Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-04-25
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
April 70.
Subject: Paui's Journey TO Jerusalem, Ac .
xxi. 3'l3-G Golden Text. Acts XXI, IA
Memory Verses. II, l-Commentary
On the Days Lesson.

3. LANDED at Tyre" At Patara Paul
found. IN vessel bound over the open sea
TO Phoenicia, favoring providence by
which his course To Syria was fastened.
The $40 miles TO Tyre was run in about
two days. Here the vessel tarried for
seven days for change of cargo.
T. Finding disciples. Here Paul found
a small company of Christian disciples,
with whom ne remained in happy, helpful
fellowship, ministering the word When
IN strange cities 1t is always well to Loo:
for and associate with the peou,c of God
Should not &c" That is. if he had any
regard to his own safety or personal wei
fare, or to their affeciionatc soiicitude on
his account. They were informed by the
Spirit that bonds and affections awaited
the apostle at Jerusalem. bat it was not
revealed to them the will of God that
he should change his purpose to proceed
thither.
5. 6. Brought US" Here is beautiful
and impressive picture of the harmony of
Christian affection And prayed" Az
at Mletus, 50 here. they pray before they
separate. The meeting and parting OF
Christians should be seasons o. PRAYER and
praise. Taken our leave" While fare
wells are sorrowiul occasions. yet among
Christians they are Illuminated with 4 GO
rious nope.
vessel that sailed southwark thirty miles
to Ptolemais. the modern Acre. Here the
sea voyage ended. Al PtolCmas Paul re-
manned one day with the brethren. and
the next day tra:e!ed by land the remain
lag th.rty-siX miles to Caesafea.
). Phillip Alter a silence OF twenty
years. following upon Philips ministry in
Samaria and to the Ethiopian treasurer
(Acts s: 540). we meet him AT Cacsarca,
which had ever since been his home This
seaport, built b. Herod the Great, and
named in honor OF Augustus Caesar, Wa;
fifty miles northwest from Jerusalem, and
was the residence of the Roman governors
seven One OF the seven dcacons appoint
ed at the same time with Stephen (chap.
6: -. lie should be distinguished FROM
Philip the apostle.
.. -Four daushters-did prophecy" The
house OF the evangelist Philip became. in
consequence of the fuliilment OF the pro-
phecy IN Joel .: IS, the honored central
point OF the Christian congregation OF
tacsafea. His four daughters. who had
received the gilt of prophecy and OF inter
probation. furnish new and clear evidence
that all believers alike crjoy the privileges
al Christianity. and even the earlier in
stances of the prophecies Miriam. Deborah,
etc. prove that there is no difference in
the kingdom OF grace between male and fe
ton and exhortation and comfort" Il Cor.
"a: 3. Where these young women
preached. whether to women only. or i'll
private houses. or to publ:c assemblies"
we Go not know. The statements OF the
New Testament clearly show that God calls
women the SAME men to preach His gcs.
pei.
10. MANY days The Greel; word for
many means some or several. They re-
manned longer than they at first intended.
Pauls desire was to reach Jerusalem in
time for the feast OF the Pentccost. but he
had arrived at Cacsarca carrier than he OK
pected. and now had more than a wcei. to
spare. which time he spent at Caesarea.
"-lgabus." This prophet we have met be-
fore III: 27-3O) as the foretclIer OF famine
IN the reign OF Claudius. fle comes now,
from the interior hiii country, to warn
Paul OF assault and arrest at Jerusalem.
In imitation of the excessive symbolic act
ing sometimes employed by the ancient
Jewish prophets lisa. 20: .: .Jer l3: /:
Eek. 4: y, this Christian prophet took
Paals girdie and with it bound his own
hands and feet. Using tho prophetic form
OF the Old Testament, Thus saith the
Lord. yet changing it 20 suit the new dis
ilensatioa of the Spirit. he cites the Hoy
Ghost as explicitly announcing Pau"s cap
ture and Imprisonment in Jerusalem. This
prediction was fulfilled not many days af
ter.
il. "Girdlc." The loose. flowing robes
Worn in Eastern countries are bound about
the waist with sash or girdle. Girdles
were quite large and made OF linen or lcath.
er. so shall the Jews etc. This pro-
phccy was not fulfilled in the letter, but
while the Romans actually put the apostle
III chains they did 1t at the instigation OF
the Jews. Shall deliver him. etc. This
pro?hesy was strictly fulfilled in every par
tica!ar. At Jerusalem Paul was delivered
into the hands of the Roman soldiers and
was sent hack to Caesarea 4 prisoner. He
remained in prison at Caesarea about two
years, and was then taken to Rome. where
he was kept two years longer. During these
long years OF prison life we hear no repin.
ing word FROM Paul. He is always rejoicing
and seems to forget his own Affections in
his effort to comfort others. Some OF
Pauis best and most helpful cpist,cs were
written while he was under bonds and
chained to Roman soldier. but the word
OF God was not bound Dat OF our aiilc.
selves, but also TO other. Examples: Bun.
yam III prison. John on Patmos.
l.. "Bcsought him" The correctness OF
the previous prophecy of Agabus, and the
vivid symbol whereby he now impressed
this prediction, produced in the minds of
the Christian disciples a deep conviction
unitedlv besought him not to go to the
pace OF danger. They interpreted the mis-.
sion and intimation OF Agabas rs warn:
ing given to avoid. and so avert the peril.
But Paul understood it better. Long years
before he had learned from his Lord what
great things he must suffer for His sake
Experience had verified this word. aid
made its meaning familiar. so that these
new, more specific and intense Fremont.
tions OF coming trial, clearly minated by
the Holy Ghost, carried their full weight
CT meaning to lis spirit
1916. Paul's companions saw the dan.
ger. lie. saw his duty. Had they seen Tor
themselves the same duty and the same
cause. doubtless they. too. like him. would
have moved on 10 danger and death, fos it
is company of rare spirits who are here
clustered around this holy apostle. When
these true-hearted discinies could prevail
nothing they accepted paul's decision as
the viii OF the Lord and ceased all further
They then took up their ear.
riases" -mea a:ng baggage II. Wand
went UP TO Jerusalem.