The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-13
Che international Sunday School Lesson


, by until he had set himself and his
message right, as far as he could, with
them. He called the chief men among
| them together to explain to them the
nature of his Imprisonment, and his
appeal to the court of Caesar. He
stated to them that he had committed
no crime against his own people. their
temple, or religious customs. He told
them of how the Roman governors il
Judea, after examining him, were will
ing to set him free, and of how the
Jewish authorities spoke against it
hence his appeal to Caesar, not that
he had aught to accuse his nation of.
What forgiving spirit Paul had, al
most like that that the Saviour ex-
hibited on the cross
Going deeper into his case he ex-
claimed, For the hope of Israel 1 am
bound with this chain" Those present
answered him that they knew nothing
ABOUT his particular case, but that they
were DESTROYS of hearing him speak on
the subject of Christianity. For as
concerning this sect they said, I'VE
know that everywhere it is spoken
against" We learn from this incident
that Paul considered Christ to be the
hope Of Israel" and that Christian
people, though the lovers and doors of
all good. have ever and always been
spoken against.
His Jewish friends set Paul a day to
address them and came in great num-
bers to hear him in his prison house.
He took the Old Testament as his
guide and preached unto them Jesus of
Nazareth the Christ OF God. Christian
ministers should preach 1.-The word"
preach Christ. 1t is pitiable spectacle
to see some not very wise preachers
trying to settle from Sunday to Sunday
all questions of ethics and politics and
no norlx ii
do so much more good to mankind by
showing them the simple way of saliva
ton from sin. The most successful
preachers at least have limited their
efforts to holding up Christ and Him
crucihed. The pure Gospel, caught up
and carried out in the lives of men,
will cure the ills of society
We can find the portrait of Christ in
the law of Moses and the prophets"
The Old Testament is Christ's letter
OF introduction, His certificate of
Identification. The Old Testament is
the pedestal upon which the living Mes
siah stood.
The prophecies and ritualism of the
worship of the Jews was most wonder
fully fulfilled in the life, teachings.
death. and influence OF Jesus of Naza-
reth in the world
Scriptural preaching will find answer
ing faith among some always-some of
PauFs audience believed But as a
whole the Jewish citizens of Rome re-
1ected Paul's message. Paul then quoted
to them the words of the prophet con-
corning their hardness OF heart and dull
ness of spiritual perception
He turned from them to the Gentiles
with his gospel, prophesying that they
would receive 1t. He has proved that
his prophecy was true. Christianity has
eiaddened and made strong the Gentle
nations Paul continued to preach 1.-The
Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness for
two whole years in his prison house.
How nightly has that prison house
blessed the world
The record of Pauls preaching the
good news in Rome makes the climax In
the BOOK of Acts From there. Chris
tianity touched the uttermost parts of
the earth.