The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-03-12
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lessen Comments For
March Is.
Srbleci: The Rio. at Iphesus, Acts XIX, 1870
-Goidcn Text. Psa xxi, 2j-M.mory
Verses, 2o'Jl-conmeniary en
TIL Days Lesson.

]. Demetrius causing tumult Tvs. 90.
27). Deme trius was leading spirit among
the Epheslan shrinemakers. and may haze
been wholesale dealer. executing orders
for the shrines and zen. Jloying artisans
who received lucrative wages for their la
bor.' The preaching OF Paul. the growth
OF the church and the advancing civi!iza.
ton OF that time were making inrolds
Lpon idol worship. and the stle OF the
shrines was decreasing. These shrincs
were made oil wood o" metal. and were lit
tie images or modes Of the tempe ot
Diana, containing an image OF the goddess.
They were sod to the peop'e OF Ephesn4
and to the many strangers who visited the
city. and were also sent to distant ci.ics
for sale. Demetrlus collected all the work.
men who were connected with his busi.
ress. and very artfullv aroused their pas
sions. In his speech he declared that their
craft or trade was in danger OF being
brought into disreputc and then unwit
tlngly paid a glowing tribute to the apos.
tie Paul and the effectiveness of the gos.
pei Tvs. 20, 27). The cause OF the tumu,t
was covetousness under the guise of rrlig.
ion. Greed and gain blind men to the
highest interests of mankind.
II. Pauis companions seized Tvs. 2S.
32). The address OF Demetrui was effect.
i've. The men to whose worldly interests
he had appealed responded with loud
cries, Great is Diana of the Eohesians."
Ht uNSlHu VI tlllH ildlllbi WINS W IdlNt "
persecution against Paul, and thus serve
their own interests.
%. Confusion" All the people rushed
to the theatre. in which public meetings
were often held. As the apostle himself
at the moment, could not be found his at.
the multitude. "Gaius." lie bad lived at
Corinth and had enter lined Paul at his
house Il Cor. /: Il; Rom. 10: 23l. "Ars.
tarchus He attended Paul to Rome ard
was there \ prisoner with him Col. 4: l0l.
30. Would have entered Paul was
front OF dane-r. lie no doubt honed TO be
able to one,l the outbreak. Suffered him
not" His life was too precious TO be
thus risked. 1t appears that Paul listened
to the entreaties of the disciples on this oc-
casion; at other times he did not (Acts
81: l0-l4). Viii, Paul did not fear nohs
or even death. yet he wisely yielded to
persuasion and did not risk his life when
thereswas no necessity for so doing
81. "1he chief of Asia" The original
| word is Asiarchs. There were ten men,
annually elected from the most influential
| in the province, to conduct the sacrlfclal
worship. Thus we see that some OF the
men honored with the highest offices at
| this festival were friendly TO Paul and
| Christianity, and probably had no Grea.
care for Diana or her worship.
80. Knew not" The crowd had been
/ Drawn lO.elntT ny lHs HDsHt anu tACltt-
ment. and only few knew the real cause
of the cornmoton.
III. The uproar increasing Tvs. 50. 34).
33 Drew Alexander" He was probably
an unconverted jew. il may have been
the case that the jews wished Alexander.
who was. perhaps an experienced public
orator. to speak in their behalf. and thus
transfer the blame from themselves to the
| Christians. But when he attempted to
speak the people perceived he was jew,
and would not permit him to utter word
"a. "A jew" There was a general
disposed to charge the whole difficulty
upon the Jews. esteeming Christians to be
but sect of the Jews. They were. there
fore. indignant and excited. and indis-
criminate in their wrath and unwilling to
! listen to any defense. Two hours In
Romans an hour did not differ greatly
from an hour with us. 1t is not unlikely
that in the hot rage and excitement such
| length of time wonld be necessary to al
lay the tumult Cried out" etc. This
they at first did to silence Alexander. The
der to evince their attachment to Diana, as
would be natural in an excited and tumul-
| tuous mob of debased heathen worshipers.
III. The town clerks speech Tvs. 35.
40). 3j. "The town clerk" This official
was a very important person. He was nu'
| thOriZed to preside over pubic assemblies,
and he stood next in rank to the munich
pal chief. and performed his duties during
| the absence or on the death Of that officer.
Had quieted" His influence was 80
great that the mob became nuiet and gave
him a hearing. "He said" The speech
the man was well qualified to fill the high
Office he held. "a worshiper-tenD'e
keeper" Literally, temple sweeper. The
r-me no doubt was first used to inn.
that any Office in the service Of 50 magnii
cr2t goddess was grand distinction
which vas believed to have fallen dowr
from Jupiter was "a rude wooden figure
nearly the shape Of mummy"
90. 81. do nothing rash'v." They had
performed q very rash act in seizlng iwr
persons against WHOM it ann"ers the
could takc no proceedings. "Robbers o
temples" As the temple ut Fphesus hrr
great treasure chamber the offerse r,',h
not be unknown Among them. Nor has
phemers" From this we see that th" 'a'
guage Of Paul and his comp..nions had h""r
guarded. The general effect OF tie;
they had refrairnd frorn denunciation ant
opDrobrious epithets. To have tal'en an
other course would have deprived them o
all chance Of a hearing.
2S40. Courts are open. 1t Is moro
OF Gcd when a wise government cSists
"Other matters" Anything that pertlin
to nuhlic affairs. Lawful" II shall b
settled in conformity to law and not by
mob To move an unlawful tumult was
capital offense. aud Demetrius vas now ]
quite as much danger as Pau, Mob inw
still a qreat evil in the land. 1t deaden
the public conscience and strikes blo'
at the very foundation of good govern
ment. "In danger" They were in DANCE
of being called to account by the procoT
sui The Roman Government watche
every appearance OF sedition in the prov
inces with jealous eye. 1t was a capti
offense to take any port in riotous pr
ceeding. "No cause" "There being n
cause for it, and as toaehngit we shall nc
be able to give account OF this concourse.
r.. V. This is a complete vindication ,
Paul and his method OF work and Of Chri
tianity in general. The charges OF lawles
ness and violence which were so often pr
ferred against the Christians by their en-
| ..;oa ,yara antirelv proundlasa