Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-10-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson II.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. 10, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SINS.
Text Of the Lesson, Acts xiii, f1.24.
Memory Verse, 11--Golden Text, Ps.
xci, 2-Commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.

9
Memory Verse, 1f-Golden Text, Ps
! xoi, 2-Commentary Prepared BY
Rev. o. M. Stearns.
The two great events Of this chapter
are Paul testifying before the Jewish
council and his being sent to Felix,
the governor Of Caesarea. The CHIEF
captain, having rescued him from the
Jerusalem mob and having given him
permission to speak to them from the
stairs before being taken into the cas-
tie, was greatly perplexed when, after
a time of great silence and patient
3 listening, the multitude suddenly be-
came full of frenzy because of some
thing he said AS Paul had spoken in
Hebrew the chief captain knew not
what he had talked about nor what
stirred them so. He was about to ex-
tort from the prisoner by scourging
the reason of their outcry when Paul
told him he was Roman citizen.
Paul's first utterance drew forth
rebuke from the high priest and
command to smite him on the mouth.
Jesus was probably smitten thus John
xviii. p, but be answered meekly.
Paul not so meekly at first. Perceiv-
ing that some of those present were
PhariseeS and some Sadducees, Paul
acknowledged himself a Pharisee and
said, "Of the hope and resurrection Of
the dead / am called In question" for
the Saddut ees say that there is no
resurrection. neither angel nor spirit,
but the Pharisees confess both oversees
6, s.. This led to q strife between the
two parties. the Pharisees taking
Paul's part and crying: eve find no
evil in this man. Let us not fight
against God" The strife between the
two parties was so great that again
the chief captain was compelled to
rescue Paul from them by force and
bring him tito the castle.
Can you wonder that the church as
seen by the world today does not
draw men to God through Jesus
Christ? All sorts of religion, Trini-
tartan and Unitarian. Calvinist and
post-millennial and pre-mil
lennial, are In the eyes Of the world
just so many opinions Of men, one as
good as another and none good for
much, for where is He seen who has
all power in heaven and on earth, the
Righteous One, the Prince Of Peace
VIII such religion ever win the world to
Christ? The Scriptures do not so teach
us, but God has a plan which He has
revealed to us in His word. and every
purpose Of His shall be performed
lisa. xiv, 24l. Verse II is certainly a
light above the brightness Of the sun
In the midst Of the surrounding dark
ness, not simply the darkness Of the
natural night. but the spiritual dark
ness of the times. 1.-The Lord stood
by him." and he never could forget
It. Hear him as after many years.
when he felt that the time of his
departure had really come, he says,
The Lord stood with me and strength
aned me" Oh Tim. TX, 10; BE OF
good cheer Paulw Imagine, If you |
,an, the events Of the past day or |
TWO and put yourself in Paul's place |
and say what such a visit from the
Lord Jesus and such words might |
mean to you. Was Paul beginning to |
see that perhaps his coming to Jerusa-
EN- was a mistake, to say the least, |
Ind that he had brought all this on |
himself by not needing the voice Of
he Spirit and the counsel of his breth- |
ZEN, and was he cast down and dis
.oura ged? Well. here is his blessed |
Lord. who loves to the uttermost and |
% the end the one who said to Simon |
Peter: verify. verify. say unto you.
he cock shall not crow till thou hast
lenied me thrice. Let not your heart
)e troubled" Oh He Is so full of
He knows us thoroughly
Ind loves us Notwithstanding all the
lin and wea xness He sees in US. What
yer may have been your failure, dear
eader, If you are truly His and do
eally desire to please Him. He is say
ng to you, BE of good cheer!' Con
ider the other five places where Jesus
md He only, used this particular
x, 2. %: xiv. 81: Mark x. 40; John xvi
~. and whether you are utterly help
ess physically. or your life seems
urely going from you. or you think
'ou will perish, or you can't see any
hing. or ) our trials seem too great,
lie is saying. BE Of good cheer"
The mob might howl and the re-
igious ones contend. but the Lord In
heaven had beard Paul testify to Him.
4 by word and deed we are testifying
4 Him, then II Is truly the work o.
he Spirit in us John XIV. 2G). Paul is
ssured that be must bear witness al
come also. as he had desired 'The
ord will fulfill the desire Of them
hat fear Him" ops. cxlv. 19). "De-
ight thyseIf in the Lord, and He shall
i've thee IA desires Of thine heart"
Pc. XXyvii 4)-this verse Is lesson
nouch for lifetime But let US look
urther During the night Paul re-
eivcd theee assurances from the Lord
limenlf: IN the morning his sisters
or lrings him word that more than
orty men have sworn that they will
either eat nor drink till they have
He'd him God and the devil. He
hat stitch in the heavens shall laugh:
he Lcrd shall have them in derision
wonder how long they tasted ere
aey discovered the vanity Of their !
ath and purpose. Paul did not dis
egard their purpose. but through the
oy made II known to the authorities
nd then rested in the Lord to work
Ut His purpose. part Of which was
to send him to Caesarca