Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-04-03
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments fcf
April 5.
Subject: Paul's Farewell to Ephesus, ACTS M'
2S'3S-Golden Text, Acts Xxx, Do
Memory verses, 3l.34-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

He was devoted and faithful, preaching
publicly and privately and laboring with
bis hands His service was constant and
arduous. 2. characterized by a whole
hearted conservation. g. A humble MN
istry. Paul had humble opinion OF hlni'
self. He ascribed to God all the glory. T.
A ministry OF fervent sympathy. D. A
ministry of thoroughness and consequent
unpopularity.
II. Paufs faithfulness (ys. 22-2O. In
the midst of bonds and Affections, while
facing death. he did not falter, but
preached the gospel, declaring the whole
counsel of God, with joy. He says, 81 am
pure from the blood of all men" This
form of expression is very striking. 1t ls
borrowed from the crime OF murder, and
the method by which guilt IS ordinarily
brought home to the criminal. In many
cases conviction depends on blood being
found on the clothes of the murderer. This
is the conception that leaps into the apos
ties mind" He is conscious OF his per-
Torrance of duty, and if any are lost who
had heard the gospel from his lips, their
blood will not be required at his hands.
III. The elders admonished Tvs. 2S-3D.
% "Take heed" Chow unspeakable the
loss Of soul! He shudders at the thought,
and in order to quicken their diligence
when they should return to their labor he
endeavors to impart some of his own anX'
ietv to the elders. He, in effect, invites
them to look to their hands and garments
to make sure there is no blood on them"
"All the flock" The work Of these divine:
" called bishops or elders, is to shepherd
the church Of God; to nourish it with
truth; to lead it to the way Of Christ; to
watch over and guard against the entrance
of evil. and to administer such rule and
discipline as is divinely delegated. The
term flock" is Christs favorite figure.
The supreme motive. is fidelity. Over;
seers." an the sending forth of Saul and
Barnabas we learn the truth which Paul
pointment of bishops or elders it Is the
HOLY Ghost who selects, calls and appoints
tc the office and the work. No valid min
istrv is exclusively man-made." His own
blood" The death Of Christ was an atom
ing sacrifice; He offered Himself to pmr.
chase a people to His own service. The
church is therefore. of peculiar value-a
value to be esteemed by the price paid for
It This is here called the blood of God as
being the blood Of that man who was God
manifest in the flesh.
20. 81 know" From observation, from
experience and from the insight given him
by the Hoy Spirit Wolves" The enc.
mics of Christ and His church. Those who
taught false doctrines. evil principles and
bad morals. and who brought worldlinesa
and st.ife into the church. Such were like.
" to come in Sleeps clothing Matt.
T: 81. under the guise of friends and
teachers. "Not sparing." Seeking their
own selfish interests regardless Of the
souls they might destroy.
30. "Of your own selves" The enemiea
are described on the one hand. as raven.
ing wolves, that il, men who are seducera
and murderers Of souls, and on the other,
as false brethren who arise in the church
itself and who, with spacious words. teach
false and dangerous doctrines. The former
may be easily recognized; the latter are
more nsdious and dangerous "Pcrverse
things" Truths distorted from their
true meaning. The most dangerous errors
are truths thus perverted. There IS truth
enough to make some believe them and err
ror enough to injure or rlin those who do
believe"
81. watch" As a man on guard
Remember" Ny counsel and admoni'
tions. "Tbree years" The history &C.
counts for two years and three, months
(chap. 10: S-lO). and to this may be added
the time which probably preceded His
teaching in the synagogue. The two
statements need not he conflicting. IN the
Jewish mode Of speech. three years need
on.v consist OF one whole wear and parts OF
UfldL NlllFl tl)IeCtuCu anu lO-IONCu' W iI''
tears These chow the love, earnestness.
humility and tenderness with which Paul
preached even the sternest truths.
". The elders exhorted to unsetlshness
Tvs $3.50. 80. "To God" An almighty
support TO those who trust Him. WORD
Of His grace" "The truths of the gospel.
The gospel originates in grace; reveals
grace; produces grace" Build you up,
'The foundation of faith had been LAID,
and the structure of complete Christian
character was to be reared through the IN
! itance" Eternal life. The final glory and
| bessedness OF the redeemed. "Sauctifed.
Those who have been made holy: 1t is
olorious,y uossible to he ancti6ed-nade
holy-in this life. When the converted
person discovers that sin still exists in the
soul he should Immediately come to Christ
| by faith for complete cleansing Please
examine the following Scriptures. ]. Pro-
visions are made in the atonement for the
complete removal OF all SIN CIec ~ ~ 3. |;
Eph. 5: 1921; Titus 2: Il: Heb; Il: Z;
a: John !: 81. 3. Commanded Il Pet.
/: l6). q. Prayed for (Psa. 81: 10; John
| II: II; Thess 5: 23). 5. 1t is the ofice,
work of the Hoy Ghost to sanctify as well
: as to regenerate from. Is: Is: Thess. ?:
-; Pet. J: q. G. 1t is received by faith
/ (Acts 10: 81. .,
1886. Coveted" l have not made it
| an object of my living among you to, obtain
| your property Paul had power to demand
support in the ministry as the reward OF
his labors, but he did not choose to eXer..
else it, lest it should bring the charge, OF
avarce against the ministry. Yet, in Ca.
C: 6 and ! Cor. 0: TIA, he distinctly
teaches that "they which preach the gospel
should live OF the gospel" "These hands"
Pau! 81 owed, both by example and pre-
ccpt. hat labor is honorable. The
words" etc. The words recorded here are
not in the gospels, but they are IN perfect
accord with the teachings of Jesus. John
saws that great many of Christ'S savings
are rot recorded. More blessed" when
the Lord intimated that the b.essedness or
giving is the greater He did not Intimate
that tie joy of receiving was small he
proo'aims in one sentence the twofold
truth, that the joy of His people in obtain
ing is great, and His own in bestowlng 1t
is greater" o> % 10
"Kneeled" "The usual attitude OF prayer,
and the proper position of suppliant;;, It
indicates reverence and humility "Wept
sor." Wept much. kissed" THIS was
the common token Of affection. Sorrow
ing" This was a most tender and attec-
tionate parting scene. May, GOO grant 70
every minister the spirit which Paul
evinced at this time.