The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-10-29
Paul a Prisoner
in Rome
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. IA, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-Acts 2S:11-Sl. Memory
verses 49, 81.
GOLDEN TENT am not ashamed
of the Gospel of Christ; for 1t is the pow
er of God unto salvation in everyone that
beHeveth. Rom. ZIG.
TIME.-The wreck, November, A. d. b.
or CO.
PLACE.-Rome. Paul is in his own
hired house under guard.
Suggestions and Practical Thoughts
The Triple Test of Character ant
Destiny.
Righteousness, Temperance, and
Judgment to Come.
Applied to the Apostle Paul and te
Gov. Felix.
1. How the Apostle Paul Stood the
Test. The Test Applisd.-Vs. 1-9. II
our last lesson we left Paul Hnde'
guard in the governors palace a
Cesarea.
Five days later deputation arrived
from Jerusalem bearing charges
against the prisoner-Ananias, thu
high priest who had ordered an Off
Ger to smite Paul on the mouth for
declaring his innocence, the most in
fluential 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 hi
superior knowledge of Roman law
and methods of court procedure, his
IL; Mo NJ
a Roman lawyer would have more in
fiuence, as an unbiased man, in 8
Roman court.
The Court Scene. Felix was the
Judge. There were no jurors. Pau
was brought into the court.
Tertullus as a skillful advocate
opened his plea with eulogium boil
delicate and artful. He based 1t OF
the one virtue on which the orato:
could truthfully hang any praise, hi
energy and vigor in suppressing rob
berries and rebellion. 'He seized ant
sent to Rome famous brigand callet
Eleazer, who had ravaged the country
for nearly 20 years; he represed the
rebellion of the Egyptian impostori
and quoted a sedition which arose
between the Jewish and Greek inhab
itants of Cesarea."
Hence "by thee we enjoy great
quietness" ". p. yet, notwith
standing, he was probably the worst
governor that Judea ever had. He hae
a number of the Sicarii continually
in his employment; and instead o.
pacifying the Jews, he only famed
the spirit of sedition."
So that as a whole the ecomiuw
was historically false, and the mos
exaggerated fattery, when he spoke
of 1.-THE very worthy deeds
done unto this nation by thy provi
dence."
The witnesses from Jerusalem ties
titled that these things were So
II. How Paul Stood the Test-A,
Gold Tried in the Fire.-Vs. 1921.
The First Charge Disproved by .
simple statement of facts. HE wen
up to Jerusalem for to worship
". ~. He did not do one of thu
things with which he was charged
The Jews began to riot, and did al
the rioting that was done.
Paurs Answer to the Second Charg,
was that he acknowledged that h
was "a ringleader of the sect of thu
Nazarenes," but denied that it wal
heresy against the Jewish religion.
1. He worshiped the same God (14(
the God of my (our) fathers" bu
after the Way which they call
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 (16
Il exercise myself" l practice thesi
principles as an athlete trains ant
disciplines himself by continual prac
tice of the art by which he hopes t.
win, as an art that requires practic,
for its perfection compare l Cor
9:27; 1 John 3:3).
III. The Test Applied to Felix.-Vs
1925. The Decision Delayed
%. when Felix heard these things,
both sides of the case, having mor'
perfect" exact, knowledge of tina
way" Better the way" He knew
the character of Christians too wei
to believe the charges against Paul
Hence, "he deferred them" under tn
pretense that he wanted to hear from
Lysias, the chief captain, when HI
would know the uttermost of YOU
matter"
Paul Two Years Prisoner, but witt
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 Paurs Life? 1. 1t was on tkt
way to Rome, under the best circum
stances.
2. 1t was the means of preparing
him for his best work when h,
reached that city.
3. Paul had been in poor health