Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-05
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
International Lesson C0mmcats or
April &.
Subject: Soul OF Tarsus Converted. Acts H..
i.2O-GoIdcn Text: Acts iii. !9-Ncm.
DRY Verses. is comm:n,or.
on the Days icssor-


on the Days ;sssor-
/. And But R. V. The but
marks the contrast between the mission
AIRY zeal OF Philip, and the prosecuting
zeal OF Saul. One Is intiamed by hatred,
the other inspired by love. Saul The
same "a mentioned in the story OF Stephen.
His name in Hebrew was Saul, his Roman
name was Paul. Yet" Up to this mo.
ment his blind. prosecuting rage against
the disciples OF the Lord burned as iiercely
as ever. Breathing out threarenings., =
Persisted in prosecuting the disciples. with
increasing violence, as II he could not
breathe without uttering threateniIgs
against them. or would. ii able, have slam
them with the breath of his lips. "Un1o
the high priest." Being a Jealous vo!un-
teer in the service he devised plans for
fully eXtermlnating the religion pf Jesus,
ana was ready 10 carry them in excca-
ton 10 the utmost OF his ability
,. Damascus This is the o. lest city
in the word, situated about one hundred
, and forty miles northeast OF .ierI salem
>. Suddenly" About noon chap. -:
81; at midday (chap. &c: 49,. when the
sun was shining 50 there could be no de-
ception. Light L was above the
was seen 10y Saul q Cor. Is: 81, so that he
could enumerate himself among those
who had behcld the Lord after His resur-
rec1ion.
4. Fell to the earth" The whole com
pany fell to the earth. Chap. 26: IA.
Heard a voice" In the Hebrew tongue.
The voice was Gear and distinct to Saul.
but TO those with him it was only mys.
terioas sound. tSec on V. ~. Why per-
secutest thou Me-" Canst thou give any
good reason for it? Must | aires be cru.
Gifted by thee: Those who pers ecute the
saints persecutc Christ Himself. and He
takes what Is done against them as done
unto Himself
;. Who art Thou" Jesus knew Saul
before Saul knew Jesus. Lord Used to
denote respect for some unknown august
person. Il an Jesus" He takes the name
which was the object OF Jewish hate.
Thy enmity is against Ne and My religion.
He whom You persecrtc Is :he Lord OF lire
and glory, not simply poor. fugitive disci-
pes. 1T Is hard etc. This clause and
tine first part o. Y. are omitted from the
Revised Version; but they belong to the
account for Paul himself uttels them IN
chap. &c: l.. Kick against the pricks. p"
Or goads; IS stubborn oxen did. thus
wounding themselves the more deeply.
6. Trembling" etc. a true description
OF 4 sinner who sees the wicledness OF his
heart. What wit Thou" etc. Convinced
that he had prosecuted Christ, and that
his religious views and character were
wrong. he submits himself TO the will OF
Him who had arrested him i'll his bind
career. with the consent that he would
BIZ obedent to all His directions. Arise. +"
Until now he had continued PROSTATE On
the ground Go" Into Damascus. TO be
instructed by one whom he was on his way
to destroy.
-. nj. n
are told that those with Paul heard not
the words" What is meant is clearly that
they did not hear the words as words
could attach no meaning to the sound.
We say that voice is not heard. or that
we do not hear him. when. though we hear
his voice, he speaks so low or indstinctly
that We do not understand him,
V The dazzling brightness OF the light
had made him totally blind. This blind
ness was, no doubt, mercifully intended by
Providence TO give him an opportunity
to attend to the great matter OF his souls
salvation.
.. Neither did eat etc The rental
anguish TO. time overpowerei the natural
craving for food.
10. "Ananias.' We know nothing OF
this man except what we find in this lesson
and in chap. -: IL. He was Il devout
man. III good report among the Jews. was
III communication with the brethren at
Jerusalem, and was trusted By them. In
vision" Saul was prepared Tor the visit
by vision. and by vision Ananias Is
told to go to him.
II. Straight" Main tho-ou-hfare Of
Damascus; so-ealled from i,s running in 4
direct line from the eastern TO the western
gate. Ii was i mile long. 4 hundred feet
wide, and divided by Corinthian columns
INTO three avenues. He prayeth."
Breathing out no longer "thTeatenings
aud slaughter" but struggling desires after
lie and light in the prosecuted One.
l3. Have heard" etc. This hesitancy
on the part OF Ananias to visit Saul does
not prove that he was either fearful or in
clined to Gisobedience. He was merely eX-
ercising due care: ne desired to be sure
about the matter. Thy saints" The
Christian converts were probably called
saints, that is. holy persons" at a
because OF the marvellous outpourings OF
the Spirit uDon the first converts.
L.. Go" This brief. expressive word
Of the Lord % demands implicit obcdi-
cnce. (2l puts the doubts of a weak faith
to shame. 80 contains a promise OF the
Lords aid and blessing. "A chosen yes
sell" One whom in view OF his fitness rs
a nan. Jesus had chosen for great mis-
sion. This. however. implies neither any
impossibiIty that he would diso1ey His
cal. nor any eternal predestination to sal
vation. God chose and appointed Saul be-
cause Saul chose the Lord.
Ii. He must suffer" Compare Paurs
own words in chap. 20: %. See also chap.
IA: 10: > Cor. II: 1928.
l.. "Ananias went" How beautifully
childlike is the obedience of Ananias ~
the heavenly vision. Brother Saul
Knowing that the Lord had chosen Saul
10 sacred office. Ananas felt a great re-
spect for hira and an interest in his saliva
ton.
is. "As it had hccn scales" There is a
difference OF opinion as to whether literal
scales fell from his eye There is no Qucs-
ton. however, but that the restoration Of
his sight was supernatural. HThe nature Of
the injury we cannot determine, but it is
certain that the recovery was instanta-
neous and complete "Arose-baptized.' -
From this We see that he was Immediately
baptized before he had received meat.
10. Meat Food Certain days"
How long is not known. 1t might have
been for some months. "a he did not go TO
,Ierualsem until three years from this
time. lie remained some time at DaE,as-
Gus. then went to Arabia and returned
again to Damascus. and then went to Je-
rusa,em.
30. ''Straightway.' Immediately
preached Christ He proclaimed that
Jesus was the Christ. Y. %.