Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-06-01
9nternatiunal gessolt.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON x, SECOND QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, JUNE 9.

MA IONHl SGhiGSS vSNC ..
Text of the Lesson, Acts, xii, Gle.
Memory Verses, G-S-Golden Text,
Acts XVI, documentary Prepaf-
ed by the Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.
copyright, 1901, by American Press Association.1
6. "Nigh unto Damascus about noon
suddenly there shone from heaven q
great light round about me-" We have
been studying the appearances Of our
Lord to His disciples after His resurrec-
ton, and now in this lesson and the next
we have two Of His post ascension ap-
pearances. 1t would be very prohtab able
to consider His first post ascension ap-
pearance to Stephen. Let every one lay
up Acts vii, So, and may it become con-
slant word in our hearts. In studying
this lesson it would be very profitable to
write out in parallel columns the three
accounts Of this incident in chapters *,
1-2O; XVI, 9-20, and the portion we a;e
about to study. Paul tells us that he
was on his way to Damascus to bring tho
believers there to Jerusalem to. be pun
ished (verse 81, and, believing that he
ought to do many things contrary to the
name of Jesus Of Nazareth, he had put
saints in prison and helped put them to
death (xxyi, 9-11).
Z. "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
MeT He and all who were with him
fell to the ground, but he alone heard
these words, spoken in the Hebrew Ian
guage compare the parallel accounts).
The voice was for him, not for his COM
panions. In Dan. x, Z. we read that he
alone saw the vision; the men who were
with him saw it not, but were filled with
fear. The vision and the words were for
Daniel, not for them. When Peter was
released from prison, he alone saw and
heard the angel; the guards knew moth.
ing of it. So it may be when He calls
His saints to meet Him in the air. The
world may see or hear nothing, but per.
haps be afraid.
8. "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom
thou persecutest." This in answer to his
question, "Who art thou, Lord?" What
q revelation for Saul, who had believed
Jesus to be an impostor and who, sincere
" wishing to do right before God, sees
in a moment that he is all wrong and
that the believers in Jesus whom he had
been prosecuting were right and that he.
Saul. had been prosecuting Christ In
them. That Israel's Messiah had actual
ly come and been rejected and cruciied
by the rulers Of the people, and that he
is, with them. guilty Of His death. In a
moment he sees his Lord. and he sees
himself as q rebel against his Lord and
Saviour.
9. They heard not the voice Of Him
that spake to me-" Chapter *, Z. says
that they heard q voice: there is no con.
tradiction: there can be none in Scrip
ture. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit Of
Truth, cannot contradict Himself. They
heard a sound, but not the words, which
were for Saul only. Compare John xii,
2S, %. where some heard words. but 9TH
ers only heard something like thunder.
Do you hear Him speak to you personal.
ly when you read His word. or is it all
indistinct?
10. And said, What shall do.
Lord 2" or. as in tx, 6, Lord, what wilt
Thou have ME to do?" Saul submits. he
accepts the risen Christ as Israeps Mes
siah and as his Lord and Master, and
his question Is no longer what the chief
priests would have him do, but what the
only true High Priest would have him
do; he has ceased from man, for he has
seen the Lord. He is sent to Damascus,
but under q very different authority from
that which sent him from Jerusalem, and
to learn the things that have been ap'
pointed by God for him. If our honest
questions are, Where wilt Thou, Lord
Nuke xii. 81 and, What wilt Thou,
Lord? He will not fail to show us all
the things appointed for us and guide US
in them.
II. 81 could not see for the glory Of
that light" So those who were with
him led him by the hand into Damascus.
and he was three days without sight. and
neither did eat nor drink (iX, 81. He
must have learned much as he communed
with God those three days Of dying to
self and the world, and doubtless the
Lord wondrously and lovingly revealed
Himself to him. What blessed eXpe.
rience it would be to have such a vision
Of the glory Of God that we would M
more see the attractiveness Of this
worlds vanities because Of the glory OF
that light! Eyes and ears for Him!
IL, 13. Brother Saul, receive thy
sight" Thus said Ananias, disciple.
having been commissioned by the Lord to
search out Saul and be blessing and a
comfort to him. Give much attention
here to Acts il, 1919. and note among
other things that the Lord in heaven oh.
serves the street in the city on which we
sojourn and the house on the street. He
knows just where to find US always aud
just what He can do with us, and those
who are willing may be chosen vessels
unto Him to bear His name if willing
also to suffer for His names sake. Saul
had spent much Of the three days in
prayer. and the Lord had granted him a
vision Of q man coming to him and put
ting his hand upon him that he might re-
ceive his sight.
14-16. Note the honors conferred upon
Saul and take them to yourself as far as
your faith will allow, remembering that
all things are yours but yourself. and
you. if redeemed. should he set apart for
Himself Il Cor. iii. 81: Vi. 10. 20: Ps. iv,
B.. Chosen to know His ILL.," See II
Pet iii, 0: John vi, 3S-40: xvii, "a: Luke
xxi, ~. and consider how fully you are
living in the will Of God. "See that Just
One" "Thcy saw no man any more save
Jesus only with themselves" "Run
with patience looking unto Jesus
mark tx. 8: Heb. xii, 1, p. Hear the