Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-11-13
Paul a Prisoner
in Rome
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. IL. 1909
Specially Arranged fer This Paper

GOLDEN TENT am not ashamed
OF the Gospel OF Christ. fer % is the pow
er Of God unto salvation in everyone that
believeth. Rom 1.16
TlAiE.-The wreck. November A d. So
or GO
PLACE.-Rome. Paul is I'm his own
hired house under guard
Suggestions and Practical Thoughts.
The Triple Test OF Character and
Destiny.
Righteousness. Temperance, and
Judgment 90 Come
Applied 10 the Apostle Paul and to
Gov. Felix
1. How the Apostle Paul stood the
Test. The Test Applied VS. 10. In
our last lesson We left Paul under
guard in the governors palace at
Cesarea.
Five days later a deputation arrived
from Jerusalem bearing charges
against the prisoner-Anarias. the
high priest who had ordered an on
Ger 90 smite Paul on the mouth for
declaring his innocence. the most in
fuential OF the Jewish rulers: certain
elders who would confirm the charges
against Paul. and an eloquent Roman
lawyer named Tertullus whom they
brought with them on account Of his
superior knowledge Of Roman law
and methods Of court procedure, his
skill as a pleader and the fact that
a Roman lawyer would have more in
huence. as an unbiased man, in
Roman court
The Court Scene. Felix was the
Judge. There were no jurors. Paul
was brought into the court
Tertullus as a skilful advocate
opened his plea with a eulogium both
delicate and artful He based Il on
the one virtue on which the orator
could truthfully hang any praise. his
energy and vigor in suppressing rob
berries and rebellion He seized and
sent 20 Rome a famous brigand called
Elcazer, who had ravsged the country
for nearly 20 years: he represed the
rebellion OF the Egyptian impostor:
and Quieted q sedition which arose
between the Jewish and Greek inhab-
itants OF Cesarea."
Hence by thee we enjoy great
Quietness' " % Yet. notwith.
standing. he was probably the worst
governor that Judea ever had He had
a number OF the Sicarii continually
IN his employment; and instead OF
pacifying the Jews. he only famed
the spirit OF sedition"
SO that as whole the ecomium
was historically false. and the most
exaggerated battery when he spoke
OF the very worthy deeds
done unto this nation by thy provi.
dence."
The witnesses from Jerusalem ties.
tined that these things were so"
IL. How Paul stood the Test-As
Gold Tried in the Fire.-Vs. 1921.
Tie First Charge Disproved by q
simple statement OF facts. He went
up 20 Jerusalem for TO worship"
". ID. He did not do one OF the
things with which be was charged
The Jews began 10 riot, and did all
the riOlng that was done.
Pauls Answer 20 the Second Charge
was that he acknowledged that he
was "a ringleader OF the sect OF the
Nazarenes." but denied that IL was
heresy against the Jewish religion.
1. He worshiped the same God 1D.
'the God Of my (our) fathers" but
after the Way which they call a
sect" Or. W.
2. He believed in the Jewish law
and prophets. From them he knew
that Jesus was the Messiah.
The Sum OF His Answer was 10
I exercise myself" / practice these
principles as an athlete trains and
disciplines himself by continual prac.
ice of the art by which he hopes to
win, as an art that requires practice
for its perfection compare Cor.
9:27; John $3.50.
III. The Test Applied to Felix.-vs.
22-25. The Decision Delayed.
~. When Felix heard these things. -
both sides Of the case, having more
perfect" exact, knowledge OF that
way" Better the way" He knew
the character Of Christians too wen
to believe the charges against Paul.
Hence, "he deferred them" under the
pretense that he wanted to hear from
Lysias, the chief captain. when he
would know the uttermost of your
matter"
auA 4 WO ears PRISONER. but with
the utmost indulgence and liberty
compatible with his safe keeping.
What Was the Value of This I'm
prisonment IN Attaining the Great Pur.
pose of PauIs Life2 /. Il was on the
way 10 Rome. under the best circum-
stances
2. II was the means OF preparing
him for his best work when he
reached that city.
3. Paul had been in poor health
and he needed the rest under the care
of Luke, the beloved physician.
PauIs Discourse. rs. An effort 70
persuade Felix and Drusilla to repent
and become Christians.
1. He discoursed "of righteousness"
the duty and privilege of a true life
with all the fruits OF the Spirit the
beauty Of holiness, which the gospe
viii produce in the hearts OF those
who obey Jesus the Christ
2. Temperance. control over al