Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-03-15
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
March 10.
Subject: The Ethiopian Converted, Acts Will,
zelo-0oiden Text. Rom. X, I0-Mem.
DRY Verses. "a. as-c Commentary
on the Days lesson.

&c. IAN angel" Or. W Not the angel
which signifies Christ Himself We do NOT
know how he appeared to Philip, but we
know that he was "a real messenger,
bringing real message from God" I'm
to Philip" The evangelist, o. deacon.
Go" Philip was probably still in Sauna.
ria when he received this command. Ca
"a" One of the five chief cities of the
Philistines. 1t was situated near the
southern boundary OF Canaan, less than
three miles from the Mediterranean.
THE way-which is desert" This is a de-
scription of the exact route he was to take.
The word desert means wild and thin.
ly settled region. This was the road
through Hebron. But some think the
word desert may refer to the place he
was to go.
"a. HE arose and went" It does no.
appear that he knew the object OF his jour-
nsy but still he 0beysd i, God instantly
called Nubia and Abyssinia. The high
land south of Egypt, of which the capital
was Meroe, called Sheba. Gen. 10: Z; l
Kings 10: !. Its Hebrew name was Cush,
from the son of Ham. At this time there
were many Jews in Ethiopia. "Eunuch."
Denoting here a state officer of great au-
Gen. Al: 80. Sometimes called chamber.
lain. Acts II: 20. 'Candace." Title of
the queen of Meroe, as Caesar of Rome,
and Pharaoh of the earlier, and Ptolemy
of the latter dynasties of Egypt. "Of all
her treasure" Treasure houses were COM
mon in the East, where not only money,
but important documents were kept.
Ezra 5: II; Esther 4: 7. OF these treasure
houses this eunuch was custodian. He
was the queens secretary of the treasury.
2S. WAS returning" He had come to
Jerusalem to keep the recent feast OF
Pentecost, as Gentle proselyte to the
Jewish faith, and having come so far he
not only staid out during the festival. but
prolonged his stay until now. Read
Esaias.n The Greek form for Isaiah. He
was evidently reading aloud, and this was
common among Orientals and was the
practice of the Jews. He may have OBJ
tanned the expensive manuscript while at
Jerusalem, and was now looking over his
new found treasure.
20. "The Spirit said" That inward
voice which directed Philip to approach
the traveller and keep near the chariot,
was a command of the Holy Ghost dwell
ing in him. The angel who had given him
the first direction had departed, and now
the influence of the Holy Spirit completed
the information.
so. "Philip ran" Showing promptness
in obeying the guidance of the Spirit.
Heard him read" Philip was walking
or running by the side of the chariot. In
attaching himself to train of people who
were journeying in the same direction he
would not be considered an intruder. I'm
derstandest thou" The question would
imply that Philip was ready to explain.
Philip did not begin in n roundabout way.
but came directly TO the point. In holy
conversation We should come at once to
the truth itself.
81. How can II" Thus admitting that
there was nothing within himself to unfold
the meaning OF Gods word, and yet ex-
pressing an earnest desire to know its
meaning.
81. ''The place of the scripture" The
chapter lisa. 53) contains eleven distinct
references to the vicarious sufferings OF
Christ. "As a sheep" A vivid description
of our Saviour silent submission to that
sacri6cial death, to which He humbled
Himself. ! Peter 2: %.
SO. His humiliation" In his humble
position as a poor man. Taken away"
In the contempt, violence and outrage
which He suffered rs part His humiliation,
the rights of justice and humanity which
belonged to Him were taken from Him.
Declared His generation" There is a
great variety OF opinion as to the meaning
lent to asking, Who can describe the wick
edness of the men of His time-His con
temporaries"
"a. 'Of whom speaketh," etc. Probably
there was no little discussion on this
point. "Of himself" Thinking Isaiah
might have predicted his own martyrdom
by saving asnnder, according to Jewish
tradition. Heb. IL: 81.
as. Opened his mouth" Feeling the
great responsibility OF unfolding the true
meaning of the Scriptures to his heather
companion. Began at the same" He
took his sermon into the gospel concerning
Christ. What the prophet had declared,
had indeed been fulfilled; The Old Tesla.
ment is fulfilled in the New. Preached
Jesus" Showed that jesus was the Christ,
and in His person. birth. life. doctrine,
miracles, passion, death and resurrection
the Scriptures OF the Old Testament were
fulfilled.
80. '.As they went" They must have
iourneycd some time together. "A certain
water There are many idle conjecture3
as to the exact place OF this baptism.
"See; here ia water" The expression is
merely. Behold water"
81. Philip said" This verse is wanting
in the Revised Version. "Tf thou believ.
est" Believing is essential TO salvation.
With the heart man believeth unto right
eousness. Without faith it is impossible to
please God. 1t is not so much our doing as
what we arc at heart that God estimates.
He desiTeth truth in the inward parts.
God wants the heart to be moved toward
Him. The Son of God" After listening
70 the story Oh Chrlsts Illumination and
death, to believe truly that He was the
Messiah would certainly stir all the love
and alteration of the soul; for love pur-
chased redemption, and love is the price for
it.
IS. "To stand still" OF course the
whole retinue would see what took place,
and they may certainly be regarded as the
nucleus of a congregation to be estab-
lished in Ethiopia.
80. Caught away" A sudden super
natural removal. The expressions in l
Kings IS: Il; Kings q lG, and the dis
appearance of Christ IN Luke "a: 81, inter-
pref the statement here. "He wcnt-re.
joicing.p joy from God, JOY il God,
JOY of God.
40. Philip was found" Found him.
self; made mis- appearance; IN expression
confirming the miraculous manner OF his
transportation. "At Azotus" The ancient
Ashdod, on the plain by the sea, eighteen
miles north OF GAIA. .1hence he went
preaching northward alcng the coast to
Caesarca. "To Cecsarea" South Of
Mount Carmel, on the plain of Sharon.
Here, twenty years after, Philip met his
old-time prosecutor, Saul, the apostle Paul.
A "A.