The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS,
FOR MAY "a.

Subject: Paul Before Agrlpps, Acts 1xvt.ss
y 1e.29.Golden Text, Acts XVII, aSs-s
Memory Verses, 27-29-commentaryon O.
the Days Lesson. '..:'s-1. 81
10. "Arippa." Herod Agrlppa u. was
king of the country east of the upper Jors5
dan and the Sea of Galilee. BE had PAL
ace at Jerusalem, and was protessediy g.
Jew, ind was versed in Jewish customs
He was the son of the Herod Agr7ppa VINO
slew Jews and imprisoned PeteE % mI KS
was dethroned, but permitted to retain his
wealth. and lived at Rome until A. D. l00tJ
He was immoral in life, but not unjust ~
his rule. and has been considered the best
in m the Herodian family, "Not disobed:s
ient.o This is one of the grand points 81
instruction and personal application ~
Pauls whole career. he began on the IN.
slant. where be was, to obey. be sougnS
on the instant, and ever afterWard, e:
know and do the Lords will. HeaveniN'
manifestly from heaven. He was opealenvt
and vet it certainly cost him hard strug-
&c to renounce all for Christ ..
20. "First unto-Damascus." He began
to preach at Damascus Immediately tActs'
o: aO.22), but soon went to Arabia. FROM
Arabia he returned again to damascus
(Gal. /: II, lS), where the jews sought TO;
take his life. Paul escaped by night, being
let down by the wall in basket tActs ~
as his fourfold field Of labor, first, the two
cities of Damascus and Jerusalem, then the
whole region of Judea, and, lastly, the
heathen world. "Should repent" he had
sought to win men back to God, to reveal
Christ and His complete work for mans
REDEMPTION, that they might repent, ana
turn to God; that, with a divineiy re-
ncwed heart and reversed life they might
do works acceptable to God. The doctrine
of repentance was frequently preached py
the apostles. 1t includes inc ootn consLasicn.
is heartily sorry for all his sins. so sorry
that he turns away from sin forever aHdI
Il possible would undo all be has sinfully!
done. Confessions are made, wrongs Ares
righted, and the soul, loathing itseH, cries
to God for mercy. ,Se!
q, q. '"For these causes:e Because BE-
had obeyed God according to his distlnce;
revelation, in manner displeasing 70 the.
Jews. they had sought to kill him. I'D tns!
temple" Paul was worshiping N, the tenn;
pie when the Jews seized Kim. Il CON.
tinue." It was not by any power. Of biz
own he had been preserved, but it was be.
cause God had interposed and rescued hin1s
had b been Commanded. "Small. TO those:
ind in hgR6s 9Ss sbsase a to feas es Rss ss s1ae
noble: to kings and princes and governor.
He had thus.stood on Mars hill at Athens
he had borne testimony before the wise
men Of Greece: he had declared the same;
Before Agippa. "Saying none other
things" He adds the supreme fact that
Ill he taught was in exact agreement with
Moses and the prophets. This fact utterly
overthrew an the charges OF his aecusers,
and convicted them of rejecting the law
and the prophets, which was the crime al-;
legged against himself. go
o.. should suffer" Many et tne
Jews overlooked or denied the suffering
character of the Messiah, and stumbled taS
tally at the gospel because it required them the
first" etc. See R. v. "Christ was not the.
first to be raised from the dead, but the
first who by His resurrection gave the
promise of eternal life" Paul always !ays;
great Importance on, the resufrections
"Show light" True light shines only
through the risen Christ. * -.
II. An interruption by Festus ", ;24ls
a. beside thyself" The loud voice Was
the effect of his surprise and astonlshmensg
q
the dead accomplished in Jesus as the firets
fruits of a person coming from the JeNss
who should enlighten not only his own pec.
ple, but even the Gentiles-amohg the rest
the polite and learned Greeks and Romans.
and of the manner in which this was re-;
vealed to him-all this would lead such q
half-thinker and a pagan as Festrs 70 con-
clude roundly that Paul was yisionaIy
enthusiast: much learning; Many VIII
suggested by Pauls many illusions to-
Moses and the prophets. The tendencyS
of long continued and intense mental ap..3
plication to produce mental arrangements;
Is everywhere known. 5s, = 4. -. x
III. Paups reply to Festus Tvs. 2529}.s
Is. "I am not mad" Either Paul or Fesrs
tus was beside himself. They lived in, diff,
farent worlds, and one or the other was.
wrong. If Festus was sane, Paul was mao; 81
if Paul was sane, Festus was mad. There.
is no madness go great, no dehrium SO aw.s
full, as to neslect the eternal, interests OF
the soul for the sake of the poor pleasures
and honors which this life can give. The
woridly-minded man nisrepresents Chris-
tians by regarding Q) their childike faith
as narrowness of mind; (2) their deyout
life as religious melancholy; (S) their joy
full hope as fanaticism.. Z: I:
26, 27 "The king knoweth. Agrippa
was a Jew and no doubt was acquainted
with the history of the life and works Of
Jesus, of His death and resurrection, OF the
events that occurred on the day of Pente-:
cost, and the preaching Of the gospel since
Jesus had been crucifed. "a corner. &
There was wide knowledge Of the facts
connected with the life, death and resurrec.
tion of Christ "Believest. Agnppa had;
been instructed in the Scriptures and ac-
cepted them intellectually. The writings
of the prophets foretold the events OF
which Paul had been speaking, and had
their fulflment in Christ. II know. Paul
answers his own question, for; although
Agrippa was an immoral man, yet incidents
in connection with his life show that he
was sincere Jew. Z
2S. 20. almost" etc. See r. "; There
meaning of this verse. The first is that
Agrippa's heart was touched and that, ac-
cording to the Authorized Version he de-
clared with all seriousness that be was all
most persuaded to become a Christian.
The other view is that the words were spo.
ken sarcastically, according to the Revised
Version, and that he was not in the least
influenced BY PauPs words towards Chris
tianity. Nearly all recent commentators
accept the latter view. Would to, ,God.,,
Paui's answer is sublime. He is so thor.
oughlv satisfied with the salvation he has
experienced that he does not hesitate to
heartily commend it to all his royal hear
ers Except" etc. What "a gentle re-
proof to these rulers who were keeping
him in chains! What delicate, appeal to-
them for liberty! o.. .,.,., %.S%4