Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-05-09
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments Fer
May 10.
Subject: The Plot Against Paul, Acts xiii.
R-2-Goiden Text, Acts xiii IL
Memory Verses, 20.z2-.Study Verses.
l0-3S-Commentary on the
Lesson.

iO-35-Commentary on the
Lesson.
i. The conspiracy against Paul Tvs. p
!3l. +. Was day Thursday. May p.
Handed together. Made an agreement.
"lndef use" Literally, placed them
selves under an aaathema. Ii was an in
location OF Gods vengeance upon them
selves If they failed to do the work which
they undertook. But they could be alb
solved from this VOW by the rabhins if they
we're unable to execute ii. Such oaths APP
pear to have been common among the
Jews. ,Joscphus tells OF similar conspir-
,cy against the life OF llerod into which a
party of ten Jews entered with like fail
Ire.
10. More than forty This large num-
Der OF desperate men, backed up b. the
Sanhedrin. the highest counsel among the
Jews. would be Likely 10 succeed in their
murGerous design. and Paurs life was in
great danger They may have been
prompted to this method of getting rid OF
:he apostle. because they did not have the
power OF life and death any longer. and
Ue:e .iot likely to procure Pauls death at
:he hands of the Roman authorities. OH
any accusation connected with religious
question"
II. TO the chief PRIESTS The p!o.tcrs
10 doubt went to the chief priests and cid
srs who were Sadducces, as they were
strongly opposed to Paul Tvs. 6-lol and
would he glad to see him put to death.
We have bound etc. Literally. with a
curse have We cursed ourselves \ He.
Drew mode of expressing the intensity and
,arnestness of any action. How firm they
made it, imp-ccating the heaviest curses
upon themselves. their souls. bodies and
families. ii they did not kill Paul! These
men must lavc believed that Paul was the
worst of men. an enemy to God and relig.
len, and the curse and plague of his gener-
alton. when really his character was the
reverse of all this. There are no laws OF
malice and 5;cotry will not break through.
-. "Thc Council" The Saahedrin, the
crc'test Jewish Council. 1t was COM
posed of scventy.onc members, CHIEF
priests. elders Of the pconlc and scribes.
Its meeting place adioined the temple on
the st side. II met daily except on the
Sabbath and festival days. 1t had author
ity 10 internlet the divine law. to decide
on the qualification OF priests, and TO try
those accused OF idolatry and false proph.
cts and heretics." The authority to pro.
no.ncc the death sentence was taken trom
It by the Romans about thrcc years before
the cruciixion of Christ. Bring" etc.
Lysies was to be asked to bring Paul down
from the tcwcr of AItonia to the place
where the Sanhedrin held its meetings.
Ready 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 a course.
however. seems tc ne II perfect accord
with the Jewish opinions and practices of
those times. PHO, :; great Jewish writer,
in speaking OF the course to BIZ taken to.
wards Jew who has focsaken the Worship
OF the true God says tnat it is highly
proper to infi;ct '';mia.dia;e punishment
on such impious apo:ta!cs," not taking
time. to carry them before cny court or
magistrate, and this should be done be-
cause of an abhorrcTce of evil and 4 love
for God
ii. The pot disclosed I've. 1922. &c.
"Parls sisters SON." Tnis is al that we
know of the family of Paul. Nor do we
know for what purpose ne was AZ Jcrusa-
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 moro probable that this
young man was sent there for the same
purpose. Heard" The secret of the plot
had too many keepers to he well kept.
Into the castle Thus it appears that
Pants friends had free access to him.
Il. Is Paul called" He had received
Christ's ,oSn promise OF protection ". III,
avail himself OF the ordinary means of pro-
tccting himself. Gods promise epcour-
aged him to pa. forth his own exertions
for his security. Young man." We do
not know whether this youth was Chris
tian 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"
y 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
civility. The plot was disclosed to Lysias
with clearness and conciscncss. and he APP
peared to know what to do Immediately.
So. As soon as the chief captain learned
of the plot he ordered 400 infantry and sew
enty cavalry to be ready 10 leave Jerusa-
lem Mt 0 o'clock that Same night. This was
probably the largest bodyguard Paul ever
had. Beasts were also 20 he provided for
despatch 70 Caesarca TO Felix. the Govern
or. The letter Lysias sent shows us that
he was favorably impressed with his pris-
oner. Paul probably reached Caesarea by
the next evening. lie had left Jerusalem
never TO return: That infamous city was
them and fast rushing on to its own de-
struction-thc most terrible destruction the
world has ever seen. 1t was wise for Ly-
sias to send Paul to Caesarea. for there he
would be safer than at Jerusalem and j.
would be easier to give him fair trial.
Paul was not confined III 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
trouble Even children can sometimes do
very important work for Gods people.
Wicked men sometimes resort to the most
diabolical methods in order to destroy the
infiue, &C of Gods saints. Those who trust
and obey need have no fear OF evil workers.