The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-07
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JULY 10.

Journey-Thessalonica and Be.
rea, Acts 17:1-15-Golden Text,
Ps. 119:11-Commit Verse II.
TIME.-A. D. So. PLACE.-Thes-
~salonica and Berea.
EXPOSITION.-I. Paul in Thes-
%salonica, 10. Paul had at this time
a quite uniform mode of procedure.
First, he began with the Jews at their
regular place of meeting, the syna-
gogue comp. VS.. 10, II; oh. 800;
1876; 14:1; 1874; 1879. Second,
he made use of the Sabbath day, the
regular Jewish day of assembly. Those
already Christians met on the first
day of the week for their own distinc-
tive services (Acts 20:7). But in or
der to reach the Jews, Paul wisely
made use Of their day, as missionaries
among the Jews still do. Third, he
reasoned with them from the Scrip
lures. Nothing else has the power to
convince, convict, convert and regen-
crate men than the Word of God has
(Eph. SIT; Jer. 1929; 2 Tim. 3:15-
II; Jas. 1:18; / Pet. 1923; Luke
SID. There were three principal
points in Paul's preaching: ID The
Christ must suffer. The Old Tesla
ment is full Of this doctrine. (See.
for example, lisa. 53). Why the
Christ must suffer we see in lisa. So:
6; Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:22; Jno. 10:
SO, 81. (2) The Christ must rise
again from the dead. This, too, he
proved from the Old Testament. as
Peter did, on P~entecost. (3) That
ft{h;- T0r,r ryh0ro rrNn1osrn 1rfu,
you, is the Christ" There are many
in these days who wish to substitute
some other Jesus for the one whom
Paul preached; some Jesus of their
own conception or fancy, and not tho
actual historic Jesus. This Jesus be-
ing the Christ it is of the highest i'm
! portance that we accept Him. If we
do not an awful, weight of guilt rests
upon us (Acts 2:34-37; 1922, 23).
Paul sets an example in what he
preached worthy Of all imitation by
modern missionaries and preachers.
Politics in Thessalonica were in a bad
enough way, but Paul went at the
root of things. God blessed this kind
of preaching. Some Of, them be-
lieved" (cf. 1 Thess. >1:5). This is
the usual result when the pure Gospel
is preached in the, power Of the Holy
Ghost. In an epistle which Paul
wrote to them later we get a very
charming picture of them Il Thess.
1910. Those who believed threw
in their lot with Paul and Silas. True
converts always seek the society of
other Christians. But the Gospel
caused division as we'll as union in
~Thessalonica; union of believers, d.
! vision between believers and the
world. Paul's success aroused the
envy of the Jews. Every successful
preacher must expect to be envied OF
smaller men. There was much truth
in the charge brought against Paul
and Silas. No other man ever did as
much to turn the world upside down
as this man Paul. There Is great
need to-day Of preachers who turn
things other side up. They accused
Paul, too, Of Saying that there is an
ether King, one Jesus" Yes, Paul
said that, and it needs to be said
again and aglin to those who see no
king but some king of this earth.
Some day all must own His kingship
FPS. 2:8-12). But while Paul said
there was another king. he sought to
turn no man from his duty to Caesar
(Acts 1858; Rom. 13:1-D. The per-.
secution did not go very far yet Nv.
81. The converts were young and
God will not suffer any of His chill
dren to be tempted above that which
they are able to bear Il Cor. 1919,
r. W. :
II. Paul in Berea. 1912. The
departure of Paul and Silas from
Thessalonica was no mark of coward
Ice, but simple prudence and in &C
cordance with the specific directions
IF Christ Matt. 1929. The church
did not go to pieces upon his DEPART
ure Il Thess. 1850. Paul did not
lose his interest in the converts he
left behind him Il Thess. 2:18, 10:
81, 2, SD. AS soon as Paul and
Silas reached Berea they at once be1
gan preaching again. and to the Jews
at that. No matter how Paul and ST.
las might be treated at one place, the
next town they struck they went at
preaching again comp. 1 Thess. 2:2;
Acts .14:5-D. No one ever had a bet.
ter patent to nobility than these Be-
reans. Their nobility is seer in two
things. First, they received the
Word with all readiness of mind"
They had q hunger for the truth, the
Word of God comp. Job 23:12; Jer.
1916; CHI. PAD. They opened their
mouths wide to receive it. Some peo-
pie will receive the truth when you
J compel them to. Lovers of the truth
are hungry for it. The Word of God
IS worthy of such reception prov. 8:
1O). Thus received it brings saliva
lion and blessings (Jas. 1:21; 1 Pet.
2:2). Woe to the one who does not
receive it e Thess. 2:10-12). Sec
ond, "they searched Cor examined)
The Scriptures daily, whether those
! things were So" They wanted to be
sure that they had the mind of God
about it, and the Scriptures were the
inal authority. They were model BIZ
Die students. Cd They studied the
Scriptures as the Word of God. (2)
They examined (R. W them. No
mere superficial scurrying yer them.
80 They were systematic and regular
n their study, they examined the
i Scriptures daily. () They studied
/ with a definite purpose, and that the
highest, to find out the truth about
he Christ, to find if the things Pau!
and Silas taught about Him were
;on