The St. Louis Republic., 1903-03-28
THE SUNDAY-SCH00L LESSON.
For April ), "Paul's Farewell to
Ephesus." lActs Xxx, .l--3S,)

4
! episile and the other for review. We return
I 10 the historic narrative. The excitement
| at Ephesus having subsided tActs xix, Il
| 80. Paul went forth. according to his pur-
| pose. TO Macedonia and to Greece. tNerses
] and - His stay in those regions. how
| ever, was brief Under the prompting OF the
| Spirit. his heart was set on going to Rome.
Sailing with several companions. he pro-
| Ceeded via Troas, Assas. Mityene. Samos
and Trosyllium TO Miletus. In eacn of these
| cities he preached and rendered valuable
service to the church. Being in some haste,
he did not go up TO Ephesus. but sent for
| the elders OF that city. who came down to
lowed was extremely interesting. These men.
| charged with all the affairs OF the congrega-
| tion were greatly attached to Paul as their
| spiritual father. delighted to see him after
his separation, and he delivered to them an
address. part OF which we shall study to-
day.
UNNOvED-Veree 24l Why was Paul
unmoved by the prospect Of personal ms
fortune? Why did he go forward when he
knew that imprisonment awaited him? Why
should he even jeopardize his life? Rom.
viii. So.) He gives the secret in his letter
to the Romans. Verse A) a course of ac-
tion. a mission. was before him. which he
was determined to accomplish and to come
to its end with JOY. III rim. iv, - That
mission was the ministry which ne had re-
ceived from the Lord Jesus Titus l. -.
which he had acce.ted his life work,
from which he dare not turn. Il Cor. TX. 49,
His only business among men was to ,'teS-
tify the gospel of the grace of God. 1t
filed his heart and hands tRom. !. 10, and
dominated all his powers, SO that. turning
away from every ether pursuit and calling,
he devoted himself untir.ngly and absolute
L. to this. He was the servant of Christ
(Phil /. u. to go and be and do, and even 10
suffer and to die. when. where and how the
Master might direct. -
APPROv ED~Vcrscs Is to ~ The apos-
tic not only affirmed his loyalty TO Chris,
but he challenged the approval o! his
brethren. desiring them to confess his faith
tho counsel Of God. Verse ~ Withholding
nothing, through fear or favor. he had IN.
Christianity. Verse 0D Accordingly, he
must be tree from blame. IL any In the
church at Ephesus came short of a consist
Verse 26.) There is undoubted reference here
to the responsibility of the prophet or public
iii. IS, 49, He had good reason for desirlns
this approval of the elders-he was gong
from them. not to return. 1t was the END
work esi among them. Verse zS3 He rightly
esteemed their favor as an incentive. ard
he sought by means Of that favor to pre-
pare them for the advice which he was
words enforced by his faithfulness.
CHARGEDzzVsrse 30 1t was thus an
conduct to that of the elders Werse 81
Therefore" he says. because of his exam
pie. he charged them to do their duty. That
Il Tim. ", lS) A servant OF the church
must be godly. The elders must make the
apostle bs in ssnss m he n,t4
they were to be induced to care for the
church. to feed it as flock. like unto shep-
given to incite their fidelity. That church
had been purchased with the blood OF
Christ QHeb. tx. I'D, and was. therefore: ex-
over. BY the Holy Ghost. they had been
made overseers or superintendents Tor
Bishops. as the word might be rendered.. 81
erful motives-the words and influence Of
the apostle. the value and glory OF the
church and the nature of the appointment
all uniting to move the Ephesian elders TO
the discharge of duty.
WARNED-(Verscs % to Sl.) To render all
this. the more timely, and emphatic. Paul
discloses something of the future of the
church. dreary outlook. calculated to
awaken his fears. VERSES 9 and 30) He
does not tell how he obtained the informa-
tion-whether by revelation or inference
from conditions then existing-but he de-
clares that he knew the church would he In
trouble after his departure. Some would
wolves. false prophets Matt. yvii. 49, de
scribed more fully elsewhere. Oh Pet, IL, -
l. a@ would rise rise up p to become false teach
ers. perhaps Influenced by those who came
from abroad. or perhaps led astray by their i
disciples after them. so that the body would \
be divided. Hence. these elders must watch |
constantly (verse 3d. remembering that |
they had been forewarned on this subject. I
This is in full accord. both in spirit and in |
substance with what Jesus had said to his |
disciples. as he was about to be taken from I
them. Matt. xiv. 42o
COMMENDED = Verse 32)-Having L
warned them against trouble. the apostle
shows how to escape 1t. He offered moth
ing new or startling. but that which has
ever been. and must forever be. the secret
of prosperity in the church-the guidance
and help of God. Verse 32) He specially i
commended them to the word of divine
grace, the sacred Scriptures. undoubtedly II
the writings of the prophets and those OF
the apostles then or to be produced. He
declared that this word was able to build l.
them up. in harmony with his utterances
elsewhere uI Tim. iii. is. III. and that the l
outcome of such edification would bd to I
give them an inheritance among the sancti-
fled. (Eph /. 49, He is here not referring
to the future reward which we designate
heaven, but to that spiritual enlightment /
and strength. that exhalted Christian char
acter (Col. I, 1e). which IS attainable
the combined influence Of grace
and truth. III Pet. iii. 12), Through these
they may go on from excellence to ex-
cellence and become strong and steadfast.
UNSELFISH-Uerses 50 to-. 35) Once
more as a concluding thought the apostle
alludes to himself as pattern for the
elders. Uerses 90 to 3o.) He knew the beset-
ment of all men. to which even ministers
and church officials are exposed. a desire
for gain and honor. He would have these
men unseltish in their work free from the
mercenary spirit. In his ministry he had
coveted no mans goods. Whilf IT would
Matt, <, 1o. according to the tdrds own