The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-03-13
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LEoooN COMMENTS
FOR MARCH Is.
Subject; The Ethiopian Converted, Acts
viii, 26-4O-Golden Text: Rom. k, 10
Memory Verses, "a, 35-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.


Memory Verses, "a, 35-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
%. "An angel" (R.V 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" "Un-
! to Philip" The evangelist, or deacon.
GO" Philip was probably still in Sama-
ria when he received this command GA
"a" One of the five chief cities of the
| Philistines. 1t was situated near the
three miles from the Mediterranean.
'"1he way-which is desert" This is de-
| scription of the exact route he was to take.
| The word desert" means a wild and thin
| ly settled region. This was the road
| through Hebron. But some think the
word desert may refer to the "piace" he
was to go.
81. "He arose and went" It does not
| appear that he knew the object of his jour
ney, but still he obeyed God instantly
without question. Ethiopia" Now
called Nubia and Abyssinia The high
, land south of Egypt, of which the capital
was Meroe, called Sheba. Gen 10: 7; l
] Kings TO- l. It's Hebrew name was Cush,
from the son of Ham. At this time there
were many Jews in Ethiopia. 'Eunuch."
Denoting here state officer of great au-
/
Gen. Al: SO. Sometimes called chamber
lain. Acts u: 90. "Candace." title Of
the queen of Meroe, as Caesar OF Rome,
and Pharaoh of the earlier, and oemy
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 We're kept.
Ezra 5: II; Esther 4: 7. Of these TIRE gsple
| houses this eunuch was custodian. lie
was the queens secretary of the treasury.
rs. WAS returning" He had come to
Jerusalem to keep the recent feast of
| Penteeost, as a 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.' The Greek form for Isaiah. He
was evidently reading aloud, and this was
practice of the Jews. He may have Oh
| tanned the expensive manuscript while at
Jerusalem, and was now looking over lis
new found treasure.
30 "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.
30. "Philp ran" Showing promptness
in obeying the guidance OF the Spirit.
Heard him read" Philip was walking
or running by the side of the eli riot. In
attaching himself to train of people who
were journeying in the same direction he
would not be considered an intruder. II n
derstandest thou" The question would
imply that Philip was ready to explain.
Philip did not begin in 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.
80 "The place of the scripture" The
chapter Gsa 53) contains eleven distinct
references to the vicarious sutferlngs OF
Christ Gas a sheep" A vivid description
of our Saviour's silent submission to that
sacrifcial death, to which He humbed
Himself Peter 2: %.
49, His humiliation" Tn his humble
position as a poor man. Taken away.
In the contempt, violence and outrage
which He suffered as 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
of this expression. Many think it equiva-
lent TO asking, w ITO Cdu ueoCllDC IlC WIN
edness of the men of His time-Hls con
temporaries?'
81 "Of whom speoketh," etc. Probably
there was no little discussion on this
point. "Of himself" Thinking Isaiah
might have predicted his own martyrdom
by saving asunder, according to Jewish
tradition. Heb, II: 81.
81. 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
&c. "As they went" They must have
! iourneyed some time together "a certain
water" There are many idle conjectures
as to the exact pace of this baptism.
'See, here is water" The expression is
mercy, Behold. water
81. "Phiip said" This verse is wanting
in the Revised Version. 'If 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 are at heart that God estimates.
He desireth truth in the inward parts.
God wants the heart to be moved toward
Him. The Son of God" After listening
to the story of Chrst's humiliation and
death. to believe truly that He was the
Messiah would certainly stir all the love
and alteration of the SOU; 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-
lshed in Ethiopia.
80. Caught away" A sudden super
natural removal The expressions in l
Kings Is: Il; Kings q l6, aud the dis
appearance Of Christ in Luke "a: 81, inter.
pref the statement here. He went--re,
ioicing" JOY from God, Joy in God,
joy of God.
40. "Phiiip was found" Found him
self; made his appearance; an expression
! confirming the miraculous manner of his
transportation. cat Azotus." The ancient
Ashdod, on the plain by the sea, eighteen