The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-09-28
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTs FOR OCTOBER s.

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rest, Acts 21:17-22 20 Golden
Text: 2 Tim. 2:3-Commit VS..
21:39-Commentary on Lesson.
TIME.--A. d. So.
PLACE.-Jerusalem
EXPOSITION.--I. Paul Mobbed,
27-31. Paul's attempt at Cancellation
resulted not in peace, but more dis
cord and grave trouble But that
does not prove that the attempt was
in itself unwise; incalculable good
came from it. 1t resulted in bringing
Paul to Rome, where God wanted him
and where he wanted to go, and that
without expense to himself or the
church, and under the most favorable
circumstances to gain a hearing. 1t
brought Paul the opportunity to tes-
tify to the truth to Felix, Festus and
Agrippa, and gave him access to the
pretorium guard (Phil. 1:13, r. VI
and to the household of the emperor.
1T gave to the church some Of the
most precious epistles in the Bible.
! Paul was grossly misrepresented ".
%. In fact, he was a devoted lover
of his people and observer of the law.
Every true servant of God is sure to
be misrepresented, and it will not do
to stop and set straight all the lies
which are told God will take care
of them and of our reputation. In
regard to the charge of bringing
Greeks into the temple they sup
posed twas true ". 29). But they
had no business to suppose anything
about it. They had seen Greek WITH
Paul in the city and supposed Paul
had also taken him into the temple.
Most of the charges that men, even
Christians, bring against one another,
are just of this character. They see !,
one thing and suppose another and
tell not what they see but what they
suppose. 1t was not a new exper-
fence to Paul to be mobbed (ch. is:
20-22; 1920. The maddened Jews
laid heavy, hands upon him and
dragged him out of the temple (R.
W. 1t must have recalled the treat
ment of Stephen in which he himself
had had a hand (cf ch. 1857, $50.
We are very likely ourselves in due
time to be treated in the same way
that we treat others (cf. Gal GID.
| 1t was the intention of the Jews to
kill Paul at once without trial of any
kind (cf. ch 26:9, 10Y. They fan
cied that in doing this they were do
ing God service (cf. Jno. 1920. We
have here striking example of the
utter folly and wickedness of mobs.
III. Paul Rescued From the Mob,
1896. The murderous Jews had
healthy respect for the Roman sol,
| diers. Mobs usually have deep REL
spect for soldiers; mobs are cowardly
things. They had been beating Paul,
| just as he in the olden time had beat
/ en- those who believed in Jesus (ch.
| 81 hn f4,.ck fr1,% ~ ,, n col
| diers they quit. But Paul's troubles
| were not over yet The colonel of the
Roman regiment now arrested him.
He took 1t for granted that If every
one was against Paul he must be
/ guilty of some great crime That is
| the way we often judge, but we may
be as wrong as this officer was. Paul
| loaded with chains. The, prophecy
| Of Agabus was fulfilled (cf. v. I'D.
After thus heaping indignities upon
| Paul he inquired who he was and
what he had done" The mob them,
selves did not know; there is nothing
more senseless than a mob (cf oh.
! 1882. But while the mob did not
| know what he had done, they did
know that they wanted his blood.
They surged up around the soldiers
| until they were forced to lift Paul
above their heads and thus carry him.
Paul himself was the only calm per-
son in the whole gathering (cf. Isa
| 26:3). A hoarse cry continually rent
the air, Away with him." Paul was
| following closely in the same path
his Master had trod (cf. Jno. 1910.
Paul will hear that cry again (cf. CHI.
| 22:22).
LII. Paul Longing For the Saliva
ton of His Prosecutors, 37-4O. DUR
ing all this tumult Paul had but one
thought, how he might witness for
his Master and bring some Of hia
| blinded enemies to saving knowl-
| edge of Christ. He asks the privilege
of speaking He makes his request
very courteously. Paul was tactful
gentleman as well as a brave man
He united in himself qualities that
are seldom united He knew how TIC
be deferential as well as brave. The
Roman colonel was startled, not onF8s
by the language in which Paul made
the request, but also by the tone and
manner of it. He had taken Paul tic
! be notorious meter of insurrection
| and leader of 1.-The assassins. Paul
declared his nationality and his citi-
zenship The officer did not notice
at the time the force of his sayjne
that he was citizen of Tarsrs, bnt
Paul will tell him again in due tirae
(cf. CHI. 22:25, 29). Paul's plea IA
speak Is very urgent, 81 beseech ~.
thee" The sight of that great crew.
of his unsaved countrymen was
appeal to Paul's heart that he copll
not resist, he must speak. 1t mat
tered nothing to him that they had
j Just sought to kill him. He loved
them. What an example of loyalty
to Christ, love to man and eagerness
to preach the Gospel anywhere aada
always. Paul got the desire of his
! heart: they let him down, and stand
ing on the stairs he beckons with his
hand to the mob to be still. He has
mastered his audience in o momentN
there was made a great silence. n
Paul at once drops his Greek and bed
gins to speak the language of the peu4
pie. Would that all preachers would
learn wisdom from Paul in this matl
ter.
Rec Sting Was q Bullet.