Democratic messenger., 1903-01-31
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
February
Subject; Paul at Athens, Acts xviii, 22.A-
uolden Text, Acts xviii, IS-Memory
Verses. Is. 70 Commentary on the
Days Lesson.


Verses. Is. 70 Commentary on the
Days Lesson.
l. Paul at Athens Tvs. 1920. As usual,
persecution arose against the new religion
at Berea, and Paul, leaving Slas and Tim
othy ". l4) to follow him later, hastened
secretly on till he came to the famous city
OF Athens, the capital of the intellectual
world, as Rome was of the political and
Jerusalem of the religious. While Paul
waited for the coming of Silas and Time.
thy he employed his time in speaking in
the .synagogues to the Jews, and in the
market places to those whom he met The
leaders in philosophy and religion were at
tracted by. Paul, and held conversations
with him about his religion. After discuss
ing with these philosophers for a time they
Cequested Paul to leave the curious and
thronging crowds of the market and ad-
dress them from the platform on the sum
init of the hill, called Areopagus, or Mars
Mil where were assembled the noblest of
Athens. the first politicians, the first ora
tors, the first philosophers.
III. Paul's address on Mars Hill Tvs %
81. %: Paul stood" Paul spoke in the
open air. Mars Hill-the Areopagus
This hill was to the west of the Acropolis
Council. To this hill OF Mars the phioso-
piers led st. Paul. that he might more
conveniently address larger audience.
"ie men OF Athens He was addressing
men of high intellectual powers. Their
city was the most renowned in the world
for literature. art and philosophy. Il per.
ceive.' Paul had observed the important
features of the city Too superstitious.
Ie are greatly addicted to religious prac-
tice. The expression used by the apostle
was complimentary. Ye are very reli-
gious.'
~ ..Nour Jc,o+;o,,s, Co u " III
apostle had behcid their affairs and works
OF art consec"ated TO religion. TO an un-
known god That no deity might punish
them for necleeting his worship. "Ignor.
antly worship" See T.. " The apostle
does not intend to say that their worship
was OF an ignorant character. but that they
offered il III ignorance. Him declare l."
II was death Tor any private person to
disturb the religion OF the state by the in
PRODUCTION Of any foreign god that had not
hccn publicly recognized. Bat how admir-
ably does Paul avail himself of the in
scription 3a the altar. Who could accuse
HIM OF introducing ANYTHING new when he
oaly cXpoundcd TO the Athenians tie at
tributes of the God whom they had ignor-
antiy worShiped:
=. God that made" L. He opposes,
indirectly: their opinions that there were
many gods. .. He opposes the opinion
that matter is eternal. 3. That all things
are controlled by fate. 4. That the world
was formed by an accidental throng OF
atoms And these were the doctrines of
his hearers. While Paul respected the
rank and nosition which his hearers he'd
he was faithful in preaching unto them the
truth. ',Dweilcth not" \ strong. deci-
Grccian idolatry.
.,,a5. With mems hands. !" The apostle
Illustrates the character "a the true God
still further by another contrast between
Him and the dcities of the hcathen. God
Is independent of His creatures. He needs
nothing FROM them. The heather consid-
cred 1t mertorious to bring costly gifts to
their idc's: and even offerings OF food and
drink. He giveth' He is the source of
llie and all things necessary to sustain.
llfe. therefore He cannot be dependent on
that life which He has created.
%. "One blood" God has made of one
ancestor, or one source, or one family, all
nations. This laws upon us the duty to
help all men. and to treat all men justly
and lovingly. even the lowest races of men,
Groeks held that the first men had sprung
up in Attiea. like radishcs:" that. like flow
ers and trees, every nation was the pro-
duct OF its own soil, and that they were
the arlstocracy. all others being barbar-
lnns. The who.e human family. however
different IN complexion. customs and Ian
guaGc are brethren. Hath determined"
Gcd's almighty hand is revealed in the gov
ernment OF the world, as well as in its ere
alton.
~. Should seek the Lord The whole
object OF the divine Providence. in His
dealings with nations and individuals. is to
bring them To a knowledge of the one true
God. Not far" He is hard to find: not
because He withdraws from us. but he
cause we withdraw from Him. Oar niqui-
Ties separatc lis from Him lisa. 50: .;
Rom. 10: 6-l0l
70. Offspring of God" By creation af.
ter the image of Cod; by regeneration
through the incarn2te Son OF God. Ought
not. II we. Intelligent. moral. rational
beings. are the offspring of God. we ought
not 10 think that the Divine One is like
dumb. dead. scuse,css idol.
80. This Ignorance" See T.. V Sins
committed in ignorance are different from
those commitied against light and con-
science. Men cannot plead igno. zee who
are lviac IN the presence OF an open Bible
"..Overlool;ed. In the word 'overiookcd"
lie treasures OF mercy for those who lived
IL the times of ignorance.
u. He will Judge Their character
and deeds were 10 be examined. and the
reward or punishment due was to be
awarded by the Judge. Paurs reference
was-apt. since he was standing in the place
where Jrdlcial sentences were wont to he
announced. In .ghteousness." Every de-
cision will he absolutely right and correct.
There will he no bribery. no covering up.
The righteousness of the Judgment is what
makes it terrible to the conscience.
~. The effect OF Paurs address Tvs. 3D.
~: %. Some Knocked" Perhaps the
Epicureans. who believed that this life
was a!i. Others said" etc. Whether Sc
riously. or mercy a courteous refusal to
hear anything further is uncertain.
50. "a. Paul departed" His effort had
not proved as successful as he had hoped
He soon left Athens for Corinth Certain
men believed Several accepted the
truth, but the names of only two are men
toned. "Dionysius.' There can he no
donht that this man was one of the Judges
OF this great court. but whether the presi-
dent or otherwise we cannot tell No per-
son was judge in the Areopagus who had
not horne the office of chief governor of
the city. and none bore the office of Judge
in this court who was not of the highest
reputation among the people for his intelli-
gence and exemplary conduct "Damaris."
For what she was noted is not known, but
she n,nSt have haan q u-rr,ar of ;"A"a~n~