The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-29
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTs FOR OCTOBER 10.

Subject: Paul a Prisoner-The Plot,
Acts 22:3O-23:35-Golden Text:
Ps. 9:13-Commit Verse ii
Commentary on the Lesson.
TIME.-A. D. So.
PLACE.-Jerusalem.
EXPOSITION.-I. The Plot of the
Jews to Murder Paul, 1918. 1t
looked very dark for Paul, and If Pau
had been at all like most men he
would have had a heavy heart. But
in the night the Lord appeared to His
faithful servant to cheer him. Posi-
bly, Paul had been tempted to think
that he had made a mistake in COM
ing to Jerusalem against the protests
of his friends. What Jesus had said
to him was sufficient to Danish all
such thoughts as that. He told Paul
to "be of good cheer" and that as he
had borne testimony concerning Him
at Jerusalem, SO must he, also Deal
testimony at Rome. Evidently the
Lord approved heartily of Pauls tes-
timony at Jerusalem. 1t Is clear also
that those who fancy that Paul was
headstrong in goinT to Jerusalem,
and was following his W wishes
and not the leading Of God in doing
So, are altogether misjudging him.
Quite likely Paul's appeal to Caesar
at a later day (ch. 25:11) was sug-
gested by the words that the ord
spoke to him at this time. A dan
gerous conspiracy and plot was FORM
ing against him. But God was, as
He always is, beforehand with His
comfort and preparation for the cr1-
sis. Human friends sometimes COM.
fort us after the trial has arisen, but
it is God who comforts us before the
need appears. The conspiracy was
strong and apparently dangerous. No
less than forty men were in 1t. They
were determined men, willing to go
any length to compass their purpose.
They would not even stop at murder,
and would put aside everything
even eating and drinking-until this
one thing was done. They fancied
that they were the v~iceregents OF God
on earth, and had a right to put those
whom they saw At to regard as. Gods
enemies out of the way, even without
legal process of any kind. There is
no more dangerous man than the man
who fancies that it is for him to Judge
who are Gods friends and who are
His foes, and that he himself Is ap.
pointed of God to be the executioner
of Gods judgments. Doubtless these
conspirators thought that they would
be doing God a service in putting
Paul out of the way (Jno. 1922, a
solemn warning to all In any age who
would take the judgments OF God
into their W hands. This was not
the only time that Paul was the oh.
ject of such Infamous plots (ch. 1858;
1923, "a: 14-5, 6; 20:19; 2 Cor. IL:
22, 26, 80, 33). The plot was well
laid. 1t seemed certain of success,
But it failed utterly. Why? God
FPS. 2:1-4; Gallo; lisa. S9:10).
Paul was Just as safe after this plot
was formed as he was before from. 8:
81. Forty desperate men, backed
I'D by the powers that be. and IN
league with the devil himself, can ap'
parently accomplish a good deal In
this world, but they are utterly pow.
erless against God. They cannot kiI
in Jerusalem a man whom God has
appointed to go to Rome and bear
witness of Jesus there. Paul was FOL.
lowing again very closely In the road
his Master walked in having such a
plot formed against him (Matt. rs:
A.. That the conspirators thought II
a perfectly proper and pious thing
that they we're doing is evident from
their disclosing it to the priests n
elders (cf. Jer. 6:15: Hos. 4:9). They
sought the cooperation of the priests,
and got it.
II. Gods Exposure and Defeat OF
the Plot. 1922. 1t required no mir
acle to defeat the plot of the Jews
But the defeat was of God just as
much as if the whole course OF nature
had been stopped. The plot Leaked
out and got to the ears OF a relative
of Paul. Very likely he did not sym
pathize with Paul's views, but he re-
coiled at the thought of his being as
sassinated. Paul's enemies were
caught in their W counsel (cf. jon
5:13: l Cor. 3:19). This scheme to
overthrow Gods purposes and Woro
had failed utterly (cf. Prov. Sl:30;
Lam. 3:37). Paul had faith in Coo,
but that did not prevent his taking
iudicious precautions to defeat the
wiles of his enemies Matt. l0:l6)'
The captains and colonel both a &C.
casion to fear Paul (ch. 22:25-29).
They were both eager to DO some
thing to gain his favor. PROBABLY
when the colonel took the young man
30 courteously. by the hand and leo
him to one side he hoped he. had come
RI suggest a bribe for Pauls dellVer-
ance Icf. Oh. 24:26). Thus his fears
and his cupidity worked together
with other things to secure Pauls
rescue (cf. Rom. 8:2S). The plot not
only failed, it resulted in furthering
Gods plans and fulfilling His word
II started Paul on the road to Rome
and brought him into Caesarea
where he had the opportunity OF e
ing witness for Christ before Fellx'
Festus, Agrippa, Drusilla n Ber'
rice. 1t resulted also in that lmprls-
onment to which we owe so many pre-
cious epistles. Again God made the
wrath of men to praise Him FPS. rs:
1O). It is not at all likely that the
conspirators kept their word about
not eating or drinking until they mad
killed Paul. From the Talmud we
learn that in such a case the rabbis
had power to absolve them. So Will
every plan that is formed against
Gods faithful servants fail, even
when it seems to succeed Elsa. hA
~.
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