Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-07-08
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR OCTOBER 10.
Subject: Paul a Prisoner-The Plot,
Acts 22:3O-23:35-Golden Text:
Ps. 0:13ECommit Verse Iii
Commentary on the Lesson.
TTME.-A. D. So.
PLACE.-Jerusalem.
EXPOSITION.-I. The Plot of the
Jews to Murder Paul, 12-15.. It
looked very dark for Paul, and If Paul
had been at all like most men he
would have had a heavy heart. But
in the night the Lord appeared to His
faithful servant to cheer him. Posi-
bly, Paul had been tempted to think
that he had made d mistake in COM
ing to Jerusalem against the protests
OF his friends. What Jesus had said
to him YVES sufficient to Danish all
such thoughts as that. He told Paul
to "be of god cheer" and that as he
had borne testimony concerning Him
at Jerusale n, so must he also bear
testimony ct Rome. Evidently the
Lord appro-ed heartily Of Paul's tes-
timony at. ] jerusalem. 1t IS clear also
that those who fancy that Paul was
headstrong in going to Jerusalem,
and was following his own wishes
and not the leading Of God in doing
so, are altogether misjudging him.
Quite likely Paul's appeal to Caesar
at a later day (ch. 25:11) was sug-
! gested by the words that the Lord
spoke to him at this time. A dan
gerous conspiracy and plot vas form
ing against him. But God was, as
! He always is, beforehand with His
comfort and preparation for the cri-
sis. Human friends sometimes COM
fort us after the trial has arisen, but
1t is God who comforts US before the
need appears. The conspiracy wa
strong and apparently DANGEROUS. No
less than forty men were in it. They
any length to compass their purpose.
They would not even stop at murder,
and would put aside everything
even eating and drinking-until this
one thing was done. They faucied
that they were the viceregents of God
on earth, and had a right to put those
whom they saw fit to regard as Gods
enemies out of the way. eve without
legal process of n kind. There is
no more DANGEROUS man than the mar
who fancies that it is for him to Judge
who are Gods friends and who are
His foes, and that he himself is ap.
pointed Of God to be the executioner
of Gods judgments. Doubtless these
conspirators thought that they would
be doing God a service in putting
Paul out of the wav (Jno. 1922, a
solemn warning to all in any age who
would take the judgments of God
into their own hands. This was not
the only time that Paul was the OBJ
iect of such infamous plots (ch. ASS:
9:23. "a: 14-5. 6; 20:19: 2 Cor. IL:
20. &c, 80, 33). The plot was well
laid. 1t seemed certain of success.
But 1t failed utterly. Why? God
(Ps.-2:1-4; 64:1-1O; Isa. 89:1O).
Paul was Just as safe after this plot
was formed as he was before (Rom. 8:
31). Forty desperate men, backed
up by the powers that be. and in
league with the devil himself, can ap.
parently accomplish a good deal in
this world. but they are utterly pow.
! = AASSS 6O1h0 AS0s AANS C~AAoS AAA
in Jerusalem a man whom God has
appointed to go to Rome and bear
witness of Jesus there. Paul was fol-
lowing again very closely in the road
his Master walked in having such a
plot formed against him (Matt. rs:
~. That the conspirators thought 1t
a perfectly proper and pious thing
that they were doing is evident from
their disclosing it to the priests and
elders (cf. Jer. 6:15; Hos. 4:9). They
sought the cooperation of the priests,
and got it.
III. Gods Exposure and Defeat OF
the Plot. 1922. 1t required no mir
Eacle to defeat the plot of the Jews.
But the defeat was Of God just as
much as if the whole course of nature
had been stopped. The plot leaked
out and got to the ears of a relative
Of Paul. Very likely he did not SYM
pathize with Paul's views, but he re-
coiled at the thought of his being as
sassinated. Paul's enemies were
caught in their own counsel Get. Job
5:13; 1 Cor. 3:19). This scheme to
overthrow Gods PURPOSES and word
had failed utterly fcf. Prov. 21:3O;
Lam. $3.50. Paul had faith In God,
but that did not prevent his taking
iudic1OuS TO deledt tHe
wiles of his enemies Matt. 1919.
The captains and colonel both had oc'
casion to fear Paul (ch. 2~2:25-29).
They were both. eager to do some
thing to gain his favor. Probably
when the colonel took the young man
SO courteously by the hand and led
him to one side he hopel ne had come
to suggest a bribe for -auis denver
ance (cf. CHI. 24:26). thus his fears
and his cupidity wo--ed together
with other things, to s.cure u
rescue (cf. Rom. 8:28) The plot not
on1v tailed It resulter Il furthering
Gods plans and fulfil HIS wore.
r. started Paul on the I'd to Rome,
and brought him
where he had the oppor 1ity OF pear
ing witness for Christ efore F,ellx'
Festus, Agrippa, DRUG and Der
nice. It resulted also T. hat impris-
comment to which we owe y many pre-
cious epistles. Again aae Ine
wrath of men stoepFaise ! m 70:
10Y. 1t is not at all lily that the
conspirators kept their word apou!
not eating or drinking urtfl they had