The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-06-10
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
June IA.
Subject: Panl at Rome, Acts xviii, 1914
80, 3I-GoIden Text, Rom. l., l6-Mem.
mory Verses, 23, A-Study Verses,
l6.3l-commentary on the
Days Lesson.

Woi-SoWmeuthTy ou tHe
Days Lesson.
Paul enters Rome ". l6). 10. Came to
Rome Rome is reached at last and the
long journey is at an end. AT this time the
city OF Rome was at the height of its
CORY. 1t held sway over nearly the entire
known world. Within a circuit of little
more than twelve miles more than 1000 600
ot inhabitants were crowded. OF whom
about l,O0O,O00 were slaves But Paul '
Nero, the emperor to whom Paul mad an.
pea'ed, was too much engaged in MS de.
baucheres and pleasures to care much for
such man as Paul or such accusations as
were made against him by the Jews. by
himself This lenity was probably due to
the commentator Of the centurion Julius.
With a soldier The custom was to
chain the prisoner by one hand to the
guard. TO this chain the apostle frequent
" makes allusion in the epistes to the
Epnesians, Philippians and Colossians and
IN his friendly note to Philemon, all of
which were written during this imprison.
ment. See Eph. 81; 4: /; Phil. |: l3. 10;
Col. 4: Is; Philem. |: 9. TO-
The first interview with the Jews Tvs.
l7-22l. II. After three days" Three
days. after PauPs arrival at Rome he in.
rited those who presided over the Jewish
community to visit him. His first steps on
pdSslnB DeyOnu tne narrow circle OF those
already converts were directed. in accord.
ance with his established principle, toward
Israel. And as his circumstances did not
allow him to seek the Jews, "a he had done
IN other places, he requested the represen-
tatives OF the jewish congregation to come
to MS lodging. Men and brethren" This
address to the assembled Jews is of per
sonli nature. and is intended to counteract
!errain prejudices which the Roman jews
might entertain. Delivered prisoner" ia
as mid terms as possible he recounts his
uncalled for accusation bv the Jews in .Je.
rusalem, who delivered him into the hands
Of the Romans.
Is. 10. Let me GO" He narrates briefly
the events given in chapters 81 to 20. The
Roman officials repeatedly failed to find
cause of oftense in him. go appeal"
Paul declared that his appeal to the en-,
peror had become indispeusaby necessary.
because the Jews opposed his acduittal to
which the Roman authorities judged him
to be entitled. He states that it had not
been his intention to bring any accusation
sgalnsI his people before the emperor.
20. Hope Of Israel" The hope OF
israel is the general expectation of the
Messiah. In Jesus Paul believed that the
preaching this he had been attacked aud
made prisoner. He held the same faith
as al the Jews, only going in this matter
further than they. IN that he believed the
ancient promise was now fulfilled We can
zee sec IRON the reply OF the Jews that he un-
uerstood their position exactly. This
:haln.' Roman chains. like our handouts,
usually. indicated crime, but Paul's chains
stand for patriotism and the loftiest relig-
'ous conception.
IL. Neither received letters" WHY
the Jews in Judea had not forwarded the
accusation against Paul to their brethren
in Rome, that they might continue the
prosecution before the emperor. is not
known 1t is probable that they regarded
their cause as hopeless, and chose to aban.
don the prosecution. Paul had been ac-
quilted successfully by Lysias, Felix, Fes-
tus and Agrippa.
%. Desire to hear OF thee" They i'm.
Piled that they had heard OF him by their
request to know what he thought of thi,
new sect That they spoke so cautiously,
and subsequently made no demonstration
OF hostility against Paul is readily account.
ed Tor. The apostle was held in special
favor by the chief officer of Nero's house
hold, and the Jews of the synagogue were
themselves subject to persecution so that
they were poweriess to persecutc the disci.
pie, OF Christ
The second interview with the Jews Tvs.
1-2s). %. Came many They came in
great numbers. Many accompanied the
chief Jews "Expounded" etc. Paul
takes as his theme that doctrine of the
kingdom Of God which was the central
truth of the O.d Testament and the New,
that great disclosure of the prophets which
was still. as 1t had been for centuries, the
supreme thought and hope OF the whole
Jewish people. Again Paul follows the
very line OF his risen Lords exposition to
tha two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Moses-Drophets." Beginning at Moses
and all the prophets ne showed that the
predicted Kingdom is not limited to one
nation, but co-eytensive with the world
He showed them that in Jesus OF Nazareth
all the conditions OF the expected Messiah
were fulfilled Morning until evening"
This shows the effort Paul put forth to
save the Jews.
"a. Some believed" A few were won
TO faith in the Christ, but the many disbe.
lieved the teachings of their own Scrip.
ture5, and rejected the suffering Messiah.
SO plainly disclosed. The seed OF the word
leii mere, IN some cases, by the wayside; in
others upon stony places, or among thorns;
nevertheless, N. r some fell into good ground.
25-2s. Spoken one word" With these
by Isaiah; Christ had opened His teachings
by parallels Matt. l3: IA. 49, and had
hnaliy closed His ministry among the Jews
lJohn II: 4O). And now Paul. as if himself
commissioned by the Holy Ghost as a pro.
phet OF the New Testament. sadly redeliv.
tul emphasis OF the Masters double utter.
ance Thus the apostle under divine Iii.
rection, formally and finally seals up the
gospel offer to Gods disobedient and re.
Jectlng people. In this fearful process
there are three distinguishable agencies ex.
OF the prophet; the judicial agency Of God
and the SUICIDAL agency OF the people them
selves, Unto the Gentiles.' Paul was
never discouraged. If the gospel was re-
Jeeted by one Class of people he was ready
10 offer 1t TO another.
u,I -. n