The Tupelo journal., 1903-05-22
FIJI SUNDAY SCHOOL.
TYssOu In the irrational Series
for May "A, 10O3-Paul Be-
fore AErippa.

jason In the Int irrational Series
for May "a, 10O3-PauI Be-
fore Agrippa.
THE LESSON TEXT.
(Acts 90 :19-29.)
10. Whereupon. o King Agrippa, l was not
disobedient unto the heavenly vision.
20. But shelves first unto them of Damas-
Gus and at Jerusalem, and throughout all
the csasts of Judea, and then to the Cen
tiles. that they should repent and turn to
God, and do works meet for repentance.
II. For these causes the Jews caught me
IN the temple, and went about to kill me.
Y. Having therefore obtained help Of God,
! continue unto this day, witnessing both
TO small and great, saying none other things
than those which the prophets and
Moses did say should come:
70. That Christ SHOULD suffer, and that He
should be the first that should rise from
the dead, and should shew light unto the
people, and to the Gentiles.
"a. And as he thus spake for himself,
festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou
art beside myself; much learning doth
make thee mad.
25. But he said, l am not mad, most noble
Festus; but speak forth the words of truth
and soberness.
70. For the king knoweth of these things,
before whom also l speak freely: for l am
persuaded that none of these things are
hidden from him; for this thing was not
done in a corner.
q. King Agrippa, believest thou the
prophets? l know that thou believest.
%. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost
thou p~ersuadest me to be a Christian.
29. And a sid, l would to God that not
only thou, but also ali that hear me this day,
We're both almost, and altogether such as
l am, except these bonds.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Having therefore
obtained help of God, 1 continue unto
this day.-Acts 26,22.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
Paul before Festus.. ............Act 25:1-12.
Paul before Agrippa..........:.Acts 25:l3-27.
Paul tells his eXperience......Acts 2b-1-lS.
His changed life 26:l9-2S'
Paul's appeal to Agrippa......Acts $500
The impression Paul made.....Acts $685..
TIME-A. d. 60.
PLACE.-Caesarea.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Our attention has been called to the
fact that when on trial Paul always IN
d~eavored to do more than secure his
own acquittal; he sought to preach the
Gospel at the same time to his judges
anu AcdlCIS. IDlS IC IN "hSh ~
dressing the mob from the steps of the
castle Antonio, when he vas being eX-
amined by Felix, and now we shall see
how uppermost that thought was when
he was brought before Agrippa. Such
an exhibition of zeal for Christ ought
to thrill, shame and inspire.
Two years have passed since u last
lesson, and Paul is still a prisoner at
Caesarea. Felix, the Roman governor
of the province of Judea, has just been
recalled and Festus appointed as his
successor. This lesson opens with the
arrival of Festus.
The leading men among the Jews
tried to take advantage of the new
governor and his unfamiliarity with
the case, and have Paul brought to
Jerusalem again, at the same time
plotting to kill him by the way. For
tunately for Paul, Festus preferred to
try the case at his OWL capital. When
the trial came, the, Jews proved moth
This Felix knew well enough, but yet
he was their governor, and did not
want to gain their ill-will at the very
beginning of his term, and so finally
suggested another trial at Jerusalem,
Paul knew only too well what that
would mean, and to avoid falling into
the hands of the Jews, he appealed to
Caesar. 1t was the lesser of two evils
Here for the third time in Acts is
told the story of Paul's conversion,
and the tremendous impression made
upon him by his vision of the risen
Lord.
"Wherefore:" Referring to the rev
| citation of verses 1918. Repent and
turn to God, doing works." Norepent-
ance that does not result in a genuine
turning of the whole life to God is OF
any value. Faith that does not in
clude works is dead. Saying moth.
ing but what the prophets and Moses
did say should Gomez" Paul claims
| that he has not forsaken Judaism, but
that Christianity is the fulillment and
completion of Judaism. "The Christ
must suffer-" A truth not believed by
the Jews, and yet one which Paul says
was taught in their Scriptures.
paul, thou art mad" The Roman
| governor could not understand Paul's
enthusiasm over the alleged resurrec.
ton of Jesus. Ramsay paraphrases
| his explanation thus: paul, Paul, you
are a great philosopher, but you have
no common sense"-the natural view
for one not knowing the faith and hope
of the Jews. "The king knoweth:'
Agrippa would never have said what
Festus did, for he knew the MessianiC
hope of the Jews, as well as the facts
of the life of Christ and the spread OF
Christianity. "Believest thou the
prophets" Agrippa did not answer,
but turned the question off with a light
sneer that probably raised a laugh
among the gay courtiers who thronged
the hall. 1t was all he could do, for
he was not willing to face the truth.
The revised version probably gives the
true Interpretation, which amounts to
this: "You think it's n easy matter to
make a Christian of mel"
This was not a regular trial, for the
appeal to Caesar had taken the case
out of the hands of the local author.
tiles. Paul seems to have been bring
ing the truth too close home to the
king, and so the hearing was cut short
and the brilliant assemblage filed out