The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL rs.


Subject: Paups Journey TO Jerusalem.
Acts XXI, 3-I3-Golden Text, Acts xxi.s
lA.Memory Verses, II, 12-Comnen.
tary on the Days Lesson.
3. Landed at Tyre" At Patara Paul
found, in a vessel bound over the open sea
to Phoenicia, favoring providence by
which his course to Syria was fastened.
The $40 miles to Tyre was run in about
two days. Here the vessel tarried for
seven days for change OF cargo.
4. Finding disciples" Here Paul found
q small company OF Christian disciples,
with whom he remained in happy, helpful!
fellowship, ministeriug the word; When
in strange cities it is always well to LOOK
for and associate with the people of God.
"Should not CO." That is, if he had any
regard to his own safety or personal wei.
fare, or to their afTectionate ssiicitude on
his account. They were informed by the
Spirit that bonds and Affections awaited
the apostle at Jerusalem, but il was not
revealed to them is the will OF God that
he should change his purpose to proceed
thther.
SO. Brought u.s." "Hcrc is a beautiful
and impressive picture of the harmony of
Christian communion and the strength of
Christian affection" And prayed" As
ut Miletus, so here. they pray before they
separate. The meeting and parting of
praise. Taken our leave" While fare
wells are sorrowful occasions. yet among
Christians they are Illuminated with glo-
rious nope.
7. Finished our course" BY the same
vessel that sailed southwark thirty miles
to Ptolemais, the modern Acre. Here the
sea voyage ended. At Ptolemais Paul re-
mained one day with the brethren, and
the next day travelled by land the remain
ing thirty.siS miles to Cacsarea.
5. Philip" After silence of twenty
years. following upon Philips ministry in
Samaria and to the Ethiopian treasurer
(Acts S: $40, We meet him at Caesarca,
which had ever since been his home. This
seaport, built by Herod the Great, and
named in honor of Augustus Caesar, was
fifty miles northwest from Jerusalem, and
was the residence of the Roman governors
OF the province Of Judea. "One of the
seven" One of the seven deacons appoint
ed at the same time with STEPHEN (chap.
9: 81. He should be distinguished from
Philip tho apostle.
0. -Four daughtcrs-did prophecy" The
house OF the evangelist Philip became, in
consequence of the ful6lment of the pro.
phecy in Joel 2: 2S, the honored central
point Oh the SnTlstlHH COUHTegatlOu VI
Caesarea. His four daughters, who had
received the gift of prophecy and of inter
pretation, furnish new and clear evidence
that all believers alike enjoy the privileges
OF Christianity, and even the earlier in.
stances of the prophecies Miriam. Deborah,
ETC., prove that there is no difference in
the kingdom of grace between male and fe-
male. To prophesy is to speak ito edifica-
tion and exhortation and comfoIr Il Cor.
IA: 81. Where these young women
preached, whether to women only, or in
we do not know. The statements OF the
New Testament clearly show that God calls
women the same as men to preach His gos-
pei.
10. "Afany days." The Greek word for
many means some or several. They re-
manned longer than they at first intended.
Paul's desire was to reach Jerusalem in
time for the feast of the Fentecost, but he
had arrived at Caesarea earlier than he ex.
spare. which time he spent at Caesaren.
.'Agabus." This prophet we have met be-
fore III: 27.30) as the foreteller OF famine
in the reign OF Claudius. He comes now,
from the interior hill country, to warn
Paul OF assault and arrest at Jerusalem.
In imitation of the excessive symbolic act.
ing sometimes employed by the ancient
Jewish prophets lisa. 20: 2; Jer. l3: j;
Eek: 4: 4. this Christian prophet took
hands and feet. Using the prophetic form
of the Old Testament, Thus saith the
Lord" yet changing Il to suit the new dis
pensation Of the Spirit, he cites the Holy
Ghost as explicitly announcing PauPs cap
ture and imprisonment in Jerusalem. This
prediction was fulfilled not many days af.
ter.
ii. "Girdle." The loose, flowing robes
worn in Eastern countries are bound about
the waist with sash or gird!e. Girdlss
er. $50 shall the jews" etc. This pro-
phecy was not fulfilled in the letter, but
while the Romans actually put the apostle
in chains they did it at the instigation Of
the Jews. Shall deliver him." etc. This
prophesy was strictly fulfilled in every par.
3icular. At Jerusalem Paul was delivered
into the hands Of the Roman soldiers end
was sent back to Caesarea prisoner. He
remained in prison at Caesarea about two
years. and was then taken to Rome, where
long years of prison life we hear no repin.
Ing word frorf Paul. He is always rejoicing
and seems to forget his own Affections in
hiS effort to comfort Others. Some of
Paul's best and most helpful epistles were
written while he was under bonds and
chained to o Roman soldier, but the word
of God was not bound. Out of our affiic.
tions God brings a blessing not only to our.
selves, but also to other. Examples: Bun.
yan in prison, John on Patmos.
II. "Besought him." The correctness Of
the previous prophecy of Asnbus, and the
vivid symbol whereby he now impressed
this prediction, produced in the minds OF
the Christian disciples o deep conviction
Of the certainty of future evil to Paul at
Jerusalem. Under this conviction they
unitedly besought him not to 60 to the
place of danger. They interpreted the mis-
sion and intimation Of Agabus rs a warn.
ing given to avoid, and 40 avert the peril.
But Paul understood it better. Long years
before he had learned from his Lord wha.
great things he must suffer for His sake"
Experience had verified this word, and
made its meaning familiar. 70 that these
,, new, more specific and intense premoni.
tions of coming trial, clearly intimated by
the Holy Ghost, carried their full weight
Of meaning to his spirit.
1916. Pauls companions saw the dan.
ger. he saw his duty. Had they seen for
themselves the same duty and the same
cause, doubtless they, too, like him. would
have moved on to danger and death. for it
il q company Of rare spirits who are here
clustered around this holy apostle. When
these true-heartcd disciples could prevail
nothing they accepted Paui's decision as
the r'iil of the Lord and ceased all further
opposition. They then took up their "car.
-y-..p, d