The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-06-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
June 9.
Subject: Jesus Appears to Paul, Acts XIII.
6.l6-.GoIden Text, Acts xvi, lo-- Memory
Verses, 6S :. Commentary on the Days
Lesson.

Lesson.
8. "As ! 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 Paurs time it contained about forty
jewish synagogues,. and between 10000
and 10000 Jews. At present it is under
turkish rule and has population of
about 10000, chiefly Mohammedans.
| About noon" When the sun was shin
ing so there could be no deception. "A
great light IT was "above the brightness
of the sun. Chap. 20: l3. It was in the
midst of this glory that Christ was seen
by Saul Il 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 26l4
Heard voice" In the Hebrew tongue.
The voice was clear and distinct to Saul,
but to those with him it was only a mys-
terious sound. See on v. 0. "Why per-
secutest thou Me-" Canst thou give anv
| good reason for it? Must I afresh be
crucifed by thee? Those who persecute
the saints, persecute Christ Himself, and
He takes what is done against them as
done against Himself
8. "Who art Thou" Jesus knew Saul
| before Saul knew Jesus. Lord" Used
to denote respect for some unknown
august person. "I am Jesus" He takes
the name which was the object of Jewish
hate; The enmity is against Me and NY
religion: He whom you persecute is the
Lord of life and glory; not simply poor
fugitive disciples 1t was at this point
that Jesus said to him, at is hard for
thee to kick against the goad." Acts 2e
IA, r. V.
9. "'rhey heard not the voice" We
are. told by. Luke (Acts 9:7) 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 a
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 l doy" 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 hopelessness 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
SSaurs real sincerity and faith it also gave
him something to do. (Which are ap
| pointed" Saul was chosen vessel unto
the Lord (Acts o: l5), and through him
the gospel was to be carried to the Gen.
tiles and to kings, as well as to the chill
dren Of Israel.
II. Gould not see" He was blind for
three days (Acts 8: 9), e. ring that
time was so fully absorbed Is 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. Could he give up all his ambi.
tious hopesY Could he leave rank, wealth,
honor, friends! Could he enter the service
and danger and death? And ali 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 matter of his souls salvation"
H. One Ananias." We know nothing
about this man except what we find in this
verse and in chapter 0: lO-I7.
ID. Game unto me-" Ananias had re.
ceived explicit directions in vision from
the Lord. Saul had also seen in vision
a 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 re.
spect for him and an interest in hii 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.
lated, L received sight and looked w on
him.
a.. "Hath chosen thee" "Hath an.
pointed thee" (R. W God chose AMI
appointed Saul because Saul had chosen
the Lord. Saul might have rejected
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: il Is: g. He heard "a voice from
his mouth" (R. W
10 his witness" -he preaching Of
ehS BooPSi must Dc Dackeu up Dy the eN-
perience 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.
ernors 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 'Sbe
filled 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 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 deliverance from ali sin. We
should trust to no outward ordinance for
salvation. desire to emphasize the fact
that at this time the Holy Spirit was given
to Saul, through the imposition OF the
hands Of AnaniaS 70; l7), and, thus quail.
ited and prepared for work, Saul imIne-
diately entered The synagogues and "pro.
claimed .lesuaD o. On u \ a. ~. NJ