Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-05-23
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Issscs Comments Fer
May =.
Subject: Pau. Before Agri)Pa, Acts xvi. 10.
29-Golder Text. Acts NV. IL Memory
Verses, 27.z9-CoE:mentary or the
DAYS Lesson


Days Lesson.
10. "Aripra.' Herod Aerirpa II. was
king OF the country east of the upper Jor'
dan ahi the Sea o: Ga,ilee. lie had a pal.
ace at Jerusalem, and was prolessedly
Jew. md was versed in Jewish customs.
He was the son OF the Herod Agrippa who
slew Jews and imprisoned Peter After
the destruction OF Jerusalem. n. ID. 70 he
was dethroned hut permitted to retain his
wealth, and lived ut Rome until y. ID. 100.
He was immoral in lie. bu. not unjust IN
his rule. and has been considered the best
in the Herodian family. Not disobcd.
lent" This is one OF the grand points OF
instruction and personal application in
Pauls whole career. He began on the IN
slant. where he was; TO obey. lie sought
know and do the Lords will. Heavenly
vision The vision which appeared to me,
manifesty from heaven. lie was ohcdien.
and yet il certainly cost HIM hard strus
gle to renounce az TO- Christ.
20 First unto-Dlmascus He began
to preach AZ Damascus Immediately Acts
Q: ?o-22). but soon went to Arabia. From
Arabia he returned again to Damascus
Gal l: Il. Isl. where the Jews sought to
take his life. Paul escaped hy night. being
!e; down by the wall in basket tActs Q:
23-25l. AT Jerusalem" etc. He specifies.
as his fourfo.d field OF !ahor. first. the two
cite. OF Damascus and Jerusalem. then The
whole regior: OF .I;:dca. and. lastly, the
heithen word. should repent" He had
sought 10 win men back 10 God to reveal
Christ and His complete work for mans
redemption. that they might repent. and
turn to God: that, with 4 divinely re-
ncwed heart and reversed life they might
do works acceptable to God. The doctrine
OF repentance was frequently preached by
the apostles. 1t includes both contrition
and reformation. The truly repentant one
is heartily sorry for all his sins so sorry
that he turns away from sin forever, and
If possible would undo all he has sinfully
done Confessions are made, wrongs are
righted. and the soul, loathing itself, cries
t. God for mercy.
81. %. For these causes" Because he
had oheycd God according to his distinct
revelation. in n manner diSnlcasinc to the
Jews they had sought to xiii him. I'm the
temple Paul was worshiDinG in the tenn
pc when the Jews seized him. Il con.
time 1t vas not h. any power OF his
own he had been preserved. hat 1t was he
cause God had interposeG and rescued him.
WITNESSING" Fearing testimony. as he
had been commanded. Small" To those
in humble life. to the roor. the ignorant
and the obscure. Cheat" The rich and
noble: to kings and princes and governors.
He had thus stood on Mars hill at Athens:
men OF Greece: he had declared tie. same
GOSPEL before Felix and Fes:ns. and now
before Agrippa. "Saying none other
things" He adds the supreme fact that
all he taught was N exact agrc cement with
Moses and the prophets. This fact utterly
and convicted them OF rejecting the law
and the prophets. which was the crime a.
leged against himself
%. "Should suffer" Many OF the
Jews overlooked or denied the suffering
character OF the Messiah. and stumbled IA
tally at the gospel because it required them
to accept a erncifed Redeemer. The
first to be raised frcn the dead. bnt the
first who by His res. lection gave the
promise OF eternal lie" Paul always lays
great Importance on the resurrection.
..Show. light True light shines only
through the risen Christ.
II. An interruption by Fcstrs ". 2H.
~ beside thyse!;" The loud voice was
the effect Of his surprise and astonishment.
What Paul had said ~ resurrection from
the dead accomplished in Jesus rs the first
fruits Of a person coming from the jews
who should eaighten no: only his own poo
pie. but even the Centiies-amcn. the rest,
the polite and learned Gre; ard Romans
and OF the manner IN which this was re-
voaied 10 him-all this I-on,d iecl srea
hali-thinker and pagan - Fe,:u> TO con-
clude roundlv that Paul was visionary
enthusiast Much learning" Many writ.
ings had turned his brain. the idea being
suggested by Paurs many illusions TO
of long continued and intense mental APP
piication TO produce mental arrangement
Is everywhere known.
III. Paul's reply to Fcs.us Tvs. $500.
-. II am not mad" Eithc. Paul or Fes-
tus was beside himself. Thev lived in diff
fcrelt worlds. and orc or the other was
wrong. Ii Festus was sane. Paul was mad;
if Paul was sane Fcstus was mad. There
is no madness so great. no dc,ir:um so aw-
ful. as TO neglect the eternal interests Of
the soul for the sake of the poor pleasures
and honors which this life can give. The
worldlym;nded man misrepresents Chris
tians by regarding q their chi.dhke, faith
life as religion, melancholy; 80 their JOY.
full hope as fanaticism.
&c, 81. THE king knoweth" Agripra
was n Jew and no douDt was acquainted
with the history CT 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
There was a wide knowledge OF the facts
connected with the life death and resurrec.
ton OF Christ. 'Beievest." Agrippa had
been instructed in the Scriptures and &C.
ceptcd them intellectually. The writings
OF the prophets foretold the events OF
which Paul had been speaking. and had
their fulflment in Christ. Il know" Paul
answers his own question. :or although
Agrppa was an immoral man. yet incidents
in connection with his life show that he
was sincere Jew.
2s. -. Almost" etc. See r. V. There
are two widely different opinions as to the
meaning OF this verse. The first is that
Agrippa's heart was touched and that. ac.
cordIng to the Authorized Version he de.
c.ared with all seriousness that he was al.
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 Paul's words towards Chris
tianity. Nearly all recent Commentators
accept the latter view. Would TO God"
Pants 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 10
them for liberty.
When AIdrich laughLc.
,.o,, I~,-0b p