The Tupelo journal., 1903-05-01
ACE.-Jerusalem.

ltSolCl
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Last Sunday we left Paul and his
company as guests at the home of Phil
ip, the evangelist. To-day they on
tinue their journey.
From Caesarea to Jerusalem was
20 miles, and at least the first part of
it was probably made on horseback.
The home of Mnason, n of the Chris
tians, served the travellers as a half
way house. The Christians were al
ready a great brotherhood. Those
who were travelling were sure of find
ing a cordial and hospitable welcome
from the members of the brotherhood
who lived along the way, whether they
had ever seen each other before or not.
James, the brother of Christ, was the
recognized head Of the church, and It
was to him, with the other officers,
that Paul reported the wonderful way
in which God had blessed the work
among the Gentiles. .
The officers of the church felt kindly
toward Paul, and rejoiced i'll his work,
but warned him that such was not the
general feeling even among the Chris
tan Jews, who considered him one of
the most dangerous of heretics be-
cause he taught that observance of
the ceremonial law was not essential
to the salvation of anyone, Gentle or
Jew. Just at this time the city was
full of Jewish pilgrims come to the
feast. Among them were Paul's old
enemies from Asia. The church Of
ficers feared trouble, and so advised
the conciliatory move of verse %. Paul
himself had come to Jerusalem with
his heart set on bringing Jew and Gen
tile Christians into sympathy and to
q better understanding. 1t was with
that purpose that he had gathered the
free-will offering from the II branch
of the church for the other. The Of
ficers urged the plan, and Paul yielded,
though we cannot believe that he did
so without misgiving. The result was
disastrous, and yet in the providence
of God it opened the way for Paul's
work in Rome.
At the sight of Paul the hatred of
his old enemies famed up, and his be-
ing in the temple probably made. them
more angry. They accused him of be-
ing an enemy of (1) the Jews (the
people,, (2) the law, and (3) the tenn
Pile.
dragged him out of the temple:"
so as not to defile it with his blood.
"Chief captain of the band:" The CO.
hort of soldiers garrisoning the castle
of Antonio, which joined the temple
court on the north, came out to stop
this Jewish riot. About 600 men were
stationed there. "The stairs" Lead
ing up from the temple court to the
castle, which overlooked it.
Now out of reach of the mob, Paul
had a chance to speak to the chief
captain, who was surprised at being
addressed in Greek. art not thou
that Egyptian" Who would al
most certainly speak Greek. The
chief captain thought he had got hold
of a wanted man Surprising that
the Egyptian did not speak Greek, the
meaning would be: Thou art not,
then, as l supposed" etc. "The
Egyptian" A fanatic who had claimed
to be a prophet and had gained a large
following among the dangerous ele-
ments of the people. "Assassins:"
Literally, Men of the Dagger. They
were a secret order whose object was
to rid the land of its opponents by as
s~assination.
Paul here makes one last supreme
effort to 10Y the situation. In the
address he shows, by telling the story
of his life, the falseness of the three
charges made against him in 21:25.
His effort was in vain.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
We are liable at any time to have,
our Christian courage and manhood
tested without warning.
1t will make no difference how sud-
den the test may be if VT are Christ's
through and through.
The way to be a hero on a great oc-
casion is to meet ones daily duties
n by one without finching.
1t is easy to love ones friends, but he
has the true Christian spirit who loves
his enemies.
Christianity has made its way
through the world by t~estifying to
those who were prosecuting it.