The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-12
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH Is.

Subject: Tho Ethiopian Converted, Acts
WILL. 26.4o-Golden Text: Rom. T., 10
Memory Verses, -, 35-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
%. An angel" (R. W Not the angel
which signifies Christ Himself. We do not
know how he appeared to Philip, hut We
know that he was "a real messenger,
bringing u real message from God" I'm
to Philip" The evangelist, or deacon.
Go" Philip was probably still in Sama-
ria when he received this command. Ca
"a" One OF the FIVE chief cities Of the
Philistines.. It was situated near the
southern boundary Of Canaan. less than
"The way-which is desert" This is de.
scription OF the exact route be 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 place" be
was to 60.
q. HE arose and went" It does not
appear that he knew the object Of his jour.
ney, but still he obcyed 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: I;
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.
thority. similar. perhaps to that OF Joseph.
Gen. II: 80. Sometimes called chamber.
lain. Acts l2: 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 S: IL; Esther 4: 7. Of these treasure
houses this eunuch was custodian. He
was the queens secretary OF the treasury.
q. WAS returning" He had come TO
Jerusalem to keep the recent feast OF
Pentecost, as a Gentle proseiyte to the
Jewish faith, and having come so tar ne
not only staid out during the festival, but
prolonged his stay until now. Read
Esaias.h 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 gwen him
the first direction had departed, and now
the influence of :he Holy Spirit completed
the information.
80. Philip ran" Showing promptness
in obeying the guidance, OF the SPIRIT.
Heard him read" Philip was walking
attaching himself to a train OF people who
were iourneying in the same direction he
would not be considered an intruder. "Un.
derstandest thou" The question would
imply that Philip was ready to explain.
Philip did not begin in 4 roundabout way,
but came directly to the point. In holy
conversation we should come at once to
the truth itself.
81. How can I% Thus admitting that
there was nothing within himself to unfold
the meaning OF Gods word, and yet ex-
pressing an earnest desire to know It's
meaning. ,, I'll,
chapter lisa. 53) contains eleven distinct
references to the vicarious sutterings OF
Christ AS a sheep" A vivid description
Of our Saviour $ silent submission, to that
sacrifcial death, to which He hunbled
33. His humiliation" In his humble
position as 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. Who can describe the wick
edness of the men OF His time-His CON
temporaries! - ,,I
"a. "Of whor, speaketh," etc. Probably
there was no little discussion on this
point. "Cf himself Thinking Isaiah
might have predicted his own martyrdom
by saving asunder, according to jewish
tradition. Heb. IL: 81.
a5. Opened his mouth" Feeling the
great responsibility of unfolding the true
meaning tf the Scriptures. to his heathen
companiop. Began at the same He
took his sermon into the gospel concerning
Christ. What the prophet had declared.
had indeed been fulfilled The Old Tests:
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.
So. "As they went" They must have
journeycd some time together. "A certain
water" There are many idle conjectrres
as to the exact Place Of this baptism
| "See. here is water The expression Is
mercy. Behold. wate-!!"
81. Philip said" This verse is wanting
in the Revised Version. III thou bclev.
est" Believing is essential to salvation.
With the heart man beliercth 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 DC moved toward
Him. The Son OF God" After listening
to the story Of Christ's humiliation 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. ITO stand STILL" OF course tho
Whole rctinue would see what took Place,
and they may certainly be regarded as tho
nucleus Of congregation to be estab-
lishcd in Ethiopia.
%. Caught away" i sudden super.
natural removal. The expressions in l
Kings IS: IL: . Kings .: lG. and the dis.
appearance OF Christ in Luke q: 81, inter-
pret the statement here. He went-rc-
ioicing.' joy from God, JOY in God,
JOY cf God.
30. Philip was found. Found him.
self: made his appearance; an expression
confirming the miraculous manner OF his
Transportation. AT Azotus.' The ancient
Ashdod. OH the plain by the sea, eighteen
miles north OF GAIA. Thence he went
preaching northward along the coast to
Caasarca. To Cacsarea.' South OF
Mount Carmel. on the plain OF Sharon.
Here. twenty years after, Philip met his
old.time prosecutor, Saul, the apostle Paul:
Aots 81: R.I0
Restaurnnt nj School.