Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-03-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition OF the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy Of Calm Reflec-
tion-Half an Honr's Study of the
Scriptures-Time Well Spent.

Lesson for March y.
Golden Text.-"Then Philip opened his
mouth, and began at the same Scripture,
and preached unto him Jesus."-Acts 81:
35.
The lesson this week is found in Acts
8: 26-40, and has for its subject The
Ethiopian Convert. The new era which
began with the dispersion of the disciples
after Stephens death was continued by
the preaching of Christ in many places
hitherto untouched by the gospel. After
Philip had completed his work at Samaria
he was Immediately called to enter on a
new mission, the results of which were far
reaching. He was sent, not knowing
why, to the south, to travel on a certain
highway, and there met the man whom
we read In the lesson.
Explanatory.
Ethiopia was the region south of Egypt
corresponding partly TO the modern Abys-
sinia. Its people were of course dark
skinned, though not of the negro type of
central Africa and the Soudan. They
were brave and powerful. The eunuch,
an officer of the royal household and of
the state as well, was evidently a man Of
prominence, and probably was attended
by considerable company of servants.
-"Candace": pronounce in three sylla-
bles, accent on the first. This was not an
individual name but the name of a dy-
nasty, like Pharaoh in Egypt or Caesar
In Rome. There were many Candaces
who ruled Ethiopia during this century,
as we learn from Roman Histories
Had come TO Jerusalem for to worship:
presumably he was an Ethiopian who had
been converted to Judaism and become q
proselyte; though some suppose that he
was a man of Jewish descent who lived in
Ethiopia.
'Read Esaias the prophet: he read
from large parchment roll, the writing
being in columns, and rolled the parch-
ment from one rod to the other as he pass
ed from one column to the next. He read
probably the Greek version of Isaiah
known as the Septuagint, and in accord
ance with Eastern custom, read aloud, In
no very gentle voice. Hackett says: 1T
Is not improbable that the eunuch had
heard at Jerusalem of the death of Jesus
and of the wonderful events connected
with it-of his claim to be the Messiah,
and the existence of a numerous party
who acknowledged him in that character.
Hence he may have been examining the
prophecies at the time that Philip ap-
preached him, with reference to the ques-
tion how far they had been accomplished
in the history Of the person concerning
whom such reports had reached him. The
extraordinary means which God employed
to bring the Ethiopian to a knowledge of
the gospel, and the readiness with which
he embraced it, authorize the belief that
in this way, or some other, his mind had
been specially prepared for the reception
of the truth"
"Understandest thou what thou read
est" In the Greek there is a peculiar
play upon words here which would ut
once strike the eunuch's attention. No
tice the appropriateness of the question
to lead up at once to the direct matter of
which Philip desired to speak. Oriental
custom would ordinarily have involved n
good deal of formal conversation, ex-
change of "salaams," inquiry after the
health of each others family, ETC., before
any such topic could be entered upon. But
Philip, guided by the Spirit, proceeded
Immediately to the deepest of all ques-
tions.
"How can I, except some man should
guide mew The answer of a frank man
to a frank question. Not always is the
need Of the unregenerate man so readily
acknowledged. Often he must be convinc-
ed of his deficiencies before he can be led
to the source of supply. But the Ethi-
opian's heart was already prepared for
the gospel. He was reading lisa. 80: z, 8,
which in the Greek version differs slightly
from the Hebrew and English.
'Thc Spirit of the Lord caught away
Philip: This does not necessarily imply
a miraculous disappearance: sudden. and
abrupt departure of Philip in obedience
to a divine summons fulfills all the condi-
tions. philip was found at Azotus":
That is, was next heard of at that place.
Teaching Hints.
Philip did not know why he should leave
Samaria and go wandering off down to-
wards GAIA. But God knew and arrang-
ed things so that men might have for
once a revelation of the true nature of
what we call ''chance happenings" Would
not many Of the "happy accidents" of life
turn out to be just such plans of God IL
we only knew about themY
A pertinent question to be addressed to
any Bible reader Is Philips Understand
est thou what thou readestT How much
Bible reading there is, even on the part of
those who desire the truth, that is almost
valueless because II is based on a wrong
principle, or because II is not accompanied
by sufficient knowledge of the habits Of
thought of biblical writer's. What greater |
privilege can there be than to sit down by |
such a one and illuminate the sacred |
words, preaching Jesus In the most effec- |
tive way by the Bible as illustrated In |
personal experience.
The Old Testament points to Christ, but |
we need Christ to explain the Old Testa-
ment. Its references to the Messiah be- |
come clear and convincing only as they |
find their fulfillment in him. Baptism is
the plain duty of one who has believed on |
Christ There need be no delay If the |
evidence of conversion Is clear. As the |
symbol of great change, baptism is a
solemn occasion but should bring with Il |
rejoicing. The kingdom Of heaven spreads
b. personal witnessing. Tradition says
fiat this Ethiopian convert on his return |
'lome led many Of his countrymen to
Christ and founded the Ethiopian Church.
Next Lesson-"Saul the Prosecutor Con-
verted. d."-Acts o: LIP, 1870.
Bits of Things.
Words should echo works.
Loves secret Is to be always doing
i