The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-06-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE 9.

XIII, GIG - Golden Text. Acts xvii
10 - Memory Verses, 6-8 - Comment
sry on the Days Lesson.
G. GAS I made my journey" Paul,
whose Hebrew name was Saul, was on his
way TO Damascus, with letters from the
high priest granting him authority to ar
rest the Christians and bring them bound
to Jerusalem. Damascus The Oldest
city in the world, situated one hundred
and forty miles northeast of Jerusalem.
In Paul's time it contained about forty
and $4,000 Jews. At present it is under
Turkish rule and has a population of
about 10000, chiefly Mohammedans.
about noon" When the sun was shin
ing so there could be no deception "a
great light. 1t was 'above the brightness
of the un;'-Chap. %; 10; It was in the
midst of tins glory that Christ was seen
by Saul II Cor. Is: 81, so that he could
enumerate himself among those who had
beheld the Lord after His resurrection.
Z. "Fell unto the ground" The whole
company fell to the earth. Acts 26:H.
Heard voice" In the Hebrew tongue.
The voice was clear and distinct to Saul,
FERROUS sound See on v. 9. "Why per-
secutest thou Me-" Canst thou give any
good reason for it? Must / afresh be
crucifed by thee? Those who prosecute
the saints, prosecute Christ Himself, and
He takes what is done against them as
done against Himself
g. "Who art Thou" Jesus knew Saul
before Saul knew Jesus Lord" Used
to denote respect for some unknown,
august person. 81 am Jesus" He takes
the name which was the object of Jewish
hate. The enmity is against Me and My
religion. He whom you persecute is the
Lord of life and glory; not simply poor
A,,@lA l. D,x.L
that Jesus said to him, cit is hard for
thee to kick against the goad." Acts 26:
9. '9They heard not the voice." We
are told by Luke (Acts 90 that those
with him heard the voice. What is
meant is clearly that they did not hear
the words as words-could attach no
meaning to the sounds We say that
person is not heard, or that we do not
hear him, when, though we hear his voice,
he speaks so low or indistinctly that we do
not understand him.
10. what shall 1 do?" Where is now
The fury, of the oppressor? Convinced
that he had in reality prosecuted Christ
the Lord, and that his religious views and
character were wrong, and knowing not
what the future held in store for him, he
submits himself to the will of Him who had
arrested him in his blind career; as though
he would entreat Him to be his guide and
ruler, with the consent that he would be
obedient to all His directions. Being all
wrong, he must be entirely changed. Who
could work this in him, but Him who saw
the utter hopeessness of his case without
divine help? Go" Go into Damascus to
be instructed by disciple whose life and
happiness you had hoped to destroy. By
this Paul would learn that the disciples
had that same forgiving spirit that their
Master had. This requirement would test
Sanl'g real GinppritV and faith. ~ alcO oau
him something to do. (Which are APP
pointed" Saul was chosen vessel unto
the Lord (Acts 9: l5), and through him
the gospel was to be carried to the Cen
tiles and to kings, as well as to the chill
dren of Israel
three days (Acts 8: 81, and during that
time was so fully absorbed about his spir-
itual condition that he neither ate nor
drank, but spent the time in fasting and
praying. Without doubt this was a season
of intense inward conflict, alone and in
darkness. Gould he give up all his ambi-
tious hopes? Could he leave rank, wealth,
of One so despised, and suffer reproach
and danger and death2 And all for what?
Gradually the conflict ceased, and light
dawned into his soul. "The blindness Of
Saul was no doubt mercifully intended by
providence to cause him to attend to the
great IiidCJeF Oh his Soul SdlVdClOn.
II. Zone Ananias." We know nothing
about this man except what we find in this
verse and in chapter 9: 1917.
le. Game unto me-" Ananias had re-
ceived explicit directions in a vision from
the Lord. Saul had also seen in a vision
man named Ananias coming in and re-
storing his sight Brother Saul" Know
ing to what sacred Office the Lord had
chosen Saul (verse l5), Ananias felt a re-
spect for him and an interest in hi, saliva
ton. Receive thy sight" And imme-
diately there fell from his eyes as it had
been scales. This shows that the blindness
as well as the cure was supernatural. At
this time Saul also received spiritual
sight. Looked up upon him." The verb
signifies not merely to look up, but to re-
cover sight; the clause might be trans
lated, l received sight and looked up on
him.
a. Hath chosen thee" "Hath ap-
pointed thee. Or. W God chose and
appointed Saul because Saul had chosen
Christ instead of accepting Him. ''Know
His will ]" Was Saul favored above others?
No, all who will come to Christ with the
whole heart may know" Gods will "See
that just One" Here is conclusive proof
that Jesus actually appeared to Saul.
Cor. 8; l; Is: 8. He heard ga voice from
the gospel must be backed up by the ex-
perence of the preacher in order to be
really effective. Gods people are wit
Messing people. They are ready to testify
in behalf of the One who has saved them
unto all men" To the Gentle, to gov
errors and kings.
l6, Baptized" He was baptized by
Ananias. "Wash away thy sins" In
Luke's account before Saul was baptized
Ananias said that the Lord had sent him
that Saul might receive his sight and ''be
filed with the Holy Ghost" The baptism
or outward washing could not wash away
his sins; the spiritual regeneration and the
renewing in the Holy Ghost had already
taken place before the baptism. Baptism
was a public profession of faith in Christ,
and in taking this step Saul proved his
sincerity. and the settled conviction he
had of the truthfulness of Christianity.
Call on-the Lord" 1t is the Lord and
the Lord only who can save the soul, and
every sinner should call nightly on Him
for complete deiverance from all sin We
should trust to no outward ordinance for
salvation. | desire to emphasize the fact
that at this time the Holy Spirit was given
4. Al