The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-05-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson In the international series
for April ., 1903-PauI's Fare
wen to Ephesus.

(Acts 20:28-38)
%. Take heed therefore unto yourselves,
and to all the flock. over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church OF God, which He hath
purchased with His own blood
20. For I know this, that after my de-
parting shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock.
80. Also Of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things to draw
away disciples after them.
81. Therefore watch, and remember, that
by the space Of three years / ceased not
to warn everyone night AND day with
tears.
%. And now, brethren, / commend you
TO God, and to the word Of His grace.
which is able TO build you up, and TO give
you an inheritance among all them which
are sanctihed.
&c. I have coveted no mans silver. or
gold. or apparel
81 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these
hands have ministered unto my necessi-
ties. and to them that were with me.
IS. 1 have showed you all things. how
that so laboring ye ought to support the
weak, and to remember the words OF the
Lord Jesus. how He said; 1T Is more
blessed 10 give than to receive"
ss. And when he had thus spoken, he
kneeled down and prayed with them all.
81. And they all wept sore, and fell on
Paul's neck and kissed him,
49, Sorrowing most Of all for the words
which he spake. that they should see his
face no more. And they accompanied him
unto the ship.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Remember the
words of the Lord Jesus, how He
said, 1t is more blessed TO give than
10 recedve.--Acts 20I 35.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
The lesson may properly be said to
include the entire chapter:
Paul Revisits Churches in Eu-
rope ........................... 1V;l-S.
Starts Back Toward Jerusalem. Acts 20:4-16.
A Message for the Ephesians.. Acts 90:l7-24.
Warnings to the Church.......Act 2o:26-el.
His Final Leave Taking. Acts 20:Sz-S8.
TIME--A. %. 81.
PLAcE-Miietus. % miles south Of
Ephesus.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Paul Reyisits Churches in Europe
After nearly three years Of ministry
at Ephesus Paul was forced by the
trouble stirred up by bitter op-
ponents OF his preaching to leave
that place. Whereupon he decided
to revisit the churches he had found
ed in Europe; in Macedonia, Philippi,
Berea, Thessalonica, and in Greece,
chiefly at Corinth.
Starts Back to Jerusalem. -Paui's
plan for the future at this time was
very definite. The visits to the
churches in Asia Minor and in Greece
ana Macedonia were farewell visits
for the purpose of strengthening those
churches, then, if in the providence of
God he should be permitted 50 to do,
he would return TO Jerusalem, in
which city be had not spent any con-
siderable time for many years, and
from thence to Rome, the capital OF
the world.
A Message to the Ephesians.-On
the homeward journey toward Jeru-
salem Paul comes to AIiletus. The
duration of his vessels stay at
Miletus was uncertain, so instead of
going to Ephesus he sent for the
leaders of the church to come TO
him. He reminds them Of the way in
which he did his work while among
them, exemplifying in his own life
the qualities of a true disciple. The
one quality he emphasizes is hu1nil-
ity OF mind Then he reminds them,
how. in spite Of the difficulty Of the
work on account of the Lying in
wait Of the Jews" he taught public
ly and from house to house. This is
an important suggestion for the
Christian worker, namely, to empha-
size neither the public side of his
work nor the quieter, the "house
to house" way. at the expense Of the
other. Both are important. and he
who has the gift Of a persuasive public
speaker can strengthen his work in
calculably by means of the personal
touch. In verse q Paul sums up in
the fewest possible words the gist of
his preaching, the two vital truths
of Christian experience. He
preached first repentance toward
God" and secondly faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ" Turning from his
past work Paul looks toward the fu-
ture. Forebodings Of certain danger
to himself in connection with his work
are on his mind. But in spite of this
knowledge he gives utterance to those
noble words: 'But none of these
things move me, neither count my
life dear unto myself. so that ] might
9nish my course with joy, and the
ministry I have received. Ito testify
the gospel Of the grace Of God." With
the certainty of fate does this great
man push forward in his God-appointed
work in spite Of all obstacles.
Warnings to the Churchill is with
sadness that Paul speaks of the fu-
ture Of the church at Ephesus. Men
shall arise who shall speak perverse
things and even draw away disciples
from the true faith" In view Of this
condition Paul first says; Take heed
therefore unto yourselves" and sec
ondly, unto all the flock" He had
just reminded these representatives
from Ephesus that he was ''pure from
the blood Of all men. "1his was in
n