The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-23

soldiers in full dress Uniform lined the
walls. The nobility of the whole re-
the magnificent hall, eager to be seen
as courtiers and to see for themselves
the fascinating, infamous Bernice and
her husband renegade Jews both), and
the famous prisoner, Paul, once a
member of the Sanhedrin, now the
chief apostle Of the Christian Way. It
was a surnptuous setting for Pauis
sermon; and he was glad to preach tn,
gospel to any company of people.
though he had seldom confronted more
socden sin that at this most elaborate
judicial-social function.
There stands Massachusettsr' cried
Daniel Webster, on a memorable occa-
sion when called upon to defend his
state. There stands my 1ifei" cried
Paul. in his defense. He was in the
happy condition of a man who can ap-
peal to his past in justification for his
present. He needed no other argument
than his own life story. and that he
told with an eloquence that held his
hearers enrapt. He made 1t very plain.
especially to Agrippa, the Jew, that IL
was not for any personal misdemeanor
he was on trial, but for great hope,
for the ideal of a patriot and of
prophet.
Vision and Its Servant.
There is a clinging charm and a rare
majesty which have made them a ia
miiiar quotation in literature. about
the heavenly vision" Paul had related
how he had been arrested in the mad
midcareer of his prosecutions of the
Christians by the appearance of Jesus.
He, the scholar the logician, the aris-
tocratic Pharisee, had been converted
by vision. 1t is the vision of Jesus
that smites mems pride and constrains
them to discipleship. The world and
the church today need supremely the
vision of the crucif1ed risen Redeemer.
That UiCinn
1t sent him forth a restless wanderer
upon the face OF the earth. caring
naught for the ends to which men
commonly devote their powers. but
means. to win men to the Vision.
Drawing truths tempests. he went
forth to obey the Voice, the knightliest
servant of man and God that has ever
followed in the footsteps of the Hero.
To high and low. rich and poor, Jew
and barbarian, king and mob, he pro-
claimed, in season and out of season,
his message of crucified, risen Christ.
A Royal Interruption.
Eager to ingratiate himself further
into the favor of his royal guests. Fes-
tus who had been restless and embar-
raised by the manner in which his
prisoner was preaching to bis select
congregation, brought the proceedings
to sudden end by rising Up and cry
ing in loud voice, Paul, thou art
SAAoO lily AAQCi1 QOl1 lQTA lI1So
to madness" What sensationi How
the crowd must have been startled,
and how the incident set tongues to
wagging that day, in the luxurious Ro-
man baths and about the banqueting
tables. Had he been Paul's assistant,
Festus could not have more adroitly
focused attention upon the preachers
point.
Such a ready debater as Paul could
make the most of an interruption. He
adroitly turned the incident into d.
rect decision from Agrippa, putting the
latter face to face with his personal
responsibility. A sermon that is
message can not easily be spoiled.
Right here comes Agrippa's answer
which calls for the loyalty to truth on
the part of students that is indicated
earlier in the lesson. Agrippa did not
say. as the old version records, "AI-
most thou persuadest me to be a
CT Tristan Cynically and supercili-
ously and realistically he rejoined,
with but little persuasion thou
wouldst fain make me a Christian
as If 1t were preposterous to contem-
plate the idea of the great Agrippa be-
ing subject for preachers argument.
In flash came the retort, the
noblest utterance of the day, III would
to God, that whether with little or
with much, not only thou, but also all
that hear me this day might become
such as I am, except these bonds" He
knew himself as the truly honorable,
even though he was but prisoner en-
route to Rome.