The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-04-03
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
April 6.
Subject: saHl Of Tarsus Converted, Acts tx.
l'20-Go!dcn Text: Acts H.. Io-Mem.
ory Verses. 3.S- Commentary
on the Days Lesson


l.. "And." "But."-R. v. The "but"
marks the contrast between the mission.
ary zeal OF Philip, and the prosecuting
zeal Of Saul. One is inAamed by hatred,
the other inspired by love. Saul" The
same as men sioned in the story of Stephen.
name was Paul. yet" Up to this mo-
ment his blind, prosecuting rage against
the disciples Of the Lord burned as tiercely
as ever. Breathing out threatenings."
Persisted in prosecuting the discples with
increasing violence, as If he could not
breathe without uttering threateninss
against them, or would if able, have slam
them with the breath of his lips. Unto
the high priest" Being a Jealous volun-
teer in the service he devised plans for
fully exterminating the religion of Jesus,
and was ready to carry them into execu-
tion to the utmost of his ability"
.. Damascus" This is the oldest city
and forty miles northeast of Jerusalem.
3. Suddenly" About noon (chap. %:
o.; Mt midday (chap. 26 l3), when the
sun was shining SO there could be no de-
eeption. Light" It was above the
brightness of the sun Chap. 20: 49, 1t
was in the midst of this glory that Christ
was seen by Saul Il Cor. 10: 81, so that he
could enumerate himself among those
who had beheld the Lord after His resur-
rection.
4. Fell to the earth" The whole COM
pauy fell to the earth. Chap. 26: IA.
Heard voice." In the Hebrew tongue.
The voice was clear and distinct to Saul,
but to those with him it was only a mys,
tcrious sound. tSee on V. ~. why per-
secutest thou Me?" Canst thou give any
good reason for it? Must | afresh be cru
Gifted by thee? Those who persecute the
saints persecute Christ Himself, and He
takes what is done against them as done
unto Himself.
8. 'Who art Thou?" Jesus knew Saul
before Saul knew Jesus. Lord" Used to
denote respect for some unknown august
person. Il am Jesus" He takes the name
which was the object of Jewish hate.
Thy enmity is against Me and My religion.
He whom you persecute is the Lord of life
and glory, not simply poor, fugitive disci.
the first part of V. 6 are omitted from the
Revised Version, but they belong to the
account for Paul himself utters them in
chap. &c: a. "Kick against the pricks."
Or goads; as stubborn oxen did, thus
wounding themselves the more deeply.
@. Trembling" etc. A true description
Of a sinner who sees the wckedness of his
heart What wilt 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 in his blind
career, with the consent that he would
be obedient 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.
:. Hearing a voice" In chap. %: we
! 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 indistinctly
that we do not understand him.
8. "Saw no man." Saw nothing" r,
! " The dazzling brightness of the light
had made him totally blind. This blind
Providence to give him an opportunity
to attend to the great matter of his souls
| salvation.
0. Neither did eat" etc The nenta
anguish for time overpowered the natura
craving for food.
10. "Ananias." We know nothing o
this man except what we find in this lessor
and in chap. %: IL. He was a devou
man, in good report among the Jews, wa
| in communication with the brethren a
Jerusalem, and was trusted by them II
I vision" Saul was prepared for the visi
by a vision. and by vision Ananias il
tod to 60 to him; ,.. .,,s .
| Damascus; so-called from its running in ,
direct line from the eastern to the western
gate. 1t was mile long, q hundred feet
vide, and divided by Corinthian columns
into three avenues. "He prayeth.'
Breathing out" no longer threatening
h,d slaughter" but struggling desires aftei
li,p and light in the prosecuted One,
| NHava heard ptr This hpsitanrx
on the part OF Ananias to visit Saul does
not prove that he was either fearful or in
clned to disobedienee. He was merely ex
ercising due care; he desired to be sure
about the matter. "Thy saints" ThC
Christian converts were probably called
very early period after the death of Chris
because of the marvellous outpourings O.
the Spirit upon the first converts
Is. go" This brief, expressive wore
of the Lord Q) demands implicit obedi
cnce. (2) puts the doubts of weak faitf
to shame, (3) contains promise of the
Lords aid and blessing. "A chosen yes
sell" One whom in view of his fitness al
man. Jesus had chosen for a great mis-
sion. This, however, implies neither any
impossibility that he would dsobey Hi
call. nor any eternal predestination to sal
walton. God chose and appointed Saul be
cause Saul chose the Lord.
| 10. TIC must suHeT' SOlhpdIc dul
own words in chap. 20: %. See also chap
IA 10; 2 Cor, H. 1928. .,n
II. "Ananas went" How beautifully
childlike is the obedience of Ananias t.
the heavenly vision. Brother Saul
Knowing that the Lord had chosen Sau
to sacred Office Ananias felt great re
spect for him and an interest in his salvo
ton.
IS. "As it had been scales" There is I
difference of opinion as to whether litera
scales fell from his eye. There is no ques
tion. however, but that the restoration o
his sight was supernatural. The nature o
the injury we cannot determine, but it il
certain that the recovery was instanta
neous and complete. "Arose-baptized.
From this we see that he was immediatel,
baptized before he had received meat.
10. "Meat." Food. Certain days
How long is not known. 1t might hav,
been for some months, as he did not go t
Jerualsem until three years from thi
time. He remained some time at Damas
Gus, then went to Arabia and returned
again to Damascus, and then went to Je
rusalem.
90 "Straightway" Immediately
aohoJ Cbr;et Ua ,Nrnolaiua1 tho