The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-08
ot<<<<<<<<<<<<<<S < < Y < JESUS APPEARS TO PAUL. < Y (Acts xxi: 6-16.) {

lntroduction.-For a time after the ascension the apostles had compara-
 tive quiet in the city of Jerusalem. On
 the day of Pentecost following the out
 pouring of the Holy Spirit they testl-
 lied of Jesus and thousands were add
 ed to the church. Soon, however, the
 spirit of persecution arose. Peter and
 John were brought before the council
 and charged not to speak any more in
 the name of Jesus. Rut they contin-
 ued as did others with great boldness.
 subsequently, a determined effort was made to extirpate this new heresy.
 stephen was stoned and many of the
 believers fled for safety to other cities Fursuit was made with the purpose If possible to put all to death who fol- lowed Christ. A young man named | saul. who had been we'll instructed in | me Jewish religion, was commissioned to go to Damascus and to bring thence men and women. Zealous. influential l and talented he was well adapted to such service, and threw himself into 1t with great resolution.
 Arrested Oversees 6 and 7)-Saul was prevented by direct Divine interposi- ton from executing his purpose. More than twenty years afteIwa he told | to Jerusalem mob the story of that ! wonderful event which forms our les son today. He had nearly reached | Damascus. the capital of Syria, lying one hundred miles north of Jerusalem. lActs ix:2). It was probably on the old caravan road along which passed the merchantmen of those and earlier | times. Suddenly a supernatural light | spread over the earth exceeding even the brilliancy of the noon-day sun, not unlike that which appeared to the | shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem. Q enly glory Illuminating the earth. Overcome with fear or with the ~ner- vous influence. or, probably by some power exerteo upon him, Saul fell to the earth. He was under arrest in his career as persecutor. Up to that time he had acted according to his pleasure, thinking he was doing God service 6 Tim. i:s). Now he was helpless, lying on the ground. Then came a voice explaining this phenomenon, Why persecutest thou me?"
 Inquired (verses s and 9)--What voice was 1t that spoke? Some have supposed that 1t was the voice of con- science. As Saul had witnessed the stoning of Stephen, (Acts vii:5S), to which he referred in his later minis try (Acts xxif30), it Is thought that the peaceful death of that holy man had greatly impressed him. leading to
 
 that had supported the martyr. Sev eral writers have described at consid erable length the probable reflections as Saul passed on his journey, result ing in conviction that he was wrong. While all this doubtless occurred it is evident that he believed some heaven ly person had spoken, for he cried out, Who art thou, Lord?" anxious to know who it was that had come to him. The answer was prompt and full. It was Jesus of Nazareth who stood between this violent man and the disciples of Damascus, who considered their persecution the same aS done to Him. Matt. xxv:40) That Was the time probably when he saw Jesus as he afterward declared. q Cor. xv:S)
 Guided (Verses 10 and 1D-"What shall I do?" exclaimed Saul, or, as the earlied narrative has it. What wilt thou have me to do?' (Acts ix, 6). He rightly judged that such sudden in terference with his plans indicated an other mission. He did not imagine that be was merely called to cease his work of cruel opposition to the Chris tians but that some other work was to be laid upon him. He was a man of deeds and proposed not to be idle. Hence he was ever after called Paul, the worker. Saul did not get an inn mediate answer to his question. It was better that he should have time to consider and to be made ready. And when the answer was given 1t must be by one of those whom he had sought 10 destroy. The direction was that he should go into Damascus and learn what Jesus wanted of him. But behold his sight was gone. as the effect of the bright light, and he was unable to find his way. His companions, therefore, led him by the hand. Thus the persecutor was made harmless. He was obliged to accept guidance into the very city where he had proposed to act as the spy and officer of the Jerusalem coun- cil.
 Instructed Verses 12 and 13)-Arriv- ing in Damascus Saul was three days and three nights without sight, or food or drink, waiting and meditating. Then the Lord sent unto him Ananias, who was at first reluctant to go, having heard of the evil deeds done by the prosecutor but who consented on learn ing the change wrought in him (Acts iX, 9-14. AnaniaS was a deVout fol- lower of Jesus, known and loved by the Jews of the city. And so it came to pass that one whom he had been sent to arrest and bind and bring to Jeru- salem, stood before the blind and now inauiring man. The relations of the two had been completely changed. Ha- tired had departed from one and fear from the other. They had accepted the same master. and the older disciple was sent to instruct the new candidate. It was a beautiful salutation that Anan- ias gave, Brother Saul" declaring the new fraternity and then adding what is recorded elsewhere (Acts K, ID. "Je sus hath sent me" They came togeth CT, therefore, by the appointment Of their common Lord.
 Chosen Verse 1D-Immediately the scales fell from Saurs eyes and he look ed up and saw for the first time his new spiritual brother and friend, whose image had been impressed upon him in his blindness (Acts ix, 12). The God of our fathers hath chosen thee," be- gan Ananias. So gently presenting the Jewish origin of both, and appealing to that national feeling which always responded with enthusiasm (Acts " 20). Here was a new message and Saul must have felt that his life work was about to open to him, that he was thus to obtain an answer to his question as to duty. Then came that for which he was chosen-that he might know the will of God, what as young Pharisee he desired above all else to know. (Acts XXVi. 5) that he might see the Just One, a name applied to Jesus only four times by the apostles (James V, 6), and that he should hear or receive the message of Jesus q Cor. xii, 23). This was quite the same as to announce that Saul had been chosen an apostle of Je-