Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-05-07
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
May 10.
subjcct The Plot Against Paul, Acts kill,
l2.22- Golden Text, Acts xxil IL
Memory Verses, 2O.22-.Study Verses.
l0.3S-Commentary on the
Lesson.

]. The conspiracy against Paul ,(vs. T.
l5). IL. WAS day" Thursday, May 25
Banded together Made an agreement.
"Unde.. a curse" Literally, placed them
selves under an anathema 1t was an in
vocation of Gods vengeance upon them.
selves if they failed to do the work which
they undertook But they could be, abb
solved from this vow by the rabbins if they
we're unable to execute it. Such oaths ap.
pear to have been common among the
Jews. Josephus tells of similar conspir.
acy against the life of Herod into which
party of ten Jews entered with like fail
urs.
49, 'More than forty" This large mum.
Der OF desperate men, backed up by the
Sanhedrin, the highest counsel among the
murderous design, and Paul's life was in
great danger. "They may have been
prompted to this method of getting rid OF
the apostle. because they did not have the
power of life and death any longer, and
were not likely to procure PauPs death at
the hands of the Roman authorities, on
any accusation connected with religious
question"
H. 40 the chief priests The plotters
crs who We're Sadducees, as they were
strongly opposed to Paul Tvs. 6l0) and
would he glad to see him put to death
"Wc have bound" etc. Literally, with
curse have we cursed ourselves A He.
brew mode of expressing the intensity and
earncstness of any action How firm they
made it, imprecating the heaviest curses
upon themselves, their souls bodies and
families, if they did not kill Paul! These
men must have believed that Paul was the
worst of men, an enemy to God and relig.
ion, and the curse and plague of his gener.
alton, when really his character was the
reverse Of all this. There are no laws Of
truth and justice 50 sacred or strong that
malice and bgotry will not break through.
lj "Thc Conncil.' The Sanhcdrin, the
greatest Jewish Council. 1T was com:
priests, elders of the people and scribes.
Its meeting place adioincd the temple on
the st side. 1t met daily eXccpt on the
Sabbath and festival days. 1t had author
ity to interpret the divine law, to decidf
on the qualification Of priests and to try
those accused OF ido'atry and false proph
cts and heretics.' The authority to pro.
nounCc the death sentence was taken from
it by the Romans about three years before
Lysias was to be asked to bring Paul down
from the tower of Antonia to the place
where the Sanhedrin held its meetings
"Eeady to kill him" They intended to
kill him while on the way to the Council
And to this plot the highest dignitaries OF
the church gave assent. Such course,
however, seems to be in perfect accord
with the Jewish opinions and prGcticcs OF
those times. Phi,o, great Jewish writer,
in speaking of the course to hH taken to.
wards jew who has forsaken the worship
OF the true God says that it is highly
proper" to iEhict Immediate punishment
on such lmpOus apostates," not taking
time to carry them before any court or
magistrate, and this should be done be.
cause of an adherence of evil and love
(or God.
H. The plot disclosed Tvs. lG-22), lG.
"Pavl's sisters SON" This is all that we
know for what purpose he was at 'lerusa'
lem. 1t is possible that Paul might have
sister residing there; though, as Paul him.
self had been sent there formerly for his
education it seems more probable that this
young man was sent there for the same
purpose. Heard" The secret Of the plot
had 100 many keepers tc be well kept.
Into the castle" Thus it appears that
Paul's friends had free access to him.
II, IS. Paul called" He had received
Christ's own promise Of protection w. lD,
but he did not on that account neglect to
avail himself of the ordinary means of pro-
tecting himself. Gods promise encour-
aged him to put forth his own eXertions
for his security. Young man." We do
not know whether this youth was a Chris
tan or Jew, nor do we know the means
By which lie discovered the plot; it Is
enough for us that God was pleased, on
this occasion, to employ lad as the guard:
ian angel of the apostle: The prisoner"
A name which St. Paul was often after.
ward to employ to himself.
1922. by the hand" TO encourage the
young man and to allay any fear he might
have, and as an expression Of kindness and
civihty The plot was disclosed to Lysas
with clearness and concisencss, and he ap.
peared to know what to do Immediately.
Ill. The journey to Caesarea Tvs, ~,
35). As soon as the chief captain learned
Of the plot he ordered 400 infantry and sew
cnty cavalry to be ready to leave Jerusa.
lem at O'Clock that same night, This was
probably the largest bodyguard Paul ever
had. Beasts were also to be provided for
Paul, and they were to so with the greatest
despatch to Caesarca to Felix, the Govern
or. The letter Lysias sent shows lis that
oner. Paul probably reached Caesarea by
the next evening. He had left Jerusalem
never to return. That infamous city was
still rejecting those that were sent unto
them and fast rushing on to lts own de-
structon-the most terrible destruction the
world has ever seen. 1t was wise for L,y-
sias to send Paul to Caesarea, for there he
would be safer than at Jerusalem and it
would be easier to give him a fair trial.
Paul was not confined in an ordinary
prison, but resided in the palace of Felix;
thus the apostle remained for two years;
Thoughts.-God's saints are, under His
especial care. The Lord is able to over
throw the plans of wicked men. We
should always be ready to assist those in
very important work for Gods people.
Wicked men sometimes resort to the most
diabolical methods in order to destroy the
inAue, &c of Gods saints. Those who trust
and obey need have no fear of evil workers,