The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-01-28
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY 4.

Subject: Paul at Athans, Acts xviii, ::'3A
-aoidsn Text. Acts xviii, is-Msmety
Verses, Do. 30 - Commsatsry ON Tho
Days Lesson.
!. Paul at Athens Tvs. l3-2l). As usual,
persecution aro~e against the new religion
at Berea, and Paul, leaving Silas and Tim:
othy ". ~ to follow him later, bsstensd
odfeHt tSen Da t The &C capital isaI q The intellectual
world, az Rome was Of the political and
Jerusalem Of the religious. While Paul
waited for the coming of Silas and TiIIo.
thy he employed his time in speaking in
the synagogues to the Jews, and in tho
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 philosopher: for q time they
~thronging crowds OF the market and ad-
dress them from the platform on the sum
nit Of the hill, called A~reopagus, or Mars
Hill. where were assembled the MODEST Of
Athens, the frat politicians, the first ora
tors, the first philosophers.
II. Paul's address on Mars Hid Tvs. q.
81. p. Paul stood" Paul spcse IN the
onen air. Mars Hirl-tke Areopagus.m
This hill was to the west Of the Acropohs
Anu was tuc mCettuK phACc u VIC ShtuCutoB
Council. To this bill Of Mars the philoso-
piers led st. Paul, that he might more
conveniently address o larger audience.
Eye men Of Athens" He was addressing
men Of high intellectual powers. Their.
city wa the most renowned in the world
for literature, art and philosophy. II per
~eeive." Paul had observed the importane
features Of the city. "Too superstitious.~;
Ye are greatly addicted 70 religious prse-,
tice. The expression used by the apostle
was complimentary. Ys are very res-
Q. "Your devotions." See r. v. The
apostle had beheld their affairs and works
OF art consecratcd to religion. 'To an un.
known god" That 20 deity might punish
>antIy worship See r. v. The apostle
does not intend to say that their worship
was Of an ignorant character, but that they
offered it in ignorance. Him declare IL
It was death for any private person 70
disturb the religion Of the state By. the IN.
PRODUCTION Of any foreign god that had NOT
ably does Paul avail himself OF the in-
scription on the altar! Who could accuse
him Of introducing anything new when be
only ~expoundcd to the Athenians the at
tributes Of the God whom they had isnor-
antly worshiped?
q. God that made" !. He opposes,
indirectly. their opinions that there were
many gods: .; He Oppose s the N 0 .
are controlled by fate. g.. 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 position which his hearers held
he was faithful in preaching unto them tho
truth. "Dwelleth not" A strong. deci.
sive stroke against the whole system Of
Grecian idolatry.
Is. with mems hands" The apostle
illustrates the. character Of the true God
Him and the deities OF the heather. God
is independent Of His creatures, He needs
nothing from them. The heather consid.
cred it meritorious to bring costly gifts 70
their idols. and even offerings of food and
drink. He giveth." He is the source o4
life and all things necessary to sustain
life, therefore He cannot be dependent on
that life which He has created.
%. Zone blood" God has made OF one
ancestor, or one source, or one family, all
nations. This lays upon u the duty toI
help all men, and to treat all men justify
and lovingly, even the lowest races of men,
Greeks held that the first men had sprung
up in Attica, like radishes;" that, like dow
ers and trees, every nation was the pro
duct Of its own soil, and that they wer
the aristocracy, all others being barbaS
ians. The whole human family, howevS
different in complexion. customs and laf
guage, are brethren. Hath determined
Gods almighty hand is revealed in the gcs
eminent Of the world, az well as in its en-
alton.
q. "Shouf1 seek the Lord" The who&
object of the divine Providence, in Hid
dealings with nations and individuals. j. VI
bring them to q knowledge Of the one trueI
God. "Not far" He is hard to find; not
because He withdraws from us, but bel
cause we withdraw from Him. Our iniqui-I
ties separate us from Him lisa. 20: "a
Rom. 10: 8-10). ~
%. Offspring Of God" By creation af
ter the image Of God; by regeneraticn3
through, the incarnate Son Of God. "oIshs
not" II we, intelligent. moral, r~aticnail
not TO think that the Divine One is like .
dumb, dead, senseless idol.
80. This ignorance" See r. v. Sins
committed in ignorance are different from
those committed against light and con-
science. Men cannot plead ignorance who I
are living in the presence Of an open Bible:
Overlooked" In the word Overlooked
lie treasures Of mercy for those who lived
in the times OF Ignorance.
81. He will JUDGE" Their charactel
and deeds we're to be examined, and
reward or punishment due was TO b
awarded by the Judge. Pauls reference
was apt, since he was standing in the pled
where judicial sentences were ron TO
announced. an righteousness" Every Z
cision will be absolutely right and eorred
There will be no bribery. no covering Y
The righteousness OF the judgment Is wh4
makes it terrible to the conscience.
III. The effect Of Pauls address (vs.
81. 81. Some Knocked" Perhaps
Epicureans. who believed that this
was all. "0thers said" etc. Whether.
riously, or merely o courteous refusal
hear anything further is uncertain.
So, "a. Paul departed" His effort b
not proved "a successful as he had hop9
He soon left Athens for Corinth. "CertaI
men - believed" Several accepted 70
truth. but the names Of only two are me-
toned. "Dionysins," There can be
doubt that this man was one OF the jud
OF this great court. but whether tbs. pr
dent or otherwise We cannot tell. No
SON was q Judge in the Areopagus VINO
not borne the office Of chief governed
the city, and none bore the Office OF
In this court who was not OF the hid
reputation among the people for hiai9
eence and exemplary conduct. '"Dama
For what she was noted is not known,
abe must have been Q woman OF innuenY