Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-03-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
March s.
Subject Paul at E9hesus, Acts XIX, io'Lo
Golden Text, Acts XIX, 7-Mcmory
Verses, S'z0-Commentary on
th, Days Les3od.

Vagabond Jews defeated Tvs. l3-l7). .ll3.
"Vagabond-stro!llng." they were similar ,
to modern gypsies and fortune tel.ers.
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
full being soiemnly 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 CT
Jesus, they thought that Ey using the same
name they could produce the same effects.
"Adjure YOU We bind You by an oath !;
we command you as under the soemnity
Of an oath. Whom Paul preacheth." No
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 10 men Of
the priestly order who were also rulers in
the Sanhedrin This man was Jewish
chief priest CT distinction, and had he'd
the Office of ruler
Is Evil spirit answered" The evil
spirit in the man spoke through the man.
Compare Mark 3: II. Jesus, know"
etc. That is, | know His power and au
'W'ho are ye?" You have no power or au-
thority, YOU are not His followers and so
only pretenders in the use of His name.
Is. Both of them 1t appears that
only two of the seven sons were present
on this occasion. prevailed" The man
in whom the demon was raging tore of
their clothing and wounded their bodies,
so that they fed in disgrace from His pres
ence. Several similar instances are re.
corded. See Mark 5: 8; o. 1920; Luke 9:
-. Naked" This need not be taken in
Of ho 1,aI 70
those stripped partially of their raimcnt.
II. This became known" Gradually
the news was spread abroad. "Fear fell J.
This occurrence caused a great sensation,
and produced fear of that mysterious
power which was ascrbed to the name of
Jesus. The EpheSans were so bound up
in belief in magic that it seemed necessary
to show that the gospel was mighier 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. 1mpostors could
not work such miracles, and those who
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 glorfv
Christ when God so wills it. The name of
Jesus is glorifed. / In His servants by
their victories. Q In His enemies by their
defeat
Many converted Tvs. 1920 is. That
had believed" These were either professed
Christians whose conversion had not been
genuine, and whose consciences 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.
"Came and confessed" When the con.
science is truly awakened there will always
be / humble confession of sins committed.
Declaring their deeds" They told how
they had been connected with superstitious
practices, and had INDUCED in witchcraft
and sorcery which were not consistent with
Christianity.
%. Curious arts" Arts or practices re.
Quiring skill and cunning, such as magic
and sleight of hand, which are practiced so
extensively in Eastern countries. Such arts
were very popular at Ephesus. The cele'
brated "Ephesan letters" were small slip.
Of parchment in silk bags. on which were
written strange words and sentences, and
were carried about on the person as charms
OF amulets to shield from danger, or to pro.
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
pie must have attracted great attention
and caused a commotion in Ephesus. "Be.
fore all men," Publicly. The course these
people pursued would, ]. Show that they
renowned the sins of which they had been
guilty. 2. Show that they never expected
10 return to them. 8. Remove the temp.
tation to return. A. Prevent others from
being injured by them. s. BE public tes'
timony in favor of the truth. 6. Show
sand pieces" The sacrifice was very great.
The 1900 pieces of silver, if reckoned in
Jewish money (shekels) would be about
$4,000: if in Greek (drachmas). as is more
probable, about $780, But this gives no
idea of the purchasing power of the money.
days wages then was only penny, and
at the rate of wages here, the sum would
amount to from $780, 900 to 100000.
20. so" This word so is a divine
"Amen," testimony of approval coming
from heaven. Nightly" With overpow-
eIIU2 lOTCe anu SIIpuSCU winch nOCnlnS
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
of selfrenunciaton as well as to the mani
festation of great solemnity and JOY. "And
prevailed" 1t prevailed, ]. Over the cor
ruption of the natural heart-leading those
who had heard the gospel to turn from
dead idols to serve the living God. 2.
Over the opposition of the powers of evil
manifested in the exposure of Sceva's sons
and the deliverance Of the man possessed.
3. Over the besetting sins of believers-en-
abling those who had received the word to
shake themselves free from the love of
magic and the destinations of money While
the church was being stirred to confession
and reformation, a deep impression was
also being made upon the community, lead
ing to Sear and veneration. if not to convic-
ton and conversion. We should notice also
1.-The absolute excusiveness of Christianity
which admits of no compromise" 1t can.
not mix with other religions, but must pre-