The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson III.Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. ~, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Acts x,eEv, 1927.
Memory Verses. rs, 26 Golden Text,
Acts xiv, t6-commentary Pre-.
pared by Rev. p. M. stsarns,
In the close of the last chapter we
saw how the chief captain, Claudius
Lysias. sent Paul safely to Caesarea
with a letter to Felix, the governor, In
which he stated that there was moth
ing against the prisoner worthy OF
death or Of bonds. but simply some
question Of Jewish law; that the Jews
would have killed him If he had not
rescued him from them: that he under
stood that they were still determined
to XIII him. and, being Roman citi-
zen, be had sent him to Caesarea, COM
handing his accusers to appear against
him there. After Eve days the shigh
priest and the elders, with certain
orator to speak for them, appeared be-
fore Felix. and Paul was brought forth
TO meet them. With some iattery,
which evidently wearied Felix. and
therefore the orator cut II short, he
told a number OF lies about Paul
which the high priest and the elders
Endorsed. Flattery and lying are still
the order OF the day among some reli.
gious bodies. But God Is God of
truth, and In due time truth win pre-.
vail
Being permitted to speak for him
self, Paul denied all their accusations
and briefly stated the whole truth of
the matter, showing that it was wholly
matter Of doctrine and Of opinion as
to what the Scriptures really taught;
that he believed all that was written
in the law and In the prophets and
looked for a resurrection of the dead,
both of the Just and the unjust This
meant Jesus risen from the dead as
Tsrael's promised Messiah. the Son of
David, to sit on David's throne; also
fuldllment Of Eek. xxxvii, Jer. xiii,
lisa. TX. Dan. VII and all the prophets
concerning the future of the nation
and the king who shall reign In right
eousness. 1t meant the resurrection of
| His body, the church. at His coming to
the air for His saints q Thess. iv, 10
IS; Cor. XIV, $3.50, though that would
not be specially In his mind. as he
thought Of Israel. 1t meant the resur.
rection Of the unjust and the great
white throne judgment at the end Of
the millennial reign of Christ. It meant
that God will judge the world in right
eousness by that man whom He hath
ordained, whereof he hath given as
surance unto all men in that He hath
raised Him from the dead txvfi, 81.
This. with justification by faith
through the finished work OF Christ
apart from any works Of the law, was
counted heresy by these jealous Jews.
But Jesus Himself taught this kind of
heresy when He said, 20 fools and
slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have spoken" Quke xiv, 25).
Today there are with many no re-
liable writings Of Moses, no predic-
tion whatever, no future for Israel,
nothing supernatural, no coming again
OF Christ, no wrath of God, but all
such are simply unbelievers and
stand against Christ, for He testified
that all things written in the law of
Moses and In the prophets and in the
Psalms concerning Him must be full
filed duke xiv. ~. Felix is said to
have had more perfect knowledge OF
''the way verse 22) perhaps because
his wife. Drusilla. was a Jewess, so
he postponed the case until Lysias, the
chief captain. should come and tell
what he knew. Meantime he gave
Paul into the keeping Of centurion,
with orders to let him have liberty
and to allow all his friends to come to
see him and to minister to him. This
made It comparatively easy for Paul
and would give him opportunity to
strengthen the faith Of the brethren at
Caesarea, and he would certainly have
much TO tell Of the Lords doings since
first He met him on the way to Da-
mascus, and they would not be apt to
weary Of hearing of Hfs wondrous
works.
From time to time Felix sent for
him and heard him concerning the
faith I'm Christ. and on one occasion as
he and bis wife. Drusilla. listened to
Paul reasoning of righteousness, tenn
perapce and judgment to come Felix
actually trembIed, but put his convic
tons from him, saying: "Go thy way
for this time When have conven-
TENT season I Will call for three" For
two years this continued, Felix always
hoping that Paul would offer him mon
ey to release him. and with that hope
he sent for him the oftener. But Paul,
having no thought Of any release but a
righteous one. never offered him d
bride, and so the successor OF Felix
came into Office and found Paul still q
prisoner, Felix's convenient time 10 re-
pent never having come.
Tomorrow is not only the great
word In many lands concerning tenn
poral affairs, but It is the devils great
word for all who give any thought to
their souls welfare and for many
saved ones concerning good works
which they know ought to be done.
The word OF the Lord is, Behold. now
Is the accepted time; behold. now is
the day OF salvation OIL Cor. vi, q;
To-day. IL We win hear His voice,
harden not your hearts Heb. III. 15D.
A word In Prov. XXX, 4, also comes to
mind as we think OF Felix and ali
i such. The sinner may wen tren.
bic as he thinks OF bis own sin ana Il
told that the unrighteous cannot enter
the kingdora of God. but there Ia com.
fort In Rom Vi, %. Concerning tenn