The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-16
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.
Acts xiv, 1915, 24-26-May II, 1903
Paul Before Felix.

That tsiparty scene in Felix's judgment hall
well represents the state and spirit Of the pre-
yailing religions of that day. Felix's character
shows too well how utterly effete the heather
faith was, either spur to conscience or as
curb to passion. The high priest. in his turn
represents a religion which had missed its noble
calling to be an almoner of grace to the nations
of the earth and had gone into the broadening
of phylacteries and tithing mint, anise and
cummin: and while engaged in these small mat
tiers could give way on occasion to blind rage
against those who dared to point out more ex-
celIent way At the third angle in that congress
of religions stood Paul, incompatible example OF
the power and beauty OF Christianity
Paul is his own lawyer. His manly courtesy
toward his Judge is In marked contrast TO the
fawning language of the Sanhedrin's hired at
tcrney His straightforward account OF himself
carried with 1t irresistible conviction OF inno-
cence 1.-THE court stood adjourned only for want
Of evidence to convict or a bride to aequit."
Luke's lively narrative quickly shifts the scene
from the judgment hall to the audience chamber.
to which the spirit Of curiosity next summoned
Paul In the sumptuous Herodian palace. on a
richly tesseNated pavement beneath a succeed
and gilded ceiling. stand divans upholstered in
Tyrian purple. which recline the auditors
who seek TO drive away ennui by listening to the
Paurs keen and disciplined power of discern
nent instantly strips the scene of its showiness.
He sees before him a slave tossed up to Gov
ernor's seat by a whirl of fortune; but a slave
IT'LL led captive by mis- greed and lust One
might think Paul the prisoner: but
mo more he feels upon his high-raised arm
The ponderous chain than does the playiu cniio
The bracelet formed OF many nOWery INK
No court preacher was ever more uncompro-
Using In the delivery OF his message. Paul did
rot tax Felix with unrighteousness. but before a
Governor whose only principle Of ruling was
self-interest. avaricIous and cruel, welding. 1t
has been said, the power OF tyrant In the
spirit OF a slave, before such a one he held up
the perfect mirror of that righteousness which
the law OF God requires He did not tax the
astonishinely beautiful Herodian princess with
her infdelty to her lawful husband or her licen-
tious relation to the man beside her, but before
them both, and with steady hand he held the
dawless mirror of that absolute countenance
even In thought upon which Jesus insisted AS
tho climax of his fearless discourse Paul pic
tured the great assize IN which all must appear
before a Judgment seat. whose very color is
.,,,,,er,a,,c Of the immaculate character of Him
who sits on 1t. and to whom all must give ac-
oo,,r, ~ every deed done in the body whether
good or evil
AZ Felix saw his hideous likeness in the faith
fu, mirror of Paurs sermon. and In the lengthen-
ing vista beheld the great white throne ESQ un-
l,ke his own Of a Judge whose errnine never yet
No. so,,ed. he was seized with inward terror.
which may or may not have made itself APP
n.rant In a physical tremor. See the nveterate-
-. os sin, The next moment IL tighteIed its
yr,n upon the poor bondman who thought him.
self free. and he became type Of those whose
sn,ritual life Is ruined by like procrastination-
Axarice. most persistent Of vices. asserted itself
Ee,,x expected q ransom for Paul He had his
eve ON the large sum Of money known to have
been brought up to the church at Jerusalem
relix trembied. He did not reform
THE TEAcHERs LANTERN.
Anonx the cities with which Herod decked
palestine Caesarea the chief jewel Moth
the hut marble was used In building. Its tenn
Me amph,theater and artificial harbor were
xonderful. In this city Herod ruled like a Sec
end Solomon
This spiendor of purple. marble and gold was
q veneer over q corruption 30 extreme 20 def,
description and belief The city was an ex-
noneut OF the evil spirit OF its founder. 1t wa,
/. hotbed OF treachery and lust
Paurs appeal from Jerusalem to caesarea wa,
N appeai from rnalics to cupidfty. What could
paul expect from Felix. united. as he was. adul
serox,sly to princess OF the fourth sene<atics
from Hercd-Fslix who stopped not with n,
aasansinaticn OF high priest and whose han<
nsver ceased itching for bribe. who precipi