The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE 20.

Review Of the Lessons Studied rurtne
the Second 0uarter-Resd Rom. ~ LII
13-19-Golden Text, Tim. iv., 49,
Topic. Paul's Last Dayr.
ntroGucton.-The lessons this quarter
cover the last few years of the life OF the
apostle Paul. 1t is supposed that ne was
released from his first Imprisonment IN
A. D. 63, and that he then made, fourth
missionary journey, visiting Macedonia, and
probably Spain, and Asia Minor, whence
He was beheaded near Rome, on the "Os.
tian Way" by Nero, il about the year 10
A. D. Thus ended one of the grandest and
most fruitful lives the world has ever seen.
Summary.-Lesson I. Topic: Paups min.
istry at Ephesus. This is near the close of
Paul's first missionary journey. After the
riot at Ephesus he visited. Macedonia and
Greece, and returning, he stopped at Mile.
tus, city about thirty.fve miles south OF
Ephesus. He sent for the elders and bade
them an affectionate farewell. He urged
all the flock; said that grievous wo.ves
would enter in among them, not sparlng
the flock. He called attention to his life OF
self denial and labor. After this they
kneeled down and prayed. =,
II. Topic: The change that will take
place in the body at the resurrection.
Chrst's resurrection is fully established,
and His resurrection is an important r2a-
son for believing that all the dead Will be
raised This mortal body cannot inherit
the kingdom Of God, but must be changed.
This will take n!ace when the last trump
shall sound. Through Christ we have vic:
tory over death and the grave. Paul
urges the church to be steadfast, unmov-
ab!e. always abound;2g in the work OF the
Lor1.
III. Topic: Purity Of life. Paul wrote
to the Romans from Corinth. Christians
pay their debts except the debt of love,
which is q perpetual obligation. The one
who loves his neighbor as himself will not
trespass in any way. 1t is time to awake
out of sleep and cast off the works of dark
ness and put on the armor Of light. we
should "put on" Christ and make no provl-
sion for the flesh.
". Topic: Paups coming, Affections;
Paul reaches Tyre; meets with cordial
reception; continues his journey to Caesa-
rea; enters the house Of Philip, the evan
ge,ist, one of the seven; tarried there
many days; the prophet Agabus arrives:
takes Pauls grdle and binds his hands and
feet; says that thus Paul will be bound at
Jerusalem and will be delivered to the
Gentiles When the disciples heard the
prophecy Of Agabus they besaught Paul not
to 20 to Jerusalem, but he told them that
he was not only ready to be bound at Je-
rusa,em, but also to give his life for the
truth.
V. Topic: Paul mobbed and rescued.
As soon as Paul reached Jerusalem ne con.
ferred with the elders of the church. He
then entered into the temple and purified
himself, according to the ceremonial law.
Jews from Ephesus saw him in the won-
ems court with strangers, and supposed ne
had taken a Gentle into the temple and
thus polluted it. They stirred up a mob
against Paul for the purpose of taking his
life. Paul was rescued by Roman soldiers,
and afterward while standing ON the stairs
delivered an address to the assembled
throng.
Jews. At the close Of the address dellv-
cred on the stairs the mob was again
stirred against Paul. Lysias,. the Roman
captain, was about to scourre him when he
learned that Paul was Roman citizen.
After this a conspiracy was made against
Paul by the Jews, forty. of them binding
themselves together under q curse that
they would neither eat nor drink until they
had killed him. The plot was discovered,
and Lysias sent Paul with strong military
escort to Caesarea. g,
VII. Topic: Paul's good confession. Paul
at Caesarea; Roman prisoner; is trled
before Felix, the governor; Jews come
from Jerusalem accusing him; the charges
were sedition, heresy, sacriiege; Paufs de-
fense was, clear and unanswerable;. their
charges could not be proved; Paul con-
fesssd that he was Christian. After. Ger
tain days Paul spoke before Felix and his
wife, Drusilla; reasoned of Righteousness,
temperance and judgment to come; Felix
trembled; hoped that money would be
given him that he might release Paul. :,
VIII. Topic: PauPs defense. After Pau!
had been in prison two years he was called
before Festus, the new governor OF Judea,
md King Agrippa, to make his defense.
Paul had appealed to Rome. and Festus
desired to frame charge against him;
Pauls address deeply impressed Festus and an
Agrippa. and they decided that If he had
not appealed to Rome he might have been
released But his appeal was allowed to
stand. and arrangements were made to
send him to the imperial city. -,
TX. Topic: Life through the Spirit. The
law has no power tn deliver from sin; it Is
wea'; through the flesh; Christ, who came
in the likeness of sinful flesh. has power to
save from sin. The Christian is not car
nnlly mirded. but spiritually minded; he
walks not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in the
hearts of those who are Christ's; such are
led by the Spirit OF God. =,
X. Topic: PauPs voyage to Malta. Paul
set sail from Caesarea to Rome August p,
A. D. 60. They landed at Fair Havens on
the Island of Crete during the stormy, sea-
son. Paul advised them to winter here.
but Julius, the centurion, who had charge
decided TO sail for Phenice.. a more commo-
dious port Of Crete. On the way hurri:.
cane struck them. all hope Of being saved
was given ND. tut fnallv they abandoned
the ship and escaped to Malta.
yI. Topic: Paul preaching to the Jews
at Rome. Paul nerformed many miracles
on the Island of Malta, and the people OF
the island honored him and his comraHonss
with many honors. In the spring Paul and
the others with him were taken to Puteoh.
near Names, The apostle then went to
Rome. called tie Jews together, explained
why he was there prisoner and preached
Christ.
XII. Tonic: The duties OF the Christian
minister. Paul wrote his letter to Timothy
from Rome. These were among bis last
words. Timothy had learned much con; con;
cerning the Scriptures whe? child. Paul
charges him n be faithful as minister
and 10 preach the word. He calls attention
to the fact that the tine will come when
sound doctrine will not be endured. Tin
>thy is told to watch endure and labor.