Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-10-21
TIE SUNDAY sc4ooL.
International Lesson for October -.
IsST-Pnui before king Aerippa-
Acts 26;I9-9@

in Heaven.-Matt 1882
THE SECTION includes chapters . ana
%. the whole story of the trial Of PAU
before Agrippa.
TIME.-First Of August, a d. 90 TWO
years after the last lesson
Pl>ACf@-Cesarea. a miles northwest OF
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 conduct and
Porcius Festus was appointed in his
stead. Festus was a much better man
than Felix.
Paul's Address S6:l-23. Festus and
his brilliant court, King Agrippa. Queen
Bernice, the principal officers of the
troops quartered at Cesarea and the
most infuen tial 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 to Rome. But Festus, not
being well acquainted with Jewish laws
and customs, could not make out any
definite charge against him that would
be reasonable excuse for sending him
as a 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
to the Christian warrior Then for the
third time in the Acts IS related the
sorry of his conversion, the wopdrouS
oh 4,r-RA -. y
Christ.
10. "Whereupon," after hearing the
call. Il was not disobedient unto the
Heavenly vision:" Yet the seeming cost
and the struggle were very great.
20. 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 at Jerusalem:" For a
brief time. going there from Damascus.
He also visited there. and of course
preached at other times. "Througt ont
all the COASTS (borders) OF Judea:" The
exact time Of this preaching is not
known, as no record is given Of it But
there was abundant opportunity for it
between a. ID. 40, when Paul left Jeru-
salem, and a. y. As, when he began his
first missionary journey And then to
the Gentiies' over large part of the
known world. That they should re
pent," the first deep. essential duty.
An Interruption by Festus.-Vs. "a,
25. "a. ''Festus said with a loud voice
of astonishnentan and positive assurance.
Paul, thou are beside thyself:" 1'hon
art mad, insane; the same word that is
translated mad in the next verse.
IS. Il am not mad" Paul speaks for
himself, and let's Festus make the appli-
cation for himself. but speak forth
the words of truth and soberness:"
From Festus' standpoint, that Of world
Illness the words Of Paul were the fan
cjes of crazy, unbalanced brain; but
from Pauls standpoint, that of eternal
life and spiritual life. they were simply
true and earnest.
The Appeal to Agrippa.-Vs. PC %.
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 a Jew was ae-
quainted with Scripture, and as a ruler
in Palestine was familiar with the facts
of Gospel history.
81. King Agrippa, believest thou the
prophets?" If he believed the Scrip
lures, then Paul could prove from those
premises the truth of the Gospel he
was preaching.
%. Almost thou persuadest me 30 be
a 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 go on
a little longer. and speak many more
such words, you will persuade even me.
The other Interpretation is that of the
r. V. With but little persuasion thou
wouldst fain make me Christian 1t
was a SARCASM
29. 81 would to God" earnestly de
sire of God, the only source of such a
blessed good. Were both almost. and
altogether" ~ This is the natural
rendering If we adopt the translation
of our authorized version in verse 28.
(2) If we adopt the r v. of verse %.
then Paul's answer is: 81 would that
you were persuaded, whether with little
trouble or with great" Afford and
Prof. Riddle suppose that Paul takes up
the words of Agrfppa in a sense slightly
different from that in which Agr1ppa
used them, to give point to his reply:
81 could pray God that both in little and
in great measure q. e., in evcrything),
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 70 Caesar
Stood.-Vs, 3O-32. 80 1.-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
complete vindication. lie still must 90
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