The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-05-16

Is And have hope toward God which they
themselves also allow. that there shall be
a resurrection Of the dead. both Of the just
and unjust.
l6 And herein 90 I exercise myself. to
have always a conscience void OF of1ense
toward God. and toward men.
"a And after certain days, when Felix
came with his wife Drusilla, which was
Jewess, he sent for Paul. and heard him
concerning the faith in Christ.
70. And as he reasoned Of righteousness,
temperance, and judgment to come, Felix
trembled, and answered, Go thy way for
this time: when 1 hRse convenient sea-
son, Will call for thee.
ze He hoped also that money should have
been given him az Paul. that he might loose
him; wherefore he sent for him the often
er. and communed with him.
GOLDEN TEXT VIII fear no evtIi
for thou nrt with me.--Ps. 23;4.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
Pauls accusation. n..........,.....Acts 4.l-s
Paul defense. se.....-..............-Acts q 4s1v-zl
Pauls mprisonment...-... Acts 49, ~
FELIX s lndecislon .......+.....'-Acls ~4'if-@'.
TIME.-A u. S..
PLACE.-Caesarea.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
1t will be seen that Paul makes a
perfect defense, so far as the charges
against him are concerned. But it
should also be noted that he does
more than acquit himself Of them; he
so makes known the character of "the
sect" to which he IS accused Of belong
ing (but which he calls ''the Way'),
that he jusfifies its existence and its
right to his fealty. Paul did not think
Of himself ofone.
When our last lesson closed, Paul
had been brought under guard TO
Caesarea, the Roman capital Of Pales-
tine. and had been imprisoned in what
was originally Herod's palace. It was
now the governors official residence,
and was fortified.
The Orator the Jews took with
them Was their advocate or lawyer
and conducted the case. He began in
true oriental style by fattering the
Judge. The Jews. through their law
yer. made three charges. Bear in mind
that while Felix had not been a good
ruler. he had been active IN ridding
the country Of robbers and impos-
tors who deluded the multitude" He
had executed many Of them. The first
charge was that Paul WAS one of these
very tr0uble-makers whom Felix was
trying to get rid Of; the second charge
was that he was a ringleader Of the
heretical "sect Of the Nazarenes"
(Christians). and the third, that hewas
guilty Of sacrilege. having attempted
10 profane the temple by taking Gen
tiles into the forbidden inclosure.
In his defense Paul took up in order
the three charg4s that had been made
against him. He began courteously
bur with no fattery. "Forasmuch as
I know / cheerfully make my
defense:r He was especially glad to
have a Judge who had known the Jews
for a number Of wears. for the better
the Judge knew them and their re-
hgious fanaticism the surer would he
be TO understand the situation "Not
more than twelve days" Panl's stay
had been short and his record could be
easily looked up. "Neither can they
prove:r Paul fatty denies the first
charge-the only one that would seem
serious TO a Roman-and challenges
proof OF his guilt. The second he
frankly admits. 'sThe Way One Of
the earliest names applied by the dis
ciples to Christianity. Paul claims.
however. that he does not belong to a
heretical sect. because (1) he wor-
SHIPPED the true God, (2) he reyerenced
the Hebrew Scriptures. (3) he believed
with The ] harisees in the resurrection
of the dead. "Herein:n In this faith.
Il also exercise myself" I school my
self TO do right. strive to have a clear
conscience. which. even TO Paul. was
not always easy. Verses 1921 give
Paul's answer to the third charge.
Felix saw that no case had been
made out against Paul, and yet he did
not want to anger the Jews. so he sim
ply adjourned the case tin another
time
Felix was interested in Paul Hewas
also interested in the Nazarenes. and
so summon his prisoner TO a private
interview. Paul did not preach to the
Roman gospel Of forms and eere-
monies like Judaism. but one of right
eousness and self-control-a gospel in
which wrongdoing should be followed
by what wrongdoing deserved. It was
all terrible truth to the guilty Felix,
but he was not man enough to change
his life. and so he closed his eyes to
the truth and tried to forgetit. Paul
was sent back TO his prison. but Felix
did not forget it. and kept sending for
Paul and talking with him. Of course
he expected Paul to offer bribe for
his freedom. but that does not account
for his action, which was that Of man
seeing the truth, and fascinated by It,
and yet too weak to accept it and live
BY it.