Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-05-14
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
May II.
Subj:ci Paul Before Felix Acts xiv. 1910,
A=N-G;lien Text, Psa, xiii. 4
Memory Verses, No Study Verses
l.27-Commentary on the
Days Lesson.

IT, Paul's defense Is. l32II. 10
"Paul--answercd" Although twice before
Paul had spoken what he called defense
first, before vast crowd Of Jews in th'
temple area, and again before the assem-
blcd Sanhcdrn yet this is his first act
ual defense, as he now stands before an i'm
perial tribunal. the Governor representing
the person and authority of the Emperor
"Forasnuch as ] know" 1t is remarkable
that Paul did not begin his speech, as Ter
tullus had done, by any hattering address,
or by any Of the arts of rhetoric H'
founded his plea on the Justice of his Cause
and on the fact that Felix had had so much
experience n the affairs of .Iudca that he
was well qualified TO understand the mcr
its of the case and to Judge impartlai!y
Paul was well acquainted with his charaa
ter and would not by fattering words dc
clare that which was not strictly true
"Many years. For the comparatively Iona
period of six orsseven years Felix had ,been
in Jerusalem and Cacsarca. "A Judge
A magistrate. or one appointed TO admin
lister the affairs Of government. More
checrfuly answer" Because of Felix's TIA
usual familiarity with Jewish questions
The fact of his knowledge is attcstcd in V
%
II. "Mayest underestimate From ths
shortness of his stay in Jerusalem, any Of
fensc committed there must have been re
cent. There could be no difficulty in OBJ
tanning witnesses and proofs. Twelve
days" From the time Paul left CAcaarea
until his return was only nine days. Only
eight of the twelve days had been spent III
Jerusalem His design in mentioning the
number of days was TO show tlls improba'
produced tumult. ''To worship" lie
went on purpose to worship and had no
thought Of producing tumut or OF pro-
flaming the temple
l2, l3. Neither found me- etc. In
terms of unqualified denial he meets the
first charge-of sedltion. Worship, not
the plotting of insurrccton, was tho, object
of his recent. visit to Jerusalem, and while
worshiping he was found and arrested.
He had not even spoken in public, much
less by arttul harangue sought to gather
disaffected persons either i'll the temple,
the synagogues or the city. Neither can
they prove" Here was the pith OF the
case. This appeal is boldly made; he claE
lenges investigation. They had made vague.
wild assertions about Paul, hoping that the
Governor might he influenced to condemn
him without trial as doubtless he would
have done but for his Roman citizenship,
They very we'll knew that their charges
coull not be proven under the Roman law
Accusation Is not PROOF.
IA. This | confess" This verse and the
following contain Paul's reply to the accu
sction of Tertullus. that he was Il ring
leader of the sect Of the Nazarencs, lie
boldly and ioyously confcsses that he Is
Christian, but at the same time declines
to acknowledge the opprobrious term used
by Tertulus. The way" The way is
religion. See chan. 9: ,. "Icrcsy." A
sect. The word used is the same that Ter
tulus used in verse >, when making his
charge. They had called the Christians a
Sect" and Panl does not disown the
name. $50 worship See l.. Y. 1t is as
il he said: After the way which they call
false and erroneous, but which is accord
ing to the inward light given ne, worship
| my fathers God, jehovah; the God my
ancestors adOred.
Is, l6 "Hope toward God" Having a
hope of the resurrection OF the dead. winch
arises from the promises of God lie de-
clares that, in common with many OF hls
accusers, and with the mass OF his nation,
he holds steadfastiy to. the hope, OF rcsrr'
and power of God. Il exercise myself
He strives as the athlete or warrior, only
his struggle and warfare Is within the soul.
His supreme aim and constant effort was
to keep his conscience from striking against
stumbling stones OF accusing purpose
wrong thought or evil deed. "C0nscienCc.'
The conscience does not tell lis what la
right. hut urges us TO do what We know to
be right, and rebukes us for doing what wc
know to be wrong.
II. "After many years" Paul refers to
the four years which had elapsed since his
last visit to Jerusalem (chap;; Is: @)..
1921. Jews from ASIA Paul justly
complains that the very persons who alone
could testify against him were absent, and
showed that there was really. no Well
founded charge against him. Ihcy alone
could testify as to anything that occurred
in the temple, and as they were not pres
"Or else" Paul turns with bold ch4I-
Iengc to the Sadducoan Jews present, lie ,
demands their own personal testimony
upon the facts that occurred when he stood
before the Sanhedrin. With keen thrust
he asks if the uttcranco of the hated truth
of the resurrection was not the only
charge Of evil doing they could bring.
LII. imprisonment at C0cs9rea vs. -
"a. "When Felix heard" The Governor
virtually decided the case in favor Of Paul.
But he wished to keep the good will Of the
Jews. So he deferred an answe" from time
to time. in the meanwhile allowing Paul
much liberty aid the company OF ms
friends. "Having - knowledge Felix
knew more than most rulers about Chris
tianity. He evidently knew inc ChafaclCT
Of the disciples and that what, Paul sarl
was true. And yet he 'dcfcrred' the case
because he did not wish-ta- @ive- -o!tcnsa II
the jews. After certain days. tChX
came into the audience chamber with his
wife, Drusla. and the prisoner, was sum-
moned before them. Thus Paul had an op-
portunity in his bonds OF preaching tie
GOSPEL and such an opportunity as no
could hardly otherwise have obtained,
25, &C. Reasoned of righteousness, etc;
Paul breaches as faithful apostle should
have preached to such hearers. They sent
for him to hear about Christ. They heard
much more than they cared to hear, PauPs
boldness is all the more striking when we
remember that he was dependent on FELIX
for pardon. Felix tremhled.' In view
pf his past sins, and the Judgment to come.
The prisoner breaches, the judge tremb,,cs,.
instead of asking the way Of peace, he sent sent
the messenger of warning away: lIe dlch
as he had lived. Convenient The s'n'
Der is always looking for convenient sea
son" to turn to God A season when moth"
ing will stand in his way and his worldly
eelatiuns will not be intcrfcrcd with Gnt
such time will never come. "He hopcd%
etc. He hoped that Paul would pay for
His freedom. He knew that Paul had
many friends, and that "they were not
koo poor or too selfish to assist one ana
sther."