The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-10-09

ans WI s'RNhsf 81 - -
Golden Text: Il will say OF the
Lord lie Is my refuge. and my for
tress; my God; in him will ! trust
Psalm 81: :.
The last lesson contained Paul's de-
claration that God had sent him Ia the
Gcntiles That sentence ended his adj
dress. for the cnragcd mob broke into
wild cry which drowned his voice, and
made further speech impossible. Je-
rusalcm was not ready to believe that
God would have any mercy upon or
had any salvation for the Gcutiles. Re-
ligious intolerance has been the most
violent enemy of the real religion of
Jesus that the world has known.
The irenzied, ianatical crowd forgot
lis fear OF the Romans and would
doubtless have rushed upon Paul had
not the chief captain ordered the
guard to hasten into the castle. That
made Paul safe, but in new danger
OF being Scourgcd in order to force
him to confess who he was. That he
escaped by declaring himself Roman
The name Roman was a better safe
guard in that castle than the name OF
Christ.
The chief captain was not satisfied.
He was curious Ia know why Paul
could So arouse the wrath oi the cti-
zcnS. by the morning he had formed
a plan. He summoned tvs 80. chap
ter ~ an asScmblagc oi the Sanhcdrin
and the CHIEF priests. and set Paul be-
fore il. He would have a fair hearing
by the only competent Jewish tribunal
The CHIEF captain was honest. and his
action was commcndable. He ordered
Paul To speak.
Chapter q begins with Paus at
tempt Ia make his defense. He spoke
but one sentence. 1t was 4 dcclara-
ton OF his own integrity oi purpose.
II angcrcd the high priest "Smitc
him on the mouth" he cried. Paul
heard the cry and made sharp apswer.
Again he pleaded his own right win
you Smitc me contrary Ia law" There
was upruar at once Some rcproachcd
him ior having spoken curse on the
high priest Vt once he apolngized.
BY the time quiet came, he saw that
some before him were Phari>ccS aud
some SadducecS. Then he declared
himself PhariScc. and said the charge
against him was his belief in the re-
surrccti"n from the dead. There was
tact IN that, II divided the assembly
into faction. cnutcnding with each
other Once again tumult began as
the excited political opponents >mrgcd
back and forth around Paul The chief
captain once more became alarmed
and ordered the soldiers to carry the
prisoner la the castle.
Here begin the verses inr lesson
study in class
Vs.. ~. This is great verse. II
brought direct assurance to Paul Of
what was the purpose OF God with him.
II was his second night in the cas-
tie
God came Ia him with a message
"fhc Lord stood by him" How; Who
knows. Paul knew In some way il
was borne in unto Paul'> understand
ing that the Lord stood by. And Paul
heard the promise that he was now Ia
go to Rome. Luke wrote this. OF
course Paul told Luke what had hap
pcncd, and he accepted il. and wrote
the record. Paul could rest easily after
that. The Lord was by him He would
not perish III Jerusalem lie did not
know how il would come about, bur
he never doubted
vs. ~ The next day Paul had
quiet. but tho Jews were active. They
were baiilcd. but not beaten They
sworc the would kill Paul Thy form
ed plot They took oath in a curse.
How many there were j. told IN V. ~
More than iorty That was a iormid-
able company. but it was ton large. 1t
is very difficult for forty and more to
Ea,,, 4 g.
not intentionally, probably, But di-
vulgcd secrets always go beyond in
tended limits, Not to eat or drink
until Paul was killed" was savage
oath
vs.. t. This throws little light
on the way in which the secret may
have been aired The plottcrs went 10
the authorities and declared what they
had sworn with each other That was
dangerous. 1t i possible that among
those elders were some who were dis
ciplcS ni Jesus. or some who rercnl.
bered Paul when he had lived in the
city. or some who did not believe in
putting man to death Tor holding
honest opinions They could have told
some oi Paul'S kindred easily. The
way in which the forty went about
their work shows how cunning and IN
caution are :, .actmcS mixed.
vs.. - The plot was simple. 1t
might have worked but for God He
was 4 factor al whom the iorty had not
thought. There was To- be- no delay.
Do this tomorrow, said the would-be
assasSinS Then tomorrow night we
will haze big feast. Ii they kept that
vow and oath. what became 81 them
VS. 70 Paul> nephew heard Of the
plot. That was part al Gods plan.
God has ways oi accomplishing his
purposes 81 which men know nothing.
Paul was prisoner, but there were no
charges against him. and he was a Ro.
man. aud for his kinsfolk to get inter
views with him was easy. The nephew
told Paul what he had heard.
NsS I7-aI The movement al this
little drama is rapid now. Paul sent
the young man to the chief captain to
tell the story. 1t was not hard to get
audience Tor the young man. 4 cen
turion took him. told wha, Paul had
desired. and the chief captain heard
the whole detail