The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-02-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH !.

Memory verses, On
the Days Lesson.
Introduction. - After remaining q year
and a half at Corinth Paul began his home
ward journey. He took with him Aquila
and Priscilla. Sailing eastward they landed
at Ephesus. Paul remained only a short
time, as he desired to reach Jerusalem in
D. "a. Aquila and his wife remained at
I. Apollos receiving instruction Tvs. a
q. "Apollos." A preparation for Pauls
labor ut Ephesus had been made by Apol.
los, who had instructed a small company
Of Jews up to the twilight Of John the
Baptists teachings concerning the Mes
siah. alexandria," This city was built
near the mouth of the Nile by Alexander
word ir the original expresses not only
ability as an orator, but also the possession
Of stores Of learning. Either rendering
only gives half the idea. He was learned
and could use his learning with effect.
Mighty" He was familiar with the
Scriptures and used them with power as q
source Of argument and appeal.
Is. Was instructed" Probably by
some disciple Of John who had left Judea
before the Saviour commenced His pubic
course, or possibly BY John himself, whose
earlier ministry A;PoIlos may have attend
ious disposition and ardent zeal" He was
active and taught carefully" and spoke
boldly. Knowing only" Apollos knew
nothing Of the baptism Of the Holy Ghost.
he knew that the Kingdom OF God was at
hand" and preached the gospel Of repent
ance, a preaching greatly needed to-day.
%. Boldly" The Jews were not all
ready even to listen to announcements Of
the approach Of the Messiah. The speaker
who dwelt on this theme must be prepared
with arguments as well as courage: Had
Persons of great learning may be led into
the light by those in obscure positions.
Apollos gives proof OF his greatness by
showing his willingness to receive instruc-
ton from such humble peop;e. "Expound-
ed-more carefully" Aquila and Priscilla
unfolded to Apollos the wonderful fact Of
q Messiah already come. They gave him
the history of the incarnation. the miracles,
the cruciixion. the resurrection. the ascen.
sion, the pentecostal o%utpeuring and the
commission to convert the world. This
Aquila and his wife were faithful people,
and it appears that wherever they went
they had a church in their house." See
] Cor. 10: 10; Rom. l6: 3-5. The last New
Testament reference to them is in 2 Tim.
4: l9. Tradition says that they died mar
tyrs.
"Was disposed" The original expresses
more than Al inclination on his part: he
wished to 60. Unto Achaia." Of which
Corinth was the capital, and il was Cor.
NTH which he decided to visit. He may
have been directed to this field OF labor by
Aquila and Priscilla. Being acquainted
with the philosophy and learning of Greece
he was well fitted TO be n preacher to the
Greeks rs well rs the Jews. We are not
told o. any apostolic commission to Apol-
los, but we know from ] Cor. i: II, ETC.,
that he came to be regarded by some Co
rinthians as the equal Of st. Paul, and that
there arose some strong party feeling in
letter to them. Through grace" These
words may refer either to ApoIlos or to the
people at Corinth. It was through grace
that they had believed. and it was through
grace that Apollos was able to help them:
%. Nightly convinced" See X. v.
He powerfully confuted the Jews. and that
publicly, showing by the Old Testament
Scriptures, which the Jews received as in.
spired. that Jesus was the Messiah, and
that they could be saved only through Him.
This they refused to do, and we know the
COusSIucuCS. 1HtH City "dS s1CAGu. IuGIF
temple burnt, and more than a million Of
them were killed and the rest scattered
over the face of the Garth.
III. Paul arrives at Ephesus ". y. !.
"Came to Ephesus." In accordance with
the promise made them when returning
from his second missionary journey (chap.
Is: 2l). Ephesus was not only the capital
of the province. but was the citv OF the
greatest Importance in all Asia Minor-a
splendid city, and the emporium of trade
in the East. 1t was called one of the eyes
Of Asia; Smyrna, forty miles to the north.
being the other. The city stood on til"
east to west. and three miles broad, wish
the Icari.n Sea, an arm of the Aegean. OF
the west. Here Paul continued to labor
for nearly three years. Certain disciples"
Although their knowledge was imperfect
they were sincere and possessed the Gle.
ments OF a true faith" and as soon as the
light .shone upon them taey at once
walked in it.
w: The baptism of the Holy Ghost
2. "The Holy Ghost" Paul was a Holy
these mnenlightcncd disciples face to face
with the deeper tn 60 of God. 1t was the
common privilege OF the disciples Of Christ
to receive not only the ordinary craces. but
also the extraordinary gifts of the HOW
Spirit: and thus the disciples Of Christ diff.
fered from those OF John. The genuine dis.
cip!cs OF Christ are still distinguished from
all others by the baptism Of the Holy
Spirit. which %enliShtens. quickens and puri.
fies. Those who have not received this rich
baptism are living far beneath their privil-
eyes in the gospel. las heard" See X. ",
where the thought is made much clearer.
This cannot mean that they knew nothing
about the Holy Ghost, but they were ig-
norant with regard to Pentecost. If they
were disciples" they must have been re-
generated b. the Holy Ghost. but now it
remained for then to be purified BY faith
(Aets IS: o., and to receive the gifts and
graces which came as a result of this heav-
emily baptism.
4. "Of repentance" John called upon
the people to repent anG prepare the way
of the Lord. and pointed to Jesus as the
Messiah. THAT is, on Jesus" THE clos.
ing words OF the sentence arc q condeasa-
ton of all the explanations nv which the
apostle convinced them that Jesus, whom
he preached. was the prophet whom John
announced"
9. "Spake with tongues" This was
Pentecost repeated. 4 new outpouring OF
the Holy Spirit upon a new twelve. Pro
phesied." Not the ability to ~foretell fu-
ture events, bat the power to preach the
gospel and 10 exD0und the Scriptures was
given them. See / Cor. "A: 3. No person
is qualified to preach the gospel. or to do
Christian work OF any kind. until he has
received the baptism OF the Spirit.
To Sell the Hill Of Tara.
Thu Hill of Tara. so rich in historic