The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson VII. Third Quarter
For Aug. 10, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


Memory Verses, 10, 2o-Golden Text,
Acts XIX, 17-commsntary Prepared
by Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.
copyright, 1909, by American Press Association.
On the return of Paul from his
last journey he landed at Caesarea,
where there must have been quite
company Of believers besides the
household of Cornelius and Philip and
his four daughters. We can scarcely
think Of Paul passing through with
out fellowship with them, for at an
other time we find him and his com
pany spending several days at Philips
home xxi, s, 81. The church at Jeru-
salem would be desirouS to hear all
about this great journey and the open
doors in Europe, but the record simply
says 'saluted the church" (xViii, 22),
which may have included rehearsal
OF the Lords doings In Europe. Then
during his stay at Antioch he would
not fail to tell Of those households at
Philippi who accepted the Lord Jesus
and of all the marvellous grace of God
u,
concerning the beginning of which we
read that "he went over all the coun-
try Of Galatia and Phrygia in order,
strengthening all the disciples (xviii,
23). He has told us In his epistles how
to be strong, so we can understand
how he strengthened them. See Eph.
fiji, 1919; vi, 10, IL; III Tim. ii, /. There
is no salvation, no strength, no victory,
except in Christ Jesus, by His word
and Spirit and by virtue Of His precious
blood.
When Paul left Priscilla and Aquila
at Ephesus on his return home from
Corinth he did not know that he was
thus providing teachers for man al
ready mighty in the Scriptures as far
as he knew them, but so it turned out
(xviii, 23-2S). If increased knowledge
Of God is given to any Of us 1t is that
we may meekly instruct others who
have not the same measure of light.
Blessed that we may be blessing is
the Lords way for His redeemed.
When Paul reached Ephesus on this
third tour he found disciples who had
been taught by Apollos, evidently be-
fore he had been further instructed by
Priscilla and Aquila, knowing only the
baptism Of John. When Paul had In
structed them more fully they received
Jesus a special filing of the Holy
Spirit and spake with tongues and
prophesied xix, g..
1t seems quite clear that when Aquilla
and Priscilla heard Apollos In the syn
agogue they did not attempt publicly
to enlighten him, but with humility
and loving tact took him privately,
probably to their home, and expounded
unto him the way of God more per-
fectly. Then it may have been that
Apollos thought better to begin else
where with the new light he had re-
eeived rather than where he would
have to confess that he bad not pre-
viously been fully taught in some
things. That would have been human
weakness, but this is only sugges-
tion. AS to Apollos' two instructors,
they were only humble tentmakers,
and, while doubtless glad to help any
who were willing to be helped, they
did not feel called to act as public
teachers
For three months Paul spoke boldly
in the synagogue at Ephesus, talking
to them from the Scriptures concerning
the kingdom of God (verse 81. See
this great topic elsewhere In the Acts
in chapters i. 3, 9; viii, II; xiv, %; Xxx,
25; xviii, %, 81, and from other por-
tions of Scripture seek to understand
1t and then let the Lord use you to
help others to see that the kingdom of
God is nothing less than the will of
God done ON earth as In heaven and
that when 1t is fully come righteous
Israel shall be the earthly center, a
blessing to oil the nations on the earth,
and Jesus, as son of David, shall oc.
cupy the throne of David at Jerusalem
(Acts ii, 30: Iii, 21; Luke /, 31-33; lisa.
tx, 8, Z; lxii, 1-3, 6, y.
/ This is the age Of "the mystery" The
kingdom being postponed, the church
the body of Christ, is being gathered
to reign with Him when He shall re.
turn in His glory. To this end we
should carry the gospel everywhere
having the ambition which Paul had
to preach Christ specially to those who
have not yet heard of him (Rom. XIV
2O, and when the unbelievers resist
and talk against ''the way" then enter
some other door In the same town OF
go to another city or town. When the
Jews resisted, Paul continued teaching
In Ephesus, but at another center, ''i1
the school Of one Tyrannus," and fol
two years he continued, so that MI
they which dwelt In Asia heard the
word of the Lord Jesus (verse 1o). He
was in Ephesus at this time about
three years, warning people night and
day and ofttimes with tears (xx
81. This was the Lords time to SOW
this part of His field, but in chapter
xvi, 8, His time had not fully come
When we are fully yielded and can
truly say my times are In thy hand
(Ps. XXI, 15) we win rest in the Lord
and dwell with Him to open or shut
as He shall please, having full conf
dence in His management. God fol
some reason wrought in special and
unusual way upon the bodies of peo.
pie through Paul at this time (versSs
II, 12), probably because the devil by
his agencies was working specially too
But the Lord exceeded all the power OF
the adversary, the name of the Lord
Jesus was magnifed, the word OF God