Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-10-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON I, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. 8.

Text of the Lesson, Acts xxi, i-15-Mem-
DRY Verses, 1e-14-G Golden Text, Acts xxi.
10 - Commentary by the Rev. ID. M.
stearns.
1-3. And when it came to pass that we
were parted from them we sailed unto
Syria and landed at Tyre for there the
ship was to unlade her burden" This is
n summary of these three verses, quoting
from the r. V. He was hasting if it
were possible to be at Jerusalem by the
day of Pentecost (chapter Xxx, 16), but as
they were dependent upon the possibility
of finding vessel about to sail in the di.
rection in which they wished to journey,
and upon favorable winds, it would not
seem to us much like making haste.
4. And finding disciples, we tarried
there seven days, who said to Paul through
the Spirit that he should not go up to Je-
rusalem. The Gospel had reached and
been received by some in this city, and so
the travellers and the residents were mt once
friends for there is no bond like the blood
of Christ His redeemed ones are all cit
liens of heaven, but pilgrims and stran-
gers here (Phil. iii, 90, II. V; Pet. ii, ID
But here is strange message to Paul
which makes us think Of chapter xvi. 6,
Z, when the Spirit suffered him not to go
into ASIA or }ithynia. In thar case he was
obodient. Let us see how he acts now
D. And when we had accomplished
those days we departed and went our
way, and we kncclcd down on the
shore and prayed The Spirit had not
said to stop at Tyre, nor to proceed no far
Their, so it was all right to move on. How
touching this parting sccnel Men, women
and children accompany Paul and his
companions out Of the city, and all kneel
on the shorcfn prayer. So in chapter Xxx,
&C. before leaving the elders of Ephcsus he
knccled down and prayed with them all
q. And when we had taken our leave
one OF another we took ship, and they re-
turned home again" These believers at
Tyre may have been part of the result of
the visit of our Lord (Alath. XIV, 21-2S), or
perhaps through the preaching of those
who were scattered at Stephens death
(Acts viii, A. There is just ono thing for
disciples to be doing, whether at home or
abroad, and that is to walk worthy of our
calling and show ourselves approved unto
God Il Thess ii, IL; II Tim. ii, 15).
Z. "And when we had finished our voy-
age from Tyre we came to Ptuamais and
salutod the brethren and abode with them
ono day" Brief but blessed visits of men
OF God and forcta-tcs of the eternal fellow
ship Of the future There would he but
one topic of conversation, the kingdom of
God and the things concerning the Lord
Jesus Christ (Acts xviii, 81, but one
book, the Scriptures and doubtless much
prayer The believers would be encouraged
To lie stcadlast and to do all in their power
to give the gospel To others.
s. We entered into the housco Philip.
the evangelist, which was one of the seven,
and abode with him." Leaving Ptolcmais,
they came to CUsarca, which seems to be
Philips home. The last we heard of him
was preaching in the cities FROM Azotus to
CHsarca after he had led the treasurer of
Queen Candace to Christ (Acts viii, 4O)
lie is still known as Il bearer of glad It'd
lngs and was doubtless continually at it,
Why should not every believer be in some
large sense an evangelist, an ambassador
for Christ?
.. And the same man had four daugh
tiers, virgins, which did prophecy" Daugh-
tiers as well as sons are included in the
promise of the gift of the Spirit (Joel ii.
rs; Acts ii, 10. In the Old Testament
Miriam, Deborah and Huldah and in the
New the women whom He sent from the
sepulchor and Priscilla and others are nota-
bic examples of women whom He used as
His messengers
10, IL. THUS saith the Holy Ghost So
shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man
that owneth this girdlo and shall deliver
him into the hands of the gentilcs." Thus
testified prophet named Agabus, who
camo down from .JudWa, and being with
these disciples took Paul's girdle and sig
nificantly bound his own hands and feet
with the same. Thus for the second time
l. n1
and 1t is the Holy spirit who tells him not
to go.
l.. And when we heard these things
both we and they Of that place bcsought
him not TO go up To Jerusalem. Now it
is possible for ii man to stand alone with
God and be all right, and it is possible for
IA man to think he is standing with God
and be standing with himself
IL. "Ihcn Paul answered, What mean
ye to weep and TO break mine heart? for
am ready not to be bound only, but also
TO die at Jerusalem for the name of the
Lord Jesus. This is certainly right
attitude of soul for a believer, and the
only right attitudc-to be ready for life or
death, prosperity or adversely, if only God
Is gloritlcd thereby-but my pcrpexity
here is to know what was the heartbreak-
ing part of this affair to Paul. Was he so
set upon getting to Jerusalem at this par
tlcular time that his heart would break if
he dld not accomplish it, or was he so set
upon doing the will of God that his heart
would break if he failed to do it? If the
latter then why not accept the voice of
the Spirit at Tyre and CHsarea and be sat
lsiled to be subject To the Spirit in this !
matter? Is not perfect submission to the !
will of God the highest mission on earth? |
As one has said:
Is not swill the wisest; is not His way the |
bcstt
And in perfect acquiescence is there not per
feet rest
II. And when he would not be per-
suaded we ceased, saying, The will of the |
Lord DO done, Both Paul and Barnabas |
could not be right in the matter of John |
Mark (Acts XIV, sad, and both parties |
cannot be right in this case, but the breth- |
rem yield to Paul and appeal to God. 1t is
good to say, "Thy Will be done, " but it is |
better TO do it without resistance 1t is |
good to say, "It is the Lord; let Him do !