Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-10-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Iv.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. "a, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Acts xvi, 1892.
Memory Verses, 27-29-GoIden Text,
u Tim. |, 12-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

| soNs W sHc Acooont fNShS SNVib to-o<s
Memory Verses, 27.29-GoIden Text,
u Tim. |, 12-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
After being two years or more q
prisoner at Caesarea, Festus being gov
ernor instead Of Felix and having gone
up to jerusalem. the high priest and
chief of the Jews inform him agains,
Paul and desire him to bring Paul to
Jerusalem. intending, if he consented.
to lay In wait for him and kl.l him
Festus replied that they must cone to
Caesarea and there appear against him
This they did; but, as before, II was
simply case Of complaints which
they could not prove. In reply to Fes-
tus' question. wilt thou go up to Jeru-
salem and there be judged?" he ap-
pealed to Caesar. King Agrippa hav
ing come to visit Festus. the case +
brought to his attention as one Of Jew
ish superstition concerning one Jesus
who was dead but whom Paul affirm
ed to be alive (xxv. 49,. The world
cares just about as much today about
Him Of whom they spake as lone Je-
sus," and the church does not COM
mend Him to the world much more.
II any, than the Jews did their God
Of whom they cried. Hear, o Israel.
the Lord our God is one Lord" Deut
vi, A..
Agrlppa and Bernice having entered
the place of hearing with great pomp,
accompanied by the chief captains and
principal men Of the city, Paul Is
brought before them, and, after a brief
statement by Festus. Paul is permit
ted to speak for himself. He told Of
his early life as Pharisee and his zeal
against the followers Of Jesus until
the risen and assembled Christ met him
on the way to Damascus. saved him
and made him His messenger to the
gentiles to turn them from darkness
to light and from the power Of Satan
unto God. that they might receive for
giveness Of sins and inheritance among
them are sanctifed by faith In Christ.
He told how, In obedience to the vision
from heaven, he had at Damascus,
Jerusalem, throughout Judea and to
the gsntiles preached that they should
repent and turn to God and prove the
reality OF 1t in their lives; that all their
prophets had testified that the Mes
siah Of Israel should suffer and die |
and rise from the dead and that He
should through Israel, the twelve
tribes, give light to the gentiles after |
the resurrection at the second coming |
of Christ. Along this line Of truth as |
to the teaching Of the prophets and the
fulflllmsnt Of their predictions both
Peter and Stephen and our Lord Him.
self, In Luke xiv, all taught. 1t is
the one story which the Scriptures tell |
and authorize us to. tell, that Israel's
Messiah shall bless the world through
Israel.
On the way to Damascus Jesus had
revealed Himself to Saul as truly the
Messiah, but had also at some time
taught him mystery not revealed In
the prophets-that during Israels re-
lection because Of their rejection of
their Messiah He would gather from
all nations a people called the church.
Bis body, who should by discipline
here be fitted to come with Christ In
Bis glory and reign with Him in His
kingdom, when Jerusalem shall be the
throne of the Lord and Israel a right
eous nation. 1t Is our privilege. as II
was Paul's, to 90 into all the world
with the glad tidings Of forgiveness Of |;
sins for all who will receive the Lord
Jesus because of His suffering for
Tins, the just for the unjust, that He
night bring us TO God. And all who :
n this age truly receive Him shall be
manifested with Him when Israel !
hall see Him coming in the cloudy
With power and glory and shall say {
This is our God; we have waited for t
Him, and He will save US" lisa. XIV, q
y. As to the mystery Of this age
pecially revealed to Paul, see Rom.
], 1927; xvi, %, &c; Eph. iii. etc
Te may be quite sure that that COM q
ANY Of earth's great ones never heard
story like this before, and we do not r
vonder that Festus said with loud
oice, Paul. thou art beside myself; o
ouch learning doth make thee mad"
24. There are very few companies
I the Lords people $50 called who to-
ay know the story as Paul set 1t T
orth that day, and where there is a
reacher who thus believes and teaches q
e is not apt to be counted a man of i
luch learning. but rather, an unlearn- II
d man, weakminded, mentally unbal. 1
need. We can reply. as Paul did. =
We are not mad. but speak forth the A
lords Of. truth and soberness" (25}.
he test question Is that which Paul Y
ddressed to Agrippa, "Believest thou