
8. "And when Sflas and Timotheus were
come from Macedonia Paul was pressed In
the Spirit (R. Y. constrained by the word)
and testified to the Jews that Jesus wa
the Christ" He had left these two brethren
at Beren when he had gone to Athens
(chapter xviii, 13-15). But now they have
joined him, and he must have been some
what comforted By their coming. Paul
knew what sorrows were, and he. knew
what real comfort was, and 1t Is from the
heart that he speaks of God as "the Father
Of mercies and the God Ct all comfort.
Oh Cor. l., 81. i.
6. "Your blood be upon your own heads.
I am clean. From henceforth I will 20 I'M
to the gentiles." This he said as they op-
Jesus had taught that If the message OF
His servants was not received the servants
were to wipe the dust of their feet as q
testimony against them and pass on to
those who would hear. When the gospel
is faithfully preached, the messengers are
unto God asweet SAVIOR of Christ In them
that are saved and in them that perish Oh
Cor. H., 15).
7. "And. he departed thence and entered
into a certain mans house, named Justus,
one that w%orshiped God, whose house
one door Is closed another opens, and
whether it be just next door, as in this
case, or across the street, or in some other
city or town, or In some other land, the
Spirit Of God will lead His people, and
they have only to follow where He leadeth,
with no desire but to be controlled by Him
and to please Him. =
8. "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the
synagogue, believed O. the Lord with all
his house, and many Of the Corinthians,
hearing, believed and were baptized"
Paul baptized with his own hand q Cor. l.,
14-16), for he said that preaching the gospel
was his commission rather than baptizing,
not that he In any way made light Of ordi-
nances, but he emphasized that salvation
depends wholly upon believing or receiving
Christ and not upon any or all of the ordf-
nances Neither baptism nor joining the
church nor taking the. communion can
save or help to save a soul, but salvation is
without any possible addition.
8. "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the
night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak
and hold not thy peace" He said to the
Corinthians in his first epistle, 81 was with
you in weakness and in fear and In much
trembling" q Cor. H., 81, so that there was
some occasion for this special visit from
his blessed Master'an for this encourag-
ing BE not afraid" The eyes Of the Lord
are ever upon His people, for their good
and to show His strength on their behalf
Oh Chron. xvi, 81. II necessary, He will
send Gabriel or even q host Of angels on
our behalf.
10. "For T am with thee, and no man shall
set on thee to hurt thee, for I have much
people in this city," It would seem that
there were much disturbance and probably
threats OF violence to the person Of Paul.
OF these he would not be afraid, for he had
already been scourged and imprisoned and
stoned to death, but as the Spirit had re-
Gently been leading him or from city to
city he might naturally think, in the light
of recent leadings, that he was again to
move on; hence the Lords special visit
and message to him. As parallel passages
for our own strength and encouragement
note Elk. ill.,, IL; w., II; Joshua l., S; Judge
vi, 16; lisa. xii, 10, 13; Jer, t., 8, 10; Hag.
l., 10; H., 4; Gen. XIV, /: Math. xviii, 40.
The Lords own " lam with you; fear not"
Is full of mighty comfort.
II. "And he continued there a year and
six months, teaching the word Of God
among them" He had but one theme,
Jesus Christ Of Nazareth, His life, death,
resurrection and coming glory, but one
book, the Scriptures, and but one power, tho
Holy Spirit. Compare Acts XIV, IA; xvi.
%; xvii, 81; then see I Cor. H., is. The
Spirit will guide US when to go, and when
to stay, and how long to stay. He will
give US the words to speak, and He will do
all the work convincing Of sin and right
eousness and judgment. 1t Is ours to be
fully under His control for the glory OF
God.-Lesson HELPER
AN EccENTRIc MAN DEAD.