Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-05-08
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
International Lesson Comments FoI
May 10.
Subject: The Plot Against Paul, Acts xxiih'
I2-22-GoIden Text, Acts kill Il
Memory Verses, z0.22-'Study Verses,
lO.35-Commentary on the
Lesson.

I. The conspiracy against Paul Tvs. IL
l5). II. WAS day" Thursday, May 70
BANDED together" Made an agreement.
'UnIe, 4 curse" Literally, placed them.
selves under an anathema. 1t was an IN
vocation of Gods vengeance upon them
selves if they failed to do the work which
thew undertook. But they could be alb;
solved from this vow by the rabbins if they
we're unable to execute it. Such oaths APP
pear to have been common among the
Jews. Josephus tells of similar conspir'
lev against the life of Herod into which a
oarty of ten Jews entered with ike 1ali-
Ire.
l3. More than forty" This large num-
her Of desperate men. backed up by the
Sanhedrin, the highest counsel among the
Jews, would be likely to succeed in their
nurderous design, and PauPs life was in
yreat danger "rhey 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
we're lot likely to procure Pauls death at
The hands of the Roman authorities. on
any accusation connected with a religious
question:
H. "To the chief priests" The plottcrs
40 doubt went to the chief priests and eld-
.rs who were Sadducees, as they were
strongly opposed to Paul Tvs. 6-l0) and
would be glad to see him put to death.
we have bound etc. Literally, with
curse have We cursed ourselves" A He.
brew mode of expressing the intensity and
,arnestncss of any action How firm they
made. it., imprecating the heaviest curses
upon themselves, their souls. bodies and
families, If they did not kill Paul. These
men must have believed that Paul was the
worst of men, an enemy to God and -relig'
ion, and the curse and plague Of his gener'
alton, when really his character was the
reverse of all this. There are no laws, OF
truth and justice so sacred or strong that
malice and bigotry will not break through.
Is. "rho Council" The Sanhedrin, the
grentest Jewish Council. at was com.
posed Of seventy.onc members, chief
priests, elders Of the people and scrlbes.
Its meeting place adioined the temple on
the est side. 1t met daily except on the
ity TO interpret the divine law, to decide
OH the qualification of priests, and to try
those accused Of idolatry and false pfoph'
cts and heretics" The authority to pro-
nounce the death sentence was taken from
the crucifxion of Christ Bring" etc,
Lygias was to be asked to bring Paul down
from the tower of Antonio to the place
. where the Sankcdrin held its meetings.
"Ready to kill him" They intended to
Kill him while on thc way to the Council:
And to this. plot the highest dignitaries OF
the church gave assent. Such course.
however, seems to be in perfect accord
with the Jewish opinions and practices OF
those times. Philo, Il great Jewish writer,
in speaking Of the course to be taken to-
wards Jew who has fcYsakcn the worship
of the true God says that it is highly
proper" to inhict immaculate punishment
on such impious aposta!cs," not taking
time to carry them before any court or
magistrate, and this should be done be-
cause of an abhorrcite Of evil and a love
for God.
II. The plot disclosed Tvs. 1920. le.
'parl's sisters son." This is al! that we
know of the family of Paul. Nor do we
know for what purpose he was at Jerusa.
len. 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 be well kept.
Into the castle" Thus it appears that
Paups friends had free access to him.
II, IS. paul called" He had received
but lie did not OH that account neglect TO
avail himself of the ordinary means of pro-
tecting himself Gods promise encour-
aged him to put forth his own. exertlons
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 he 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"
a name which st. Paul was often after
Ward to employ to himself.
1922. "By the hand" 10 encourage the
young man and to allay any fear he might
have, and as an expression OF kindness and
civilty. The plot was disclosed to Lysias
with clearness and conciseness, and he ap-
pearcd to know what to do Immediately.
III. The journey to Caesarea Tvs. .:
3d. As soon as the chief captain learned
cnty cavalry to be ready 70 leave Jerusa-
lem a o'clock that same night. This was
probably the largest bodyguard Paul ever
had. Beasts were also TO he provided for
Paul, and they were to so with the greatest
despatch TO Caegarea to Felix. the Govern.
or. The letter Lysias sent shows us that
he was iavorably impressed with his prls-
oner. Paul probably reached Caesarea by
the next evening. lie had left Jerusalem
never to return. That Infamous city was
still rejecting those that were sent unto
UHeIH anu ldSI luolIiuS oi " ITO o"i'
struction-thc most terrible destruction the
world has ever seen. II was wise for Ly-
sias to send Paul to Caesarea, for there he
would be safer than at Jerusalem and it
would be easier to give him fair trial.
Paul was not confined in al ordinary
prison, but resided i'll the palace Of Felix;
thus the apostle remained for two years:
houghts.-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 worl; for Gods people.
Wicked men sometimes resort to the most
diabolical methods in order to destroy the
infine, &c of Gods saints. Those who trust
ond chow need have no fear of evil workers