The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-10-12
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR OCTOBER IL.

Subject: Paul Prisoner-Before
Felix, Acts 24--GoIden Text:
Acts 24:16-Comnit Verses Is,
26--Ccmmentary ON the Lesson.
TINEE.-A. D. So or SO.
PLACE.-Caesarea.
EAPOSTTION.-I. Paul's Defense
Eefore Felix, 1923. Paul was in the
best sense a gentleman and diplo-
mat (cf. CHI. 1920 BY all proper
means he sought to gain the favor of
those he would win for Christ One
can be faithful without being brusque
and boorish. This Spirit-given tact
and winsomeness is as much needed
by the one who would acceptably
serve Christ as is Spirit-filled boldness
Of utterance. Paul took up the terms
of the indictment brought against
him ~. Sd and met them with fiat
and unanswerable denial. 1t is one
thing to make accusations it is anoth-
er thing to prove them (v. 13). Paul
was a model preacher, he believed
all things which are written in the
law and the prophets ". 14). Hap
Ply is the man who can say what Paul
says here (cf. Luke 24:27, A; John
1926; Matt. 5:18; Mark 7:13). His
enemies accused him of departing
from their ancient Scriptures; he
showed them that, on the contrary,
he believed more fully than they did.
1t is often the case that the real inf
1els call the believers heretics. AS
an athlete keeps himself in rigid ply
steal training, SO Paul kept himself
in rigid spiritual training ". Is;
Cor 9:24-27). The object of
this spiritual discipline was to
have conscience void of of
Tense" - that is, conscience that
lid not stumble or cause others to
stumble He sought diligently and
disciplined himself strenuously to
have such conscience, not only to-
ward God but also toward man He
sought to have it not only most of the
time, but all the time. The kind OF
athletics Paul cultivated are sorely in
need of cultivation to-day. 1t was to
bring aims to his nation and not to
10 wrong to his nation that Paul had
.some to Jerusalem.
III. Felix Terrified, 24-26. The
schemes of the enemies of Paul and
IF Christ had already resulted in CIV
ing Paul an opportunity to preach
Christ to persons who would other
wise been beyond his reach (cf. Ps.
76:10). There were few who more
sorely needed preaching to than this
same man Felix and this same woman
Drusilla. How many preachers have
received inspiration and instruction
from Paul's dealing with these two
profigates In high society. How
many hesitating people have been
Drought to an immediate decision for
hric hrr oh 70 rt of
Of Felix. Felix had a mere specula-
i've curiosity in the matter ~ 24).
but Paul gave very practical and
personal turn to his exposition Of
the faith in Christ" He showed
Felix it was not some faraway thing
In the region of metaphysics and
speculation, but something close
home to his own misconduct. Paul
always adapted his preaching to his
audience, but not in the way some
modern preachers adapt their preach
ing to their audience, studying to say
nothing to offend. He went right af-
Ter the conscience of the people before
him. Righteousness and self-control
were just where Felix and Drusilla-
were offenders. Paul had an infiuen-
tial audience of high social standing,
but he preached the preaching that
some would have us believe is only
adapted for the Sums Felix was
terrified T" Well he might be. He
was conducting himself in just the
way that makes the judgment of
Cod a terror We would do well if
we would so preach that we should
strike with terror offenders in high
places. Terrifying preaching is great
iy needed to-day Indeed, just as
much in our fashionable churches,
where there is many modern Felix,
as in our mission halls. 1t is true the
terror of Felix did not do him much
good, but it came near saving him,
and there are many rich sinners and
many poor sinners to-day whose only
hope is that they may be SO terrified
that they will forsake their sins and
accept Christ. What fool Felix was.
He had seen the blackness of his sin;
he had seen the certainty and the aw-
fulness of the Judgment to which he
was hurrying; he had been terrified
and there was but one wise thing to
do, turn from sin and accept Christ,
and only one time to do tat once.
But he waited for a convenient sea-
son, which never came. 1t never does
for those who wait for it. With many
1t is now or never; repent to-day or
be lost eternally In a few days all
that Felix was thinking about was
how he could make money out of the
man who had opened to him the gate
of heaven.