The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-05-01
GOLDEN TExT.-If any man suffe
rs n Christian, let him not b'
ms ha ed.-1 Pet. 4s10.

OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
Paul's report ....................Acts 21 :I5-1s
The elders advice. Acts H;20-2t
Paul accused d...........,..........Acts 2l:27-2:
Paul mobbed .,..........,....,...Acts II :30-3l
Paul's request t.................,.Acts 21:37-4t
Paul's defense Acts %: III
TIME.-A. ID. IS.
PLACE.-Jerusalem.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Last Sunday we left Paul and hi
company as guests at the home of Phil
| ip, the evangelist. To-day they con
tinue their journey.
| From Caesarea to Jerusalem wa
20 miles, and at least the first part o.
it was probably made on horseback
The home of Mnason, one of the Chris
tians, served the travellers as half
way house. The Christians were al
ready great brotherhood. Those
who were travelling were sure of find
ing cordial and hospitable welcome
from the members of the brotherhood
who lived along the way, whether they
had ever seen each other before or not
James, the brother of Christ, was the
recognized head of the church, and Il
was to him, with the other officers,
that Paul reported the wonderful way
in which God had blessed the work
among the Gentiles.
The officers of the church felt kindly
toward Paul, and rejoiced in his work,
but warned him that such was not the
general feeling even among the Chris
tian Jews, who considered him one Of
the most dangerous of heretics be-
cause he taught that observance Of
the ceremonial law was not essential
to the salvation of anyone, Gentle or
Jew. Just at this time the city was
full of Jewish pilgrims come to the
feast. Among them were Paul's old
enemies from Asia. The church of
ficers feared trouble, and so advised
the conciliatory move Of verse 23. Paul
himself had come to Jerusalem with
his heart set on bringing jew and Gem
tile Christians into sympathy and to
a better understanding. 1t was with
that purpose that he had gathered the
free-will offering from the one branch
of the church for the other The Of
ficers urged the plan, and Paul yielded,
though we cannot believe that he did
so without misgiving The result was
and yet in the providence
Of God it opened the way for Paul's
work in Rome.
At the sight of Paul the hatred Of
his old enemies famed up, and his be-
ng in the temple probably made them
more angry. They accused him of be-
ng an enemy of (1) the Jews (the
,eople), (2) the law, and (3) the tenn
ole
Dragged him out of the temple:"
o as not to defile it with his blood.
Chief captain of the band:" The CO.
tort of soldiers garrisoning the castle
# Antonia, which joined the temple
ourt on the north, came out to stop
his Jewish riot About GOO men were
there "The stairs:" Lead
ng up from the temple court to the
astle, which overlooked it.
Now out Of reach of the mob, Paul |
ad a chance to speak to the chief |
aptain, who was surprised at being /
ddressed in Greek. art not thou
hat Egyptian Who would al
lost certainly speak Greek. The
hief captain thought he had got hold
+ "warted man" Supposing that
ne Egyptian did not speak Greek, the
Ieaning would be: "Thou art not,
hen. as i supposed" etc. "The
A fanatic who had claimed
, be prophet and had gained large
blowing among the dangerous ele-
ents of the people "Assassins."
literally, Men of the Dagger. They
ere a secret order whose object was
rid the land Of its opponents by as
Paul here makes one last supreme
fort to recover the situation. In the
idress he shows, by telling the story
his life. the falseness of the three
iarges made against him in 21:2s
is effort was in vain.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
We are liable at any time to have
mr. Christian courage and manhood
sted without warning.
il. viii make 10 difference how sud
m the test may be if we are Christ's
trough and through.
The way to be hero on a great oc-
sion is to meet ones daily duties
be by one without finching.
II is easy 10 love ones friends, but he
IS the true Christian spirit who loves
Is enemies.
Christianity has made its way
trough the world by testifying to
lose WHO we're persecuting It.