The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-20
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
international Lesson Comments For
May "a.
Subject: Paul Before Agrippa, Acts XVI. l9'
29-GolJen Text, Acts XVI, 12--Memory
Verses, 19-commentary on the
Days Lesson.

10. "Agrippa." IIerod Agrippa II. was
king of the country east of the upper Jor'
dan a,,1 the Sea OF Galiiee. He had pal
ace at jerusalem. ard was professedly
jew, .rd was versed in Jewish customs
He was the son of the IIerod Agrppa who
slew Jews and imprisoned Peter. After
the destruction of Jerusalem. \ D. 20. he
was dethroued, hut permitted to retain his
wealth. and lived at Rome until A. ID. 100
He was immoral in lie, but not unjust IN
his rule. aud has been considered the best
in the Hcro1ian family. Not dsobed
lent" This is one OF tile grand points OF
instruction and personal application in
Pauls whole career. lie began on the in
staat. whore he was. TO obey. He sought
on the instant, and ever gfterward. to
know and DO the Lords will. Heavenly
vision" The vision which appeared to me-
manfcstly from heaven. He was obedient
and yet it certainly cost him hard strug
C.c to renouncc all for Christ.
%. First uuto-Damascl.1.' He began
60 preach at Damascus Immediately (Actg
.: 2022). but soon went TO Arabia From
Arabia he returned again TO Damascus
take his life. Paul escaped by night, being
1926. Az jerusalem. etc. He specifies
as his fouriold fed OF labor, first, the two
cities Of Damascus and Jerusalem. then the
whole region OF .ludCa. and, lastly, the
helthcn word. ">houd repent" He mad
sought to win men back to God. to reveal
Christ and His complete wor,; for mans
redemption, that they might repent and
turn to God; that. with n divincly re'
nCwed heart and reversed life they might
do works acceptable to God. The doctrine
of repentance was frequently preached by
the apostles. 1t includes both contrtion
,,I ,.of,rv,ot;as, Tho +rulxs
il heartily sorry for all his sins, 90 sorry
that he turns away from sin forever, and
IL possible would undo all he has sinfully
done. Confessions are made, wrongs are
rghted. and the soul, loathing itself, cries
to God for mercy.
81, 90. For these causes" Because, he
had obeyed God according to his distinct
revelation. in a manner displeasing to the
Jews. they had sought to kill him. 'In the
temple" Paul was worshuing in the TEN.
pie when the Jews seized him. 81 con
tinue.' It vas not by any power OF his
own he had been preserved, but it was be.
cause God had interpQsed and rescued him
witnessing" Bearing testimony, Ns he
had been commanded. Small 70 those
in humble lie. to the poor, the ignorant
and the obscure. Great" The rich and
noble: to kings ard princes and governors.
He hcd thus stood on Mars hill at Athens;
he had borne testimony before the wise
gospel before Felix. and Festus. and row
before Agrippa "Saying none other
things" lie adds the supreme fact that
all he taught was in exact renment with
Moses and the nrophsts. This fact utterly
overthrew all the charges OF his accusers,
and convicted them Of rejecting the law
and the prophets which was the crime al.
legged against himself.
%. "Should suffer" Many Of the
Jews overlooked or denied the suffcrirs
character OF the Messiah, and stumbled ia
tally at the gospel because it required them
FIRST" etc. See r. V. Christ was not the
first to be raised from the dead, but the
first who by His resurrection gave the
promise OF eternal life" Paul always lays
great importance on the rcsurrect ton.
"Show light" True light shines only
through the risen Christ.
ii. An interruption by Festus ". 2i).
p. beside thyself." The loud voice was
the effect OF his surprise and astonshment
What Paul had said OF resurrection from
the dead accomplished in Jesus as the frs.
fruits of a person coming from the Jews
who should enlighten not only his own peo-
pie, but even the Gentiles-among the rest,
the polite and learned Greeks and Romans
and of the manner in which this was re.
vealed to him-all this would lead such
half-thinker and pagan as Festus to con.
clude rOundlv that Paul was visionary
enthusiast. Much learning" Many writ.
ing3 had turned his brain, the idea being
suggested by PauPs many illusions to
Moses and the prophets. The tendency
OF long continued and intense mental APP
p,ication to produce mental arrangement
is everywhere known.
III. Psuvs reply to Festus iva $500.
2j. y am not mad" Either Paul or Fes.
tus was beside himself They lived in diff.
ferent worlds and one or the other was
wrong. Ii Festus was sane, Paul was mad;
ii Paul was sane, Festus was mad. There
Is no madness so great, no delrium so aW-
fnl, rs TO neglect the eternal interests of
the soul for the sake of the poor pleasures
and honors which this life can give. The
worldly-minded man misrepresents Chris.
tians by regarding C) their childlike faith
as narrowness OF mind; .(2) their leyout
life as religious melancholy; (3) their 10Y.
ful hope as fanaticism.
20, 81. "The king knowcth." Agrppa
was Jew and no. doubt was acquainted
with the history OF the life and works OF
Jesus, OF His death and resurrection, of the
events that occurred on the day Of Pente-
cost, and the preaching of the gospel since
Jesus had been crucified. "a corner"
There was q wide knowledge OF the facts
connected with the life, death and resurrec.
tion of Christ "Belieyest." Agrippa had
been instructed in the Scriptures and ac-
cepted them intellectually. The writings
of the prophets foretold the events OF
which Paul had been speaking, and had
their fulfilment in Christ. 81 know" Paul
answers his own question, for although
Agrippa was an immoral man, yet incidents
in connection with his life show that he
was a sincere jew.
2S. %. Almost" etc. Sec r. V. There
are two widely different opinions as to the
meaning OF this verse. The first is that
Agrippa's heart WINS touched and that, nc.
'ording to the Authorized Version he de.
dared with all seriousness that he was al
most persuaded to become Christian.
The other view is that the words were spo,
Version, and that he was not in the least
influenced by PauPs words towards Chris.
!ianity. Nearly all recent commentators
accept the latter view. Would to God Z"
| Paul's answer is sublime. lie is so thor
oughly satisfied with the salvation he has
| experienced that he docs not hesitate to
! heartily commend it to all mis- royal hear.
ers. Except" etc What a gentle re.
proof to these rnla;s vh, w,.e keeping
him in chains Whai delicate appeal to