The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-04-23
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
April 70.
Subject: Pau,'s Journey TO Jerusalem, Ac 8
xxi, 3'l3-Golden Text. Acts xxi, IA
Memory Verses. II, I2-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

|
| -
3. LANDED at Tyre" AT Patara Paul
found, in a vessel bound over the open sea
to Phoencia, favoring providence by
which his course to Syria was fastened.
two days. Here the vessel tarred for
seven days for change of cargo.
a. Finding disciples" Here Paul found
small company of Christian disciples,
with whom he remained in happy, helpful
fellowship, minstering the word. When
| in strange cities it is Always well to loo;
for and associate with the peop.c of God
Should not 60" That is, il he had any
regard to his own safety or personal wei.
fare, or to their affectonate soiicitu1c on
his account. They were informed by the
| Spirit that bonds and Affections awaited
the apostle at Jerusalem, but it was not
| revealed to them as the will of God that
he should change his purpose to proceed
| thither.
SO. Brought us" "Here is beautiful
and impressive picture OF the harmony Of
Christian communion and the strength of
at Miletus, so here, they pray before they
separate. The meeting and parting OF
| Christians should be seasons of PRAYER and
| praise. Taken our leave" While fare.
| wells are sorrowful occasions. vet among
! Christians they are illuminated with gio.
| rlous nope.
:. 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.siX miles to Caesarea.
8. philip" After a silence of twenty
! years, following upon Philips ministry in
samaria and to the Ethiopian treasurer
| (Acts 8: 540), we meet him at Cacsarea,
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. "Onc of the
seven" One OF the seven deacons appoint.
ed at the same time with Stephen (chap.
| q: 81. He should be distinguished from
Philip the apostle.
o. -Four daughters-did prophecy" The
house of the evangelist Philip became, in
| consequence OF the fulhlment of the pro.
! phecy In Joel 9: IS, the honored central
! point of the Christian congregation OF
| Caesafca. His four daugh ters, who had
received the gift of prophecy and of inter.
! probation, 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.
]
tion and exhortation and comfort Il Cor.
! IA -. Where these young women
| preached, whether to women only. or in
| private houses, or to public assemblies"
we do not know. The statements of the
| New Testament clearly show that God calls
| women the same as men to preach His COS.
| pei.
10. MANY days The Greek word for
many means some or several. They re.
mainned longer than they at first intended.
! Pauls desire was to reach Jerusalem in
! time Tor the feast of the Pentecost. but he
had arrived at Csesarea earlier than he OK.
| pected. and now had more than week to
| spare. which time he spent at Caesarea.
.Agabus." This prophet we have met be-
fore III: 27-30) as the foreteler OF famine
in the reign OF .Claudius. He comes now,
| from the interior hiii 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, 90; .; Jer l3: Il;
Eek Eek 4: y, this Christian prophet took
hands ard Ieet. Using the prophetic form
of the Old Testament, Thus saith the
Lord, yet changing it to suit the.new dis.
pensation of the Spirit, he cites the Hoy
Ghost as explicitly announcing Paul's 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 girdle. Girdles
were quite large and made OF linen or leath
er. 80 shall the jews" etc. This pro.
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.
| ticular. At Jerusalem Paul was delivered
| into the hands Of the Roman soldiers and
! sent hack tn ('Dpsarpu "a He
remained in prison at Caesarea about two
| years, and was then taken to Rome where
he was kept two years longer. During these
long years OF prison life we hear no repin.
ing word frofi Paul He is always rejoicing
ana 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 aad
chained TO Roman soldier, but the word
OF God was not bound. Out OF our afiic.
selves, but also 70 other. Examples: Bun
yan in prison. John on Patmos.
II. 'Besought him" The correctness OF
the previous prophecy of Agabus, and the
vivid symbol whereby he now impressed
this prediction, produced in the minds Of
of the certainty of future evil to Paul at
Jerusalem. Under this conviction they
unitedly besought him not 30 60 to the
Place OF danger. They interpreted the mis-.
| sion ana lntlmation OF Agabus as a warn.
ing given to avoid, and so avert the peril.
But Paul understood it better. Lolg yoars
before he had learned from his Lord what
great things he must suffer for His sake"
Experience had verified this word, and
made its meaning familiar, so that these
new, more specific and intense premoni
tons of coming trial, clearly intimatcd by
the Holy Ghost carried their full weight
OF meaning to his spirit.
1916. Paul's 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
is a company of rare spirits who are here
clustered around this holy apostle. When
these true-hearted disciples could prevail
nothing they accepted paul's decision as
the will OF the Lord and ceased all further
opposition. They then took up their "car.
riages"-mesn!ng baggage" r. Wand
vent UP to Jerusalem.