The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-09-09
The
Sunday School,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR SEPTEMBER f2.

Subject: Close of Paul's Third Mis-
sionary Journey, Acts 2t:1-17-
Golden Text: Acts 2f:14--Com.
NIT Verses 13, 14-Commentary
TTME,--A. D. 5S.
PLACES.-Tyre, Caesarea.
EXPOSIT1ON.-I. Seven DAYS at
Tyre, @. When Paul reached a city
ne at once looked up the disciples in
IL. He longed to impart to them
some spiritual gift (Rom. 1:1D, and
10 be comforted in them (Rom 1912,
X. VI. Any one who was a disciple
OF his Lord Jesus was. because of that
fact, an object of Paul's tender affec-
tion and interest. Do all Christians
to-day in their travels keep a sharn
lookout for the disciples of Christ in
the cities they visit, and hunt them
up, with eager love and desire to helm
them? A seven days stay seems to
have been quite the customary thing
with Paul tch. 20;6, z; 2S:14). Paul
did set foot in Jerusalem. Was the
Spirit, then, mistaken? (v.D. Not in
the least These men spoke through
the Spirit /. e., it was what the
Spirit said to them that led them to
speak to Paul But they were not
wise interpreters of the Holy Spirits
teaching. Doubtless what the Holy
Spirit testified to them was what He
testified in every city, viz, that bonds
and Affections awaited Paul (ch. 20:
%; CT. vs.. 10-12). They could not
endure the thought, and so they put
their own construction on the Spirits
teaching, and put 1t into their own
words and said "he should not set
foot in Jerusalem" Or. W. There
are those to-day who would have us
believe that this is the kind of inspir-
alton we have in the Bible-that the
Spirit gives "the concept" but apos-
ties and prophets put this Spirit-glv-
en- concept" into their own words.
We see from this passage how unre-
liable a revelation the Bible would be
II this were the mode of IT'S inspira-
tion. It is not Il Cor. 2:13, r. ",
Am. App. When the Spirit teaches
us, we need to be careful to give out
precisely what the Spirit gives us, and
not our differences from II, or we also
through the Spirit" will teach error.
Paul had won the heart OF every man.
woman and child in the church of
Tyre. We are apt to lose sight of the
exceeding lovableness of this man
Paul. He was so much else that was
great that we lose sight of his gentle
winsomeness (cf. ch. 20:37, 38). One
can almost see that company of men,
women and children grouped about
Paul, all kneeling and all praying.
1t was no empty prayer. That united
prayer doubtless got what it sought.
It brought down from God blessing
/ for Paul and blessing for the church
| Of Tyre. It always means much when
/ a company of true disciples kneel to-
gether in believing, simple and def
mite prayer. This was a model leave
taking (cf. ch. 20:36). The sixth
| verse gives us suggestive sentence.
Our earthly guides and helpers are
separated from us, but there are two
heavenly guides who always abide
with us Matt. 2S:20; Jno. 14:16,
| 10. Happy Is the man whose trust
is In them and not in man.
III. Many Days in Caesarea, 7-14.
/ These verses give us a glimpse of sew
eral very gifted persons in the early
church: Philip. his four daughters.
all prophetesses and Agabus. The
church had made Philip a deacon
an evangelist. God only can make a
] u uG GNhH6tllSL ALDu lIJ. nlilp
had come to Caesarea in his tours
from city to city, some years before
(ch. 8:26. 80, 400. He seems to
have made 1t, from that time, base
of operations. He was greatly blessed
in his domestic life. He not only had
four daughters-which would Of It,
self be a blessing FPS. 127:3-5; 128:
3)-but these daughters were all
spiritually gifted. Some might think
that these children, being women,
ought to keep silence in the church.
but God evidently thought otherwise.
He made them prophets (cf. AID.
Paul in the very epistle in which he,
under the inspiration of the Spirit.
forbids women speaking under cer-
tain circumstances in the assembly
Il Cor. 14:34, also gives directions
how women shall prophesy Il Cor.
11:5). Agabus not only spake
Through the Spirit" but he took
pains to give the very words OF the
Spirit, and so he got things exactly
right. When man can truly say,
"Thus saith the Holy Ghost" we may
depend upon the literal accuracy of
his words. But many in our day pre-
sumptuously dare to say It when 1t Is
not true, and their prophecies come
TO naught. We do we'll TO be slow
In accepting any mans claim to be
the mouthpiece of the Holy Spirit
The history OF the church tells OF
hosts of pretenders of that sort. One
single failure in their prophecies Is
enough to discredit their claims, fol-
the Holy Spirit never errs. Agabus
did not tell Paul not to go TO Jerusa'
lem, but simply forewarned him Of
what awaited him there. Pauii
friends, however, sought with ear
nest opportunities to dissuade hin
from going where God was leading
him. 1t was the Spirit who was lead
ing Paul to Jerusalem. Paul haC
plainly declared that fact (ch. 20
22). Yet these foolish friends woulC
dissuade Paul from going, as ther'
was suffering on the way Man.
think that the path where suffering
lies cannot be the right path, but no
so the Lord Matt, 1924; Tim. 2
-; 3:12). Pauls last journey Il
Jerusalem was much like his Mas
ter's. The same clear vision of afilic
tion awaiting him, the same dissua
sion on the part of friends.
H