Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-01-30
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments t0f
February1.
Subject; Paul at Athens, Acts xviii, ZZ'3f-
Golden Text, Acts xviii, lS-memofy
Verses, Is, 70 Commentary on the
DAYS Lesson.

re
at Berea. and Paul. leaving Silas and Inn,
othy ". IA to follow him later, fastened
secretly on till he came to the famous Guy
of Athens. the capital of the intellectual
world, as Rome was of the polltiicai anu
Jerusalem of the religious. While faui
waited for the coming Of Silas and limo
thv he employed his time in speaking IN
the synagogues to the Jews, ana Ill T Ehe
market places to those WI HON ne met. lne
leaders in philosophy and religion we're az;
tracted by Paul, and held Conversations
with him about his religion. Alter discuss
ing with these philosophers for time they
requested Paul to leave the curious, and
thronging crowds of the market ana ad
dress them from the platform on the sum
nit of the hill, called AreOpagus, or Mar 5
Hill, where were assembled the noDlest Oh
Athens, the first politicians, the first ora
tors, the first philosophers. ,, =,
II. Paul's address on Mars Hril Tvs. z
81. %. paul stood" Paul spoke IN the
open air. MARS Hill-the ,AreopagusS::
This hill was to the west of the Acropohs
and was the meeting place of the Athenlan
Council. To this hill of Mars the philoso-
pliers led st. Paul, that he might more
conveniently address a larger audience
aye men Of Athens" He was addressing
men of high intellectual powers. Their
city was the most renowned in the world
for literature, art and philosophy. 81 per-
ceive" Paul had observed the important
features Of the city 'Too superstitious."
Ye are greatly addicted to religious prac-
tice The expression used by the apostle
was complimentary. Ye are Every re!i-
gious."
Of art consecrated to religion. 'Io an I'M
known god" That no deity might punish
them for neglecting his worship. 'Ignor.
antly worship" See r. V. The apostle
does not intend to say that their worship
was of an ignorant character, but that they
offered it in ignorance. Him declare l."
1t was death for any private person to
disturb the religion of the state by the in
PRODUCTION of any foreign god that had not
been publicly recognized. But how admir-
ably does Paul avail himself of the in
scription Oh the altar! Who could accuse
him Of introducing anything new when he
only expounded to the Athenians tie at
tributes Of the God whom they had ignor'
antly worshiped?
a. God that made" ]. He opposes,
indirectly. their opinions that there were
many gods. 2. He opposes the opinion
that matter is eternal 3. That all things
are controlled by fate. q. That the world
was formed by an accidental throng of
atoms. And these were the doctrines of
his hearers. While Paul respected the
rank ard position which his hearers held
he was faithful in preaching unto them the
truth. "Dwclleth not" A strong, deci-
sive stroke against the whole system of
Grecan idolatry.
%. with mems hands" The apostle
illustrates the character of the true God
still further by another contrast between
Him and the deities of the heather. God
is independent of His creatures, He needs
nothing from them. The heather consid-
cred it meritorious to bring costly gifts to
their idols. and even offerings of food and
drink. ''He giveth." He is the source Of
life and all things necessary to sustain
that life which He has created.
IS. Zone blood" God has made of one
ancestor, or one source, or one family, all
nations. This lays upon US the duty to
help all men, and to treat all men justly
and lovingly, even the lowest races Of men.
Greeks held that the ''frst men had sprung
up in Attica like radishes;" that like flow
ers and trees, every nation was the pro-
duct of its own soil, and that they were
the aristocracy, all Others being barbar-
ians. The whole human family, however
guage, are brethren. Hath determined"
Gods almighty hand is revealed in the gov
eminent of the world, as well as in its Gre
alton.
q. "Shoun seek the Lord" The whole
object of the divine Providence, in His
dealings with nations and individuals, is to
bring them to q knowledge Of the one true
God. "Not far" He is hard to find; not
because He withdraws from US, but be-
cause we withdraw from Him. Our iniqui-
ties separate us from Him lisa. 80: 2;
Rom. 10: 6-l0).
%. Offspring Of God" By creation af-
ter the image Of God; by regeneration
through the incarnate Son of God. Ought
not" If we, intelligent, moral, rational
beings, are the offspring Of God, we ought
not to think that the Divine One is like a
| dumb, dead, senseiess idol.
go "This ignorance See r. V. Sins
committed in ignorance are different from
those committed against light and con-
science. Men cannot plead ignorg ice who
| are living in the presence OF an open Bible;
Overlooked" In the word Overlooked"
lie treasures Of mercy for those who lived
in the times of ignorance.
81 "He will Judge" Their character
and deeds were to be examined, and the
reward or punishment due was to be
awarded by the Judge. Paups reference
was apt, since lie was standing in the place
where judicial sentences were wont to be
| announced. In righteousness. Every de-
cision will be absolutely right and correct.
There will be no bribery. no covering up.
The righteousness of the judgment is what
makes it terrible to the conscience.
Ill The effect of Paul's address Tvs. 30
34). 80. "Some Knocked" Perhaps the
Epicureans. who believed that this life
was all. "Others said" etc. Whether Sc
riously, or merely courteous refusal to
hear anything further is uncertain.
SO, "a. Paul departed" His effort had
not proved as successful as he had hoped.
He soon left Athens for Corinth. Certain
men - believed" Several accepted the
truth. but the names of only two are men,
toned. "Dionysius" There can be no
doubt that this man was one of the judges
of this great court, but whether the presi'
dent or otherwise we cannot tell No per,
son was judge in the Areopagus who had
not borne the office of chief governor OF
the city, and none bore the office of Judge
in this court who was not Of the highest
reputation among the people for his inte4t
gence and exemplary conduct. DAMS
For what she was noted is not known, but