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,
ze'Io-Golden Text. Rom. K. IO-Men.
DRY Verses. "a, 35-C Commentary
on the Days lesson.

&c. AN 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 a wild and thin
ly settled region. This was the road
word desert may refer to the place he
81. HE arose and went" It does no.
| 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
Kings 10: l. 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. Al: 30. Sometimes called chamber
lain. Acts IL: 20. "Candace." Title of
the queen OF Meroe, as Caesar of Rome,
and Pharaoh of the earlier, and Ptoiemy
of the latter dynasties of Egyp>. "Of all
her treasure" Treasure houses were com
mon in the East, where not only saoney,
! but important documents were kept.
Ezra 5: II; Esther 4: Z. OF these treasure
houses this cunuch was custodian. He
was the queens secretary OF the treasury.
IS. Was returning" He had come to
/ IaruSalafn IN boon tho f01St nj
J Pentecost. as a Gentle proseiyte to the
i 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 OBJ
| tanned the expensive manuscript while at
! Jerusalem. and was now looking oveg his
new found treasure.
30 The Spirit said" That inward
voice which directed Philip to approach
the traveller and keep near the chariot,
was 4 command of the Holy Ghost dwell
| the first direction had deperted, and now
the influence OF the Hoy Spirit completed
! the information.
50. Philip ran" Showing promptness
in obeyine the guidance OF the Spirit.
Heard him read Philip was walking
| OF running ny tic SlGG Ol TIC tuiE-pk III
attaching himself 10 n train OF people who
were journeying in the same direction he
| would not DC considered an intruder. I'm
! derstandest thou" The question would
imply that Philip was ready to explain.
| Philip did not begin in roundabout way.
but came directly 10 the point. In holy
conversation we should come at once 10
| the truth itself.
81. How can t. 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.
3D. ''The place OF the scripture" The
chapter lisa. 5S) contains eleven distinct
! references to the yicarious sufferings OF
! Christ. AS sheep" 4 vivid description
| OF our Sayiours silent submission to that
sacriicial death. to which He humbled
Himself. l Peter .: %.
SO. His humiliation" In his humble
| position as 4 poor man. Taken away"
In the contempt, violence and outrage
| 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 10 asking, Who can describe the wick
edness OF the men of His time-His con
| temporaries?"
81. "Of whom speaketh,' etc. Probably
| there was no lit.le discussion on this
point. "0f himself" Thinking Isaiah
might have predicted his own martyrdom
| by Swing asunder, according to Jewish
tradition. Heb. IL: 81.
Is. 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, lie. doctrine,
miracles, passion. death and resurrection
the Scriptures OF the Old Testament were
! fulfilled.
! SO. AS they went They must have
| iourneycd some time together. "A certain
water" There are many idle conjectures
as to the exact place OF this baptism.
''See. here is water The expression is
merely. Behold. water"
in the Revised Version. ''If thou believ.
est Believing IS essential to salvation.
| With the hcart man believeth unto right
eousness. Without faith it is impossible to
| please Cod. 1t is not SO much our doing as
what we arc AT heart that God estimates.
! He desifeth truth i'll the inward parts.
God wants the heart to be 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 fer
it.
49, "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 .: lG, and the dis
appearance Of Christ III Luke "a: 81, inter
! pref the statement here. He went-re-
joicing.@ JOY from God, JOY il Cod,
| 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. Thence he went
preaching northward acng the coast to
Caesarca. ITO Caosarea" South OF
Mount Carmel, on the plain OF Sharon.
| Here, twenty wears after. Philip met hi3
old-time prosecutor, Saul, the apostle Paul.
| Acts 81: $40.