The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-03-05
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
March 8.
Subject: Paul at Ephesus, Acts XIX, 1870
Golden Text, Acts XIX, I7-Memory
Verses, lS.z0-commentnry on
the Days Lessod.

.Eagabond Jews defeated Tvs. BID 10.
| Misunderstanding. They were similar
to modern gypses and fortune tellers
| Certain Jews who went about from place
to place, protesting by charms and spells to
cure diseases. 'Exorcists' Men who, by
the authority of the name OF some power.
ful being solemnly assumed to require the
demon to depart so effectively as to be
obeyed Call over them" Knowing that
| Paul cast out demons through the name Of
Jesus. they thought that by using the same
name they could produce the same effects
.Adjure you We bind, you by an oath;
we command you as under the solemnity
of an oath. Whom Paul preacheth" Nc
| doubt they had often heard Paul proclaim
the divinity of Christ in the hall OF Tyran.
nus.
IA. "a chief priest &" Chief priest in the
| New Testament usually refers to men of
the priestly order who were also rulers in
the Sanhedrin. This man was Jewish
Chief priest OF distinction, and had held
the office of a ruler.
Is: Evil spirit answered" The evil
spirit in the man spoke through the man.
etc. That is, | know HIS power and ar
thority and | know Paul as His servant
who are ye" You have no power or au
thority, you are not His followers and SO
only pretenders in the use of His name
49, Both of them 1t appears that
on this occasion. Prevailed" The man
IN whom the demon was raging tore off
their clothing and wounded their bodies,
SO that they fled in disgrace from His pres
enee. Several similar instances are re-
AZ. Naked This need not be taken in
its strict sense. 1t could be applied tc
those stripped partially of their raiment.
| -, IL. This became known" Gradually
The, news was spread abroad. Fear feln
This occurrence caused great sensation,
and produced fear of that mysterious
power which was ascribed to the name OF
Jesus, The Ephesians were so bound up
| IN belief in magic that it seemed necessary
to show that the gospel was mightier than
these other powers, which came from Sa
tan. the father of deceit. WAS magni
fed" The transaction showed that the
miracles performed in the name of the
Lord Jesus by Paul were real and proved
the doctrine he taught. Impostors could
not work such miracles, and those who
i pretended to do so only exposed them.
selves to the rage of the evil spirits. 1t was
thus shown that there was real. vital diff
| ference between Paul and these impostors.
and their failure only served to extend his
reputation and the power of the gospel
Even demons are compelled to glorify
| Christ when God so wills it. The name Of
their victories. 2. In His enemies by their
| defeat.
Many converted Tvs. 1920. lS. That
had believed" These were either professed
Christians whose conversion had not been
genuine, and whose conscences were now
SO powerfully wrought upon that they were
led to confess their sins, or new converts
to Christianity who, before this time, had
| not received the light on these things,
Game and confessed" When the con.
science is truly awakened there will always
be humble confession of sins committed
| fha, dc u lz.-
they had been connected with supersttious
| practices, and had INDUCED in witchcraft
snd sorcery which were not consistent with
Christianity.
10. Curious arts" Arts or practices re.
quiring skill and cunning, such as magic
and sleight of hand, which are practiced 80
extensively in Eastern countries. Such arts
were very popular at Ephesus. The cele.
GRATED "Ephesian letters" were small alps
of parchment in silk bags, on which were
written strange words and sentences, and
were carried about ut on the person as charms
cure good fortune: Books" There were
no books then such as we have now; these
books were parchment rolls which con.
tanned their mysteries and described their
heather practices. Burned them" etc.
Confession is cheap, but reformation is Of.
ten. costly. A false penitence would have
sold these books. and kept both the money
and the credit for piety. Such burning
pile must have attracted great attention
and caused commotion in Ephesus. BE.
people pursued would. J.. Show that they
renounced the sins of which they had been
guilty. 2. Show that they never expected
to return to them 3. Remove the temp
tation to return. 4. Prevent others from
being injured by them. 8. Be public tes.
their Joy in their conversion. Fifty thou
sand pieces" The sacrifice was very great.
The $4,000 pieces of silver if reckoned in
Jewish money (shekels) would be about
S35 900: if in Greek (drachmas). as is more
probable, about $4,000. But this gives no
A days wages then was only, penny, and
at the rate. of wages here, the sum would
20. so" This word 80" is divine
Amen" testimony of approval coming
rom heaven. 'Mightily;", With overpow'
could resist. Grew" The truth grew in
favor with the people, and there were
many conversions and accessions to the
church. The word of God grew in power
and intensity. and led to marvellous deeds
2f self5renuanciation as well as to the mani.
prevailed 1t prevailed, l. Over the cor.
-uption of the natural heart-leading those
who, had heard the gospel to turn from
lead Idols to serve the living God. 2.
over the opposition OF the powers of evil
manifested in the exposure of Scevas sons
md the deliverance of the man possessed.
}: Over the besettng sins of belevers-en.
ibling those who had received the word to
shake themselves free from the love of
magic and the faseinations of money. While
:he, church was being stirred to confession
ind reformation, a deep impression was
,lso being made upon the community, lead.
ng to fear and veneration, il not to convic-
ion and conversion. We should notice also
"the absolute exclusiveness Of Christianity
which admits of no compromise" II can.
pot, mix with other religions, but must pre-
tail over them.