The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-21
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR AUGUST 1.

Subject: Close of Pau1's Second Mis-
sionary Journey, Acts 1912
Golden Text: John 16:33-Com1
init Verses 8, 1O-Commentary.
rIME.-A. D. So.
PLACE.-Corinth.
EXPOSITION.-I. Paul Conduct
Ing a Revival in q Synagogue at Cor
NTH, 1.6. Aquila and his wife Pris1
ella became very important members
OF the church of Christ (see v. 26;
Rom. 1873, 4; 1 Cor. 1919; 2 Tim
4:l9). 1t was, apparently, a matter
Of small consequence that threw Paul
In with them-"he was of the same
trade" But God uses things just
like this for the promotion of His
kingdom. 1t would be well If we
would make more of them for theI
same purpose. Are you a merchant2J
Make a point of getting hold of mer-|
chants for Christ. Are you a black
smith? Cultivate the blacksmfths-I
An unrighteous edict of Claudtus had
driven Aquila and Priscilla out OIL
Rome. 1t doubtless seemed to them
4 bitter thing, but God turned it to-
their good, to no less a good than
their eternal salvation (cf. Ps. 76:l
100. There r men to-day who
think it wrong, "a lack Of faith" to
10 manual labor or any secular work
tor their W support or that of their
families, because God has "called"l
them to preach. If there was ever al
nan about whose call to preach there
could be no possible doubt, it Is this
nan Paul, and yet he wrought with
ais hands (cf. CHI. 20:34, 35). He
got right down to honest toll, and set
/ wholesome example for the church
and for US Il Cor. 9:6-12;E2 Thess.
3:S, 9; 1 Thess. 2:9). We need
many Pauls to-day, men so on FIRE
with the Gospel and love for souls
that they will not wait for some one
10 promise them support before they
will preach, but, if need be, sup
port themselves. Paul preached,
200, while he worked. To an
audience of two; a small audience,
but how those quiet meetings
counted for eternity. Probably he.
got pretty tired during the week, but
every Sabbath found him at his post
Note a very expressive statement In
the R. v, Paul was constrained by
The word" Paul had meditated upon.
The Word of God until it had SO got
Ten hold of him that he could not
keep still tcf. Jer. 20:9; Acts 4:20).,
1t impelled him on. 1t showed him
and overpowered him with the
thought that Jesus was the Christ,
and he must tell it out. But the Jews
we're not willing to receive Paul's tes-,
:imony. They opposed themselves
and blasphemed." The most faithful
testimony will often be received In
hat way. That does not prove 1t un-
rue, or that it has been unwfselyl
put. It simply shows the thorough
going badness of the hearts of even
religious men. But Paul's testimony
vas not in vain, after all. A large
and singularly gifted church grew up,
in Corinth. Paul, in the face Of all.
their opposition and rejection, could
say, II am clean" 1t Is a great thing
Tor any man to be able to say that
We can only say that we are Clean
from the blood of all men" (Acts 28:
26), when we can say, as Paul does
in the next verse, For I shrank not
from declaring unto you the whole
counsel of God" (R., W.
. II. Paul Conducting a Revival In
the Home of Justus, Corinth, I'll.
Paul's labors bore abundant fruit.
Even the ruler of the synagogue re-
ceived the truth and with him his
whole house. Many others believed
also, and openly confessed their faith
In baptism. The order. OF experience;
as given in verse s is '-gestive;
heard, believed, were bapLIzed. But
still there was opposition. Indeed the
opposition doubtless increased with
Paul's success. Then spake the Lord
to Paul in the night" That Is just
ike the Lord. Paul had had a pretty
hard time of it in Corinth, and was to
have a still harder time, and the Lord
appears and comforts hi and
strengthens him for the coming trial
The Lord often spoke to Paul In this
way (ch. 22:1S; 23:11; ~27:23-25).
SO He is ready to speak to US, but we
DO not need visions, as Paul did, for
we have the written Word. We can
carry the voice of God around in u
vest pocket and have Him speak to-
US whatsoever we will. Listen to the
Lords message, BE not afraid" That
Is one of Gods favorite messages.
There was to be opposition, but Paul
must throw fear to the winds, and
speak right out the whole message of
God. The Lord gave Paul an all-suf-
fcient reason for not being afraid:
"For I am with thee" Of course,
then, Paul couldn't be afraid. Ar
Corinth was no match for Christ. 1t
Is no use telling a man not to be
afraid unless you give him some rea-
son for fearlessness. But here Is an
all-sufficient reason and every child
of God who is obeying Christ and go
ing out to do His work. has the same
reason Matt. 2S:19, 20; comp. Josh.
Us, 9; lisa. 41:10; 43:1, -. Paul.
was to speak" In face Of all opposi.
ton and not hold his peace, and the
Lord Jesus tells him why: For 7
have much people in this city" The
Lord had people there and the Lord's
people are called out by the spoken
Word. 1t was a reason, too, for nc
nan setting on Paul to hurt him. He
neve allows us to be really hurt
from. S:31; lisa. 54:17; Jer. 1920:
21). Corinth, with its wealth, ite
luxury, its protigacy, its %vileness, did
not seem much like a place where the
Lord would have much people. But
so it was. Let us take courage con-
cerning our modern cities.
g.
Australian Factories and Railroads.