The Brinkley argus., 1909-10-08
Paul a Prisoner The Plot
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Lord, he is my refuge ana my ioIuess' my God: In him will I trust."-Psa' sl'z.
 TIME-May, A. D. 57 or 5S.
 PLaCE-Castle Antonia in Jerusalem. The way between Jerusalem and Cesarea. A prison in Cesarea. e
 Suggestion end Practical Thought.
 Storm clouds and their silver lining.
 The darkness deepens, Oh, abide with me.
 I. Darkness and Storm from the Jewish Rulers. Acts 22: 30--23:b. Paul Cited Before the Roman Author ities and the Jewish Sanhedrin. The next morning after our last lesson the puzzled commandant summoned tne Jewish rulers to meet him
 Paul's defense. Paul did not at this time use his accustomed tact and courtesy. But, with one unconscious exception, for which he apoiogized like Christian gentleman, he did not utter a discourteous word.
 He spoke as man to his equals. Charged with crimes, he denied them in toto. This was no time for con fessing any failures of reaching abso- lute perfection before God, as in his letters to the Ephesians (Eph. 3:S) and to the Corinthians q Cor. 15:O. All that would have been entirely mis- understood. Paul had no mock hu- mility, no Criah Heep hunbleness. He stated the simple fact. (v. D Ear nestly beholding," looking steadfact- ly on" "tke council" as if he would look into their inmost souls, he de- clared, 'T have lived" Greek. lived as citizen obeying the laws of the empire, and fulfilling his duties as Roman citizen He was faithful GOV enant member of the commonwealth of God to which the other Jews. in- cluding the members of the Sanhe- drim, belonged. He lived as a true and loyal Jew" His record was his defense. And this ''in all good con. science before God" However men may misjudge him. by their, false standards or in ignorance of the facts. he is~right in the sight of God, and acquitted "in higher tribunal than that of the Sanhedrim or or Caesar
 2. The Silver Lining to the Clouds. -vs. 6-11. The First Rays. To Di- vide and Conquer came to Paul while he was explaining his teachings and his work in words of which the rec ord is the barest epitome. He per ceived a difference of opinion among the rulers The two leading parties were almost as much opposed to one another as they were to the Chris tians.
 Tie Result was that the council came to no decision as to the charge against Paul. -lsas.-
 The Second Ray of Light came from Christ Himself. 2. During "the night following the Lord" the glorified Je- sus, stood by" Paul as he had at Cor inth (Acts 1S:s, l0e. and as he. did again two years later in the storm at sea tActs 27:24), showing that he was ais ever-preeent helper, as the electric flash reveals the continual presence of the unseen electric power.
 3. Another storm Cloud. An Ingen- ious Plot to Kill Paul.--vs. 1915. P. Certain of the Jews (more than s4Q sly. 13), .. bound themselves eundet "a curse.' They invoked the curse of Qpd upon them if they should "eat or drfHk until they had killed Paul"
 The Plan was to ask Lysias to bring Paul down from the. barracks in the castte of the Sanhedrim hall, under ,Dretense of examining him further A Small guard would seem sufficient aTheyaswouId excite a tumult, murder PaufEand dsrepresent the murder as a mere accidental incident
 4. The Silver Lining.. The Plot Made Known. The Result Was That Paul Was Sent Safely on His Way Toward Rcme. 1885. Pauls Nephew. The narrative gives the impression that he was quite. a yourg man." It is uncertain how he came to be in Je; rusalsm. or how he discovered the plot. a
 The youth told Paul what he had learned. Paul asked centurion to take the yoHth to commander Lysias, who impedfately laid his plans to foil ''e ca".1 p,ss 1sn KLy.l.. was sS in sympsfBy aul .thaa vii r jr- buiept Je an gave Ih trouble.,to iin eut66s ',
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 try, the ordins Roman' diers. J spearimen. sss1 ciel caAss off light armed soldie "a 44bd q t sa alrypen. Tl efteA sssers 3 pine p'clocxa1 iN ensr ' z s3l3 ih) i hour ,pf thG 1{6ss RI. 163, tfoE cs{G3 req. he R{5hsS Fl of Iudsa. CT .seapcrt from ~SN Paul emBarke Tor Rome two Se@f&aiatsr. l They cs5s ',ried a letter frolf We63 -Lysias 1f EFeixrtbe govefnSr. 9I1 bole cayE ,2sde vent a litt9 &c}1 n half the sshole distance, ,d~ came to Apsipatrts, q fSrtabsE E M plsasapt, pIace of resi1e91e Suit by*4Ierod Ahe; sdyeat in the lAl4j 6 ShsroAe., The |t6tt soldiers NeM ID 4srtAef but re .fI&nsd the, HA days to1 f&saishn. i. Sfte gfsat aesire. ef Faul's heart HasEsssuf9d Death, .A9r. priso1: jsCrs; Jews. nor Romans could preaAt 9n Work Yas-po. srrfdg >dsofs God that
 prclnisSd him a larger and Htr1 : suit 6eld se1 must. thou teat Mf s,ess. slsds ats R6D1r sHis wish }( ATts ftSl2 asonl' l: 10. iD was bS sat. : "a in a way of whiek he hhdvno lls0usht.
 E -ykhe ho;.semen of the guard given,