The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-22
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTs FOR OCTOBER s.

Subject: Paul q Prisoner-The Ar.
rest, Acts 21:17-22:29-Golden
Text: 2 Tim. 2:3-Commit VS..
2 :s9-Commentary on Lessen.
TIME.-A. D. So.
PLACE.-Jerusalem.
EXPOSIT1ON.-I. Paul Mobbed,
e7-31. Paul's attempt at conciliation
resulted not in peace, but more dis
cord and grave trouble. But that
does not prove that the attempt was
In itself unwise; %incalculable good
came from 1t. It resulted In bringing
Paul to Rome, where God wanted him
and where he wanted to go, and that
without expense to himself or the
church, and under the most favorable
circumstances to gain a hearing. 1t
brought Paul the opportunity to tes-
tify to the truth to Felix, Festus and
Agrippa, and gave him access to the
pretorium guard phil. 1913, r. W
and to the household Of the emperor.
1t gave to the church some Of the
most precious epistles In the Bible.
Paul was grossly misrepresented ~.
y. In fact he was a devoted lover
Of his people and observer of the law.
Every true servant Of God is sure to
be misrepresented, and 1t will not do;
to stop and set straight all the lies
which are told. God will take care
of them and Of our reputation. In
regard to the charge of bringing
Greeks into the temple they sup
posed 1t was true (v. 29). But they
had no business to suppose anything
about 1t. They had e e a Greek with
Paul In the city and supposed Paul
had also taken him into the temple.
Most of the charges that men, even
Christians, bring against one another,
are just Of this character. They see
one thing and suppose another and
tell not what they see but what they.
suppose. 1t was not a new expers
fence to Paul to be mobbed (ch. 49,:
20-22; 1929. The maddened Jewe
laid heavy hands upon him and
dragged him out of the temple (R
W.. It must have recalled the treat
ment of Stephen in which he himself
had had a hand (cf. CHI. 1851 $50.
We are very likely ourselves In due
time to be treated in the same way
that we treat others lei. Gal CIV
It was the intention of The Jews to
kill Paul at once without trial of any
kind (cf. oh. 1853, 10Y. They fam
cied that in doing this they were do
ing God a service (cf., Jno. 1922. We
have here a striking example OF the
utter folly and wickedness of mobs.
III. Paul Rescued From the Mob,
$3.50. The murderous Jews had
healthy respect fof the Roman sol
diers. Mobs usually have q deep re.
spect for soldiers; mobs are cowardlyS,
things. They had been beating Paul.
just as he in the olden time had beat
22:19). At the first sight Of the soil
diers they quit. But Paul's troubles
were not over yet. The colonel OF the
Roman regiment now arrested him
He took 1t for granted that II every
one was against Paul he must be
guilty Of some great crime. That is
the way We often Judge, but we may
be as!wrong as this officer vas Paul
loaded with chains. The prophecyA
of Agabus was fulfilled (cf. v. Hi
After thus heaping indignities upon
Paul he inquired who he was and
what he had DONE" The mob Them
selves did not know; there is nothing
more senseless than a mob (cf. CHI
1892. But while the mob did not
know what he had done, they did
know that they wanted his blood
They surged up around the soldiers
until they were forced to lift Paul
above their heads and thus carry him
Paul himself was the only calm per
SON in the whole gathering ,(cf. lisa
A hoarse cry continually rent
the air, Away with him" Paul was
following closely in the same path
bis Master had trod (cf. Jno. 19:151.
Paul will hear that cry again .(cf. CHI
I2:22).
III. Paul Longing For the Saliva
ton Of His Prosecutors, $40. Dun
Ing all this tumult Paul had but ON
thought, how he might witness for
lis Master and bring some Of htf
blinded enemies to a saving knowf:
edge of Christ. He asks the privilege
of speaking. He makes his request
very c~ourteously. Paul was a taetfu
as we'll as a brave man
He united in himself qualities thai
are seldom united. He knew how to-,
be deferential as well as brave. The
Roman colonel was startled, not only
by the language in which Paul made
the request, but also by the tone ant
manner of it. He had taken Paul te
be q notorious inciter of insurrectior
and leader of 1.-The assassins." Pau
declared his nationality and his citi
The officer did not notice
the time the force of his saying
that he was a citizen of Tarsus, bur
Paul will tell him again in due time
(cf. CHI. 22:25, 29). Paul's plea te
speak is very urgent, II beseech o.
The sight Of that great crowd
If his unsaved countrymen was an
appeal to Paul's heart that he could
not resist, he must speak. 1t mat.
:ered nothing to him that they had
iust sought to kill him. He loved
hem. What an example of loyalt!
@ Christ, love to man and eagerness
o preach the Gospel anywhere and
Paul got the desire of his
leart; they let him down, and stand.
ng on the stairs he beckons with his
land to the mob to be still. He has
mastered his audience in a moment,
there was made a great silence"
Paul at once drops his Greek and be-
,ins to speak the language Of the peo.
lie. Would that all preachers would
earn wisdom from Paul in this mat
er. g.