Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-28
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
March /.
Subject: Paul and Apol!os. Acts xviii. "a to
xix. 6-Goiden Text. Like Ii, l3-
Memory Verses. 40 Commentary
on the Days Lessen.


/ Introduction. - After remaining Il year
and a hall at Cornth Paul began his home
ward journey lie took with him Aquia
and Priscilla. Sailing eastward they landed
at Ephesus. Paul remained only short
time, as he desired to reach Jerusalem in
time for the great feast in the spring OF \.
y. "a. Aquiia and his wife remained at
Ephesus.
l. Apo.!os receiving instruction Tvs. n
26).
"a. "Apollos'' \ preparation for Paul's
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 hall the idea. He was learned
and could use his learning with effect
Mighty" He was familiar with the
Scriptures and used them with power as
source OF argument and appeal.
p. Was instructed " Probably by
some disciple of John who had left .Iudea
before the Saviour commenced His public
course. or possibly by John himself, whose
earlier ministry .ipollos may have attend.
ed. ''Fevent" He had glowing rehg-
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 at
hand" and preached the gospel of repent.
ance. preaching greatly needed to-day.
26. Boldly" The Jews were not all
ready even to listen to announcements of
the approach OF the Messiah. The speaker
who dwclt on this theme must be prepared
nit In Ill u
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 instruc.
tion from such humble people. "Expound
ed.more carefully" Aquila and Priscilla
unfolded to Apollos the wonderful fact os
a Messiah already come. They gave him
the history of the incarnation. the miracles,
the crucitiXion. the resurrection, the ascen-
sion, the pentecostal outpouring and the
commission to convert the world. This
pupil was soon superior to his teachers
Aquila and his wife were faithful people,
and it appears that wherever they went
they had Church in their house." See
l Cor. is: 10; Rom. 10: 80. The last New
Testament reference to them Is in Tim.
4: 10. Tradition says that they died mar.
tyrs.
ii. Apollos visits Achaa Tvs. 81. os). 81.
more than an inclination on his part; he
wished to go. Into Achaa." 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
Aquila and Priscilla. Being acquainted
he was well fitted to be preacher to the
Greeks as well as the Jews. We are not
told of any apostolic commission to Apol.
los, but we know from Cor l: II, etc,
that he came to be regarded by some CO.
rinthians as the equal of St. Paul. and that
there, arose some strong party feeling in
the church which is rebuked in st. Paul's
letter To them. Through grace" These
words may refer either to Apollos 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.
Is. Nightly convinced" See X. V.
He powerfully confuted the Jews. and that
publicly. showing by the Old Testament
Scriptures, which tie Jews received as in.
spired. that Jesus was the Messiah and
that they could he saved only through Him.
This they refused to do. and we know the
consequence. Their city was sacked. their
temple burnt, ard more than a million OF
them were killed and the rest scattered
over the face of the earth
Ill. Paul arrives at Ephesus ". H. I.
Lame To Ephesus." In accordance with
the promise made them when returning
from his second missionary journey (chap.
Is: 2l). Ephesus was not only the capital
OF the province. but was the city of the
greatest Importance in all Asia Minor
splendid city, and the emporium of trade
IN the East. Ii was called one of the cves
OF ASIA. Smyrna, forty miles 10 the north.
being the other The city stood on the
south OF plain about five miles long from
east to west, and three miles broad. with
the lcarian Sea. an arm OF the Aegean on
the west. Here Paul continued TO labor
for nearly three years. Certain disciples"
Although their knowledge was imaerfect
they were sincere and possessed the Gle.
ments OF true faith" and as soon as the
light shonee upon them they at once
": The baptism of the Holy Ghost
Tvs. 2-Gl.
. THE Holy Ghost" Paul was a Holv
Ghost preacher His first sentence brings
these unenlightened disciples face to face
with the deeper things OF God. Ii was the
common privilege OF the disciples of Christ
to receive not only the ordinary graces hut
also the extraordinary gifts of the Holy
Spirit: and thus the disciples of Christ diff
Tered from those OF John The genuine dis.
ciples of Christ are still distinguished from
all others by the baptism OF the Holy
SPIRIT; which enlightens. quickens and puri-
baptism are living far beneath their privil-
eyes in the gospel: As heard" See X. V,
where the thought is made much clearer.
This cannot mean that they knew nothing
about the Holy Ghost. but they were iC.
norant with regard to Pcntecost. Ii they
were disciples" they must have been re.
generated by the Holy Ghost hut now it
re-. aimed for them to be purified by faith
(Acts 10: ~, and to receive the gifts and
Graccs which came as a result OF this heav-
enly baptism.
4. "Of repentance John called upon
the people to repent and prepare the way
Of the Lord. and pointed to Jesus as the
Messiah, That is. on Jesus" 'The clos
ing words OF the sentence are condensa.
ton Of all the explanations by which the
apostle convinced them that Jesus. whom
announced"
g.. "Spake with tongues This was
pentecost repeated. a new outpouring of
the Holy Spirit upon a new twelve. PRO.
phesied." Not the ability to foretcll fu-
ture events, but the power to preach the
gospel and to expound the Scriptures was
given them. See l Cor. "a: 3. No person
is qualified to preach the gospel, or to do
Christian work of any kind, until he has
received the barti,:, Of the Spirit.