The Brinkley argus., 1909-10-01
Paul a Prisoner The Arrest
Su.1ay School lesssn fov Oct. }. is9e
 Specially Arranged for Tais Paper

(. Saturday May 2s. The mob was dur ing tie following week, about June l.
 PLACE.-Jcrusalem. at the home or James. or the meeting place Of tho chvrch, and in the Temple Courts.
 Suggestion and Practical Thought.
 The Reception to Paul by the Church of Jerusalem.--Vs. 17-20. Paul and His Company. Paul did not come alone to Jerusalem, but was accom- panied by Luke, his beloved physician ("wc"), Trophimus of Ephcsus (Acts 21:29), and probably Aristarchus nf Thessalonica (Acts 27:2. Kendall thinks that all who are mentioned as beginning the journey with Paul (Acts 20:4) continued with him to the end at .Jerusalem thus adding to those mentioned above, Sopater of Berea. Secundus Of Thessalonica, Gaius G Derbe, Timothy of Ly5tra, and Tych- icus of Ephesus (Eph. CPD. The number and character of these men have made an impression on the Chris tians of Jerusalem.
 The Gifts from the Gentle Churches were probably presented at this time (Acts 24:11).
 The First Welcome on the day they arrived was one of private and per. sonal greetings, which were cxpres. sions of gladness, after so long sep. aration. It was seven years since Paul had made any prolonged stay at Jerusalem (Acts 15),
 The Impending Crisis.-Vs. 20-2s. The settlement. seven or eight years before, by vote of the whole church at Jerusalem. of the great question whether the Gentiles must keep the Jewish laws and ceremonies in order to belong to the Christian church, did not change the opinions of all the Jewish Christians. Large numbers of them were intensely zealOus for the keeping of the law, for 1t was divine. They had heard vague rumors of Paul's teaching and conduct that he taught that not only the Gentiles, but even the Jews, need not keep the law of Moses.
 Paul refused to set up his opinion against theirs in a case which did not involve principle.
 Paul Mobbed in the Temple Court -Ns. 27-31.
 Some Jews from the region of Eph esus who had been in conflict with Paul there or at least knew of his teaching there, saw Paul in the inner court where the Gentiles were for bidden to come. They had also seen one of the Ephesian Gentle Chris tians walking with Paul around the city. Putting these two facts togeth CT they imagined that Paul had brought this Greek Gentle within the forbidden court; contrary to fact. Anyone could enter the outer court of the Gentiles. This cry aroused the whole JewiskLt crowd in the Temple courts. Tfie Jews laid violent hands on Paul, dragged him out of the court of the women, through the Gate Beau tiful, then down the steps into the Court of the Gentiles, where they tried to kill him.
 The Rescue.-vs. 31-39 q. The
  colonel, i.e., captain oyer regiment of thousand men. His name was Claudius Lysias (Acts 23:26). "Of the band" A Roman cohort, the tenth part of legion, or about six hundred men.
 "Centurions." Captains of hun dred.
 Bound with two chains One from each of his arms to soldier on each side of him Compare Acts 12:6). This secured the prisoner. yet left him free to walk away with his guards when the detachment was marched off
 He was borne of the soldiers" Nc sooner had he got on the stairs than the mob made a rush for him, but owing to his> letters he was carried along with the soldiers. When the top of the stairs had been reached, Paul asked, and was granted permis sion to speak.
 Pauls Address from the Castle Stairs. - Acts 21:40-22:23. Paul stood on the castle stairWa., chained to a soldier.
 He spoke in Hebrew with which all Jews were familiar,
 Pauls address was courteous and conciliatory. He showed how strong and active a Jew he had been. He then gave the arguments and reasons which convinced himself, and ought to convince them.
 He had found the Messiah whom all Jews longed for.
 The Jews listened to Paul till he spoke of his mission to the Gentiles and then the flames of their wratl burst forth like the fires of volcano. They cried out in their rage. they rent their clothes, they threw dust into the air.
 Within the Castle. The Soldiers About to Torture Paul to Compel Him 10 Confess.
 Paul Saved by His Roman Citizen ship.-Acts 22: 24:29. The Roman commander ordered that Paul should be compelled. by torture, to confess his compelled, by torture, to confess bls crimes. While they were binding Paul, he asked the officer if 1t was lawful for them to scourge a Roman citizen uncondemped. The chief commander was called, and learning that Paul was free born Roman citi- zen, he at once stayed the pr9ceed- inss pending further inquiries, which