The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-10-23
Sabbath School
NOTES BY r. s. HOLMES.
Lesson w. October u, 1909.
PAUL A PRISONER BEFORE
FESTUS AND AGRlPPA
(Acts IS and a6.)
Study Acts 70: $780,

(Acts Is and 26.)
Study Acts 70: 1929.
Golden Text: II know. whom |
have believed and am persuaded that
he is able TO keep that which | have
committed unto him against that day.
ii Tim. I: ~.
Felix had gone. Fcstus had come.
He was procurator. Agrppa was
Herod. and king under the Romans.
Agrippa and his wife went 10 Cesarea
to see Festus The story Of Paul was
retold Fcstus had learned il from
Felix. Now the royal pair desired to
see and hear this Paul. They cared
nothing about Paups religion. But
the man. raul. was an interesting char
acter. So Fcstus arranged Tor hear
ing. The king sat in state with his
wife as listener, and Fcstus. and no
doubt a royal retinue. Paul was
brought Thou art permitted TO
speak for thysclf." said the king. The
apecch was noble one. 1t was very
tactful, but entirely true. lie told who
he was. what he had done. how he had
lived, why he had changed from a
hater to lover OF Jesus. He declared
III lull llt IllNNlbi HN iidu lNNNNNb
from Jesus himself at the approach to-
Damascus At this point the lesson
begins. Do not fail to have the whole
story in mind.
THE VERSES.
VS.. 10. Paul says obeycd the
heavenly vision.
VS.. 20. preached in Damascus, in
Jerusalem, in Judea. in Galilcc. That
was a large parish.
VS.. 81. For this the Jews would have
killed me.
VS.. 81 God has been with me.
am not dead | still preach one thing,
and that was said by Moses and all the
prophets.
VS.. 23. Here i, the sum oi the Old
Testament.
l. Christ a sufferer.
,. Christ the first to rise from the
dead
3. Christ the light OF the world
VS., - The two listeners were as
tonshcd. The Roman spoke out sud-
denly. You are crazy, Paul Too
much learning has turned your head.
VS.. IS. Paul answered with dignity
and courtesy. Not mad, but sober
My words are true.
VS.. 10. The appeal from the Roman
governor Ia the Hebrew king was tact
ful. Paul appealed to history. Thirty
one years had gone Christianity was
well known. The name OF Jesus was
known Ia every Jew in Palestine. and
almost To every one IN the world.
vs.. p. Suddenly Paul became bold
He saw he had impressed Fc>tus lie
boldly questioned the king The qucs-
ton was a poser. Agrippa did not
dare to say No. He knew what
Paul would do should he answer Yes"
For the argument that would follow
he was not ready
vs.. rs \ much discussed verse
Some think il was honest Manv think
il was a Snccr The Greek seems to
mean In little thou wouldcSt, etc"
That j.. You would make Christian
oi me in a hurry. You wish To- hasten
me into Christianity" No matter
what he meant II is the rcS'llt that
interests He never became Chris
tian
vs.. 20 Paul interpreted the kings
word a ii it were honest; Is il I'm
little did mean what We mean now by
almost" He put almost and atnge-
Their IN conjunction. and when he said,
such IS am. he was avnwing him
self Christian.
Here the verses inr study end But
be sure To- read all the story.
PRACTICAL.
1t Is glory ior man to he able to
80 a 4
than sacrifice said Samuel 10 Saul,
the king. thousand years before
raul lost no time. Ills preaching
began in Damascus He found his OPP
portunity wherever lie was. So any
one can Il inclined DO not stand
waiting for a work To- do. Open your
eyes; see II: go ut il.
Old-iaSh'oncd preaching Repent.
Turn Ia God Do works meet Tor
repcntant soul Men do not preach
that enough.
How wicked religious hate is The
Jews would have killed Paul for preach
ing the iutilmcnt oi the Old rcsta-
men; tie made men better, but the
Jews did not care 1t was al variance
with their belief That was enough
Religion has too often cred. Kill
the man who does not agree with YOU
The man who obtains help oi God,
and who knows it. is To be congratu-
lated II God helps. ii makes little real
difference what men do
Paul III prison inr more than two
years did not lament and make vain
efforts To- escape, but kept witness
ing y witness is one who sees, and
tells what he sees.
What Paul saw was the iulhllmcnt
OF the things written bv Moses and the
prophets Paul believed that Moses
wrote. Modern criticism does not be-
lcve that | stand with Paul Where
do you stand: Why; Do you know?
Christ is the light 81 the world It
is right To call him Sun OF Righteous
ness" Clouds 81 sin obscure the light
Bit the Light shines noncthcless.
Msts and clouds are corporations
from the earth So are the clouds OF