Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-06-13
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
June IA.
Subject PanI at Rome, Acts xviii. l6-zF
80. 3i-GoIden Text, Rom. l.. l6-Mem.
mory Verses. q. A-Study Verses.
l6.3i-Commentary on the
Days Lesson.


Days Lesson.
Paul enters Rome ". l6l. l6. Game to
Rome Rome Is reached at last and the
long Journey is at an end. At this time the
city OF Rome was at the height OF its
glory 1t held SWAY over nearly the entire
known world. Wxhin circuit oil little
more than twelve miles more than 2,000.0o0
OF inhabitants were crowded. OF whom
about l.000.000 were slaves. But Paul.
Nero. the emperor 10 whom Paul had APP
pealcd. was too much engaged in his de-
baucheries and pleasures u care much for
such man as Paul or such accusations as
were made against him 10y the Jews. by
himself" This lenity was probably due 10
the compensation OF the centurion Julius.
with 4 soldier The custom was 70
guard. To this chain the apostle frequent.
" makes allusion in the eplstles TO the
Epnesians. Philippians and Coiossians and
in his friendly note to Philemon. all OF
, which were written during this inprison-
| menr. See Eph. 81; ): / Phil. /: l3, lG:
Col 4: Is: Phlem. /: ., 10.
rhe first interview with the Jews Tvs.
/ l7-21). Il. After three days Three
| days after PauTS arrival at Rome ne in
rited those who presided over the Jewish
community 10 visit him. His first steps Oh
passing beyond the narrow circle OF those
4.ISduN tOUNttt~ were ulIcctet!. III accord
ance with his established principle, toward
Israel. And his circumstances did not
allow him to seek the Jews as he had done
in other places. he requested the rcprcSea-
tatives of the Jewish congregation to come
TO mis- lodging Men and brethren" THIS
address to the assembled Jews Is o. ! per-
sonll nature. and Is intended to counteract
eertain prejudices which the Roman Jews
might entertain. Delivered prisoner" In
as mild terms rs possible he recolnts his
! unca!led for accusation by the Jews in .Ie-
rusa!em. who delivered him into the hands
81 the Romans.
IS, 10. Let me GO He narrates briefly
the events given in chapters 81 TO &c. The
Roman officials repeatedly failed to find
cause of offense in him TO appea.."
Paul declared that his appeal to the EN-.
peror had become indispensabv necessary.
because the Jews opposed his acauittal 70
which the Roman authorities judged him
to be entitled He states that it had rot
been his Intention to bring any accusation
against his pcop.e before the emperor.
20. Hope of Israel" The hope OF
Israel is the general expectation OF the
Messiah: In Jesus Pau, believed that the
expected Saviour had appeared. and for
made a prisoner. He held the sqme faith
as all the Jews. only going in tins matter
further than they, i'll that he believed the
ancient promise was now fulfilled. We can
see from the reply OF the Jews that ne I'M
derstood iheir position exactly. This
chain Roman chains. like our handouts,
usually indicated crime, but Panl's chains
stand for patriotism and the Hottest re,ig.
ious conception.
Il. Neither received letters" Why
the Jews in Judea had not forwarded the
accusation against Paul 10 their brethren
in Rome. that they might continue the
prosecution before the emperor. is not
known | IL n he, laI
their cause as hopeless, and chose to aban.
don the prosecution. Pail had been &c.
quilted successfully by Lysias, Felix, Fc3-
tbs and Asrippa.
-. Desire 50 hear OF thee" They i'm.
piled that they had heard OF him by their
request TO know what he thought OF this
new sect. That they spoke so mautio lousy,
a@d subsequently made no demonstration
ii hostility 2..ainst Paul is readily account
ell for. The apostle was held in special
favor by the chief officer OF Nero's house
hold. and the Jews OF the syna yosue were
themselves subject to persecution so that
hey were pawerlcss 70 prosecute the disci.
PIES of Christ.
The second interview with the Jews Us.
1920. %. Game many" They came IN
.'sat numbers. Many accompanied the
chief Jews. ''EXpounied." etc. Paul
takes Is his theme that doctrine al the
KINGDOM OF God which was the central
truth OF the Cd Testament and the New.
that great disclosure Of the prophets which
was still. rs it had hsen for centuries. the
supreme Thought and hone OF the Whole
Jewish reop.e. Again Paul follows the
very line ri MS risen Lords exposition -
the two disciples on the road to Emraus.
and all the prophets ne showed TIA. the
predicted kingdom is not limited 10 ore
nation. but co-eXrensivc with the word.
lie showed thcm that in Jesus OF Nazaretl:
n, the conditions at the expected Messiah
we're fulfilled. Morning until evening""
This shows the effort Paul put forth TO
save the Jews.
81 ''Sonc believed" \ few were won
to faith in the Christ. but the many dishc-
! lievci TIE teachings OF their own Scrip-
lures. and rejected the suffering Messiah!
so plainly disclosed The seed OF the word
iell here, in some cases. by the wayside: j.:
others upon stony places. or among thorns;
ueyertheless. some fell into good ground.
25-29. Spoken one word With these
solemn words OF the Hoy Ghost. spoken
by Isaiah: Christ had opened His teachings
by parabes Matt. IL: II. l5l. and had
finally closed His ministry among the Jew.
tiohn. ~: 4o). And nov Paul. as If himself
commissioned ty the Hoy Ghost as a pro-
phet of the New Testament. sadly redeiiv-
ers the same message. enforced hv the AK
iu emphasis OF the Masters double utter
ance. Thus the apostle. under divine d.
IeCtioi, IpI!!idtIN ana IilallN seas To- the
gosne. o:fsr 10 Gods disohcdieat afd re-
iectine people. In thi; fearful lroce.s
there arc three distinguishab'c agencies ey-
press;y described: The ministerial agency
OF the prophet: the judicial agency o. Col
and the suicidal agencv Of the peor!e .he,n.
selves. Into the Gent;ies" Paul was
meyer discouraged. Ii the GOSPEL was r.
jected by one c,aSS of peop,c he was ready
TO offer ii - another.
Pauls residence and ministry in Rome
Tvs. 50. 81. 81. Two whole wears"
Why he was not prosecuted before the en-
peror during this time : not known A%
there was no prosecution Paul was suffered
to live in quietness and safety Nothing
certainly is known on the subject. 1t Is
evident. from Tim. 1: l6. that he wa. at
some time arraiSned before the emperor
but when, or what was the decision or
why he was at last set at liberty. are az in
volved in impenetrab.e obscuritv.
81. preaching - and teaching" Pam.
did great work during these two wears
in Rome: /. He preached the gospel to all
who came 10 him. .. He wrote several
epistles which were hy far the most imoor-
tant part OF his prison activity.