The St. Louis Republic., 1903-05-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
For May 10. The Plot Against
Paul" tActs, xiii, 12-222

| CONNESTION-The request of Paul to
speak to the people was promptly granted
! by the Captain. Standing on The stairs OF
| the castle i'll fun view OF all. he delivered
| that famous address recorded in the twen-
| ty-seconl chapter in which he relates his
own history. including his conversion. and
old cry rang out. uttered by the excited
multitude below. Away with him." He
was then led into the castle and the for
| mality of scourging was ordered as a pre-
F.. limnary method OF examination. The plea
| of citizenship prevented this cruelty. Next
| day he was brought before the council, the
| highest Jewish court, where the gravest
misdeameanors were considered. There a
division occurred between the Pharsees and
J Sadducees in which Paul was befriended by
4 the former While the dissension was at
Its height Paul was quietly removed to the
castle. That night he was greatly COM
I forted by the presence and promise Of
| God. who assured him that his life would
be spared and that he would be permitted
to minister in the city of Rome.
J CONSPIRACY Verses IL and 1S1 Evil
men often display great tenaeity of purpose
another for the accomplishment OF their
ends. and they devise mischief with a
facility that Is seldom known among the
( prise. The enemies of Paul did not rest
when thev saw him removed for safe
keeping through the prison doors. They dis
arrange their plans 1t Is probable that
some of them met together after night
fall and talked ever the situation and a
( few of the leaders may have spent a large
portion of the night in determining what
rext to do. When the morning came forty
Of them had made an agreement banding
themselves together in most solemn man
ner and binding themselves by an oath to
stand together in the execution OF their
purpose. They resolved that before that
day had passed Paul should Ire slain. and
they agreed not to eat or drink until this
was accomplished
OPPoRTUNITY-Cers IA and 15) But
how shall this deed of blood be done? How
shall they get near enough to one who is
in the custody of Roman soldiers. whom
these bravo REPRESENTATIVES of government
We're bound to protect? The plot was re-
religious leaders of Jerusalem. who were
asked to provide the coveted opportunity.
The debased condition Of the nation is dis
played by no circumstance more fully than
by this. that murderers should expect. and
seek the aid of those who hold the highest
ecciesiastssal position An And this y, Was , the
them, ostensibly to Inquire something
more perfectly concerning him. They We're
requested to act lie. to take advantage OF
their judicial prerosatives in order to lay
snare for man who had not yet been
adjudsed or even accused The very body
preservation OF the right was invoked to de-
stroy both The .conspirators boldly an
nounced their murderous purpose when they
made this fiendish request
INFoRNIANT-Uerse 16) The scheme
was boldly laid. and one might have sup
posed that II would be successful The
parties appeared to be all of one mind and
they had faith in each others trust-wortbi-
ness. But somehow the secret was di-
vulged. 1t is possible that no one cared to
keep 1t. All may have thought that popu--
lar sympathy would be given to the design.
and promote 1t. But some one may have
been treacherous. making known what
others would gladly have concealed Can it
be that some one in the conspiracy felt the
reproaehes Of conscience. that he broke
awaS from his associates and made clean