Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-02-27
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
March |.
Subject; Paul and ApolIos. Acts Xviii, "a TO
XIX, 6-Golden Text, Luke xl. 10
Memory Verses, 4.6-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

:. Introduction. - After remaining year
and half at Corinth Paul began his home
ward journey. He took with him Aquila
and Priscilla Sailing eastward they landed
at Ephesus. Paul remained only a short
time, as he desired to reach Jerusalem in
time for the great feast in the spring OF A.
D. "a. Aquia and his wife remained at
Ephesus.
1. Apollos receiving instruction Tvs. "a
"a. "Apollos." A preparation for Pauls
labor at Ephesus had been made by Apol'
los, who had instructed a small company
of Jews up to the twilight of John the
Baptist's teachings concerning the Mes.
siah. alexandra" This city was built
near the mouth of the Nile by Alexander
the Great. Eloquent - learned" The
word in the original expresses not only
ability as an orator, but also the possession
of stores of learning. Either rendering
only gives half the idea. He was Learned
and could use his learning with tI;tb enf tbe
Scriptures and used them with power as
source of argument and appeal;
Is. "Was instructed" Probably by
some disciple of John who had left Judea
before the Saviour commenced His public
course. or possibly by John himself, whose
earlier ministry hpollos may have attend
ed. "Fervent." He had glowing relig'
ious disposition and ardent zeal" He was
active and taught carefully" and spoke
boldly. Knowing only" Apollos knew
nothing of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
He knew that the kingdom OF GOD was az
hand" and preached the gospel OF Iepent
26. Boldly" The Jews were not all
ready even to listen to announcements OF
the approach Of the Messiah. The speaker
who dwelt on this theme must be prepared
with arguments as we'll as courage; Had
heard" In the synagogue. Took him.
Persons of great learning may be led into
the light by those in obscure positions.
Apollos gives proof of his greatness by
showing his willingness to receive instrucc'
ton from such humble people. E ppp;SdiIIs
unfolded to Apolios the wonderful fact OF
a Messiah already come. They gave him
the history of the incarnation, the miracles,
the crucifxion, the resurrection, the ascen'
sion. the pentecostal outpouring and the
commission to convert the world. This
pupil was soon superior to his teachers.
Aouila and his wife were faithful people,
and it appears that wherever they, went
they had Church in their house. See
! Cor. l6: 10; Rom. l6: 3-5. The last New
L
4: 10. Tradition says that they died mar
II. Apollos visits Achaia Tvs. q, 2S). q.
"Was disposed" The original expresses
more than an inclination on his part; he
wished to 90. Unto Achaia." Of which
| Corinth was the capital, and it was Cor
NTH which he decided to visit. he may
have been directed to this field of labor by
Auuila and Priscilla. Being acquainted
with the philosophy and learning, OF Greece
he was we'll fitted to be preacher to the
Greeks as well as the Jews. We are mol
told of any apostolic commission to Apof
los. but we know from ! Cor. /: IL, etc.
that he came to be regarded by some 60
rinthians as the equal Of st. Paul. and that
there arose some strong party feeling n
the church which is rebuked in st. Paur'
letter to them. Through grace" These
words may refer either to Apolos or to the
people at Corinth. 1t was through grace
that they had believed, and it was; through
grace that Apollos was able to help them;
20. Nightly convinced" See K. V
He powerfully confuted the Jews, and tina
publicly, showing by the Old Testamen
Scriptures. which the Jews received as in
spired, that Jesus was the Messiah, ant
that they could be saved only through Him
\ This they refused to do, and we know tn
consequence. Their city was sacked, thel
temple burnt, and more than million
them were killed and the rest scattere'
over the face of the earth.
III. Paul arrives at Ephesus ". II. ]
"Came to Ephesus." In accordance wit
the promise made them when returnin
from his second missionary journey (chaar
IS: 2l). Ephesus was not only the capita
of the province, but was the city OF tn
greatest Importance in all Asia Minor,
splendid city, and the emporium OF trad
in the East. 1t was called one OF the eye
of Asia, Smyrna, forty miles to the nortf
being the other. The city stood on tn
south of plain about five miles long frol
east to west, and three miles broad, wit
the Icarian Sea, an arm of the Aegean, o
the west. Here Paul continued to labo
for nearly three years. Certain disciples.
Although their knowledge was iimperfe,t
they were sincere and possessed the e ei
light shone upon them they at ono
walked in it.
". The baptism of the Holy Gho
3. "The Holy Ghost" Paul was Ho
Ghost preacher. His first sentence brirn|
these unenlightened disciples face to ia.
with the deeper things of God. 1t was Il
common privilege of the disciples of ChrIi
to receive not only the ordinary .sraces; b.
also the extraordinary gifts OF the no
Spirit; and thus the disciples of Christ d
fered from those of John. The genuine di
ciples of Christ are still distinguished fro
all Others by the baptism of the Ho
Spirit, which enlightens, quickens, and pul
fes. Those who have not received this I'll
baptism are living far beneath their priv
eyes in the gospel Gas heard" See K.
where the thought is made much cleare
This cannot mean that they knew nothil
about the Holy Ghost, but they were
norant with regard to Pentecost If tn
were disciples" they must have been ]
generated by the Holy Ghost. but now
rers aimed for them to be purified by fai
(Acts Is: 81, and to receive the gifts al
graces which came as result OF this hea
emily baptism.
q. "Of repentance" John called up
the people to repent and prepare the W
of the Lord. and pointed to Jesus as t
Messiah. "Thst is, on Jesus The eli
ing words of the sentence are conden'
n ton of all the explanations by which t
- apostle convinced them that Jesus, who
>, he preached, was the prophet whom 10
- announced
y. 6. "Spake with tongues" This W
e. Pentecost repeated. A new outpouring
ar the HOLY Spirit upon a new twelve. "P
al phesied." Not the ability to foretell
;s ture events, but the power to preach
- gospel and to expound the Scriptures v
given them. See Cor. IA: 8. No pers
Is qualified to preach the gospel, OF. to
q. Christian work Of any kind, until he