Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-09-08

complete unless the teacher impresses
upon his pupils the opportunities for
living the Christian life in the normal
environment of the home or school,
at work or play. Deep interest at
taches to every detail leading up to
Paul's visit to Rome. Therefore let
the teacher trace Paul's journey from
Mileta to Jerusalem, which occupied
about four weeks, and took place In
the early part of the year A. D. 81.
1. The Arrival wv 1925. The Spirit
revealed to the disciples and to probh-
cts that if Paul went to this city he
would be in great danger, and the
Spirit was not forbidding but only
teaching him for he knew Paul had
a great work to do in Jerusalem, and
that he only could do it. Everywhere
Paul went he searched for" ". y
disciples with whom he tarried and
whom he enlightened in the way of
truth. Arriving in Jerusalem, he ap-
pears to have made his home with
Mnason. outside of the crowded city,
thus being less exposed to danger and
finding a place of rest. At public
reception ". 1S) Paul reports of his
work, and no doubt he laid his strong
est emphasis on what God had
wrought through him. among the
churches of Asia. The leaders of the
Jerusalem church received the gifts
Paul brought from the Gentle
churches, glorified God for what he
had accomplished. but saw clearly
that, to accomplish his statesmanlike
purpose. something must be done to
make clear that the false reports as
to Paul's teaching were discredited
TO diplomacy (vv. 23-26). To the
many thousands of Jews gathered on
this festival occasion in the city,
some of whom were jealous for the
law, they declared first that Paul
taught all the Jews which were among
the Gentiles not to forsake Moses !;
second, that he had not taught them
not to walk after the customs of
Moses. The facts were Paul obeyed
the Jewish ceremonial laws person
ally, as matter of race, not as a
+ condition of salvation. He taught
that the Gentiles need not become
Jews nor obey the Jewish ritual, and
that the law was not necessary for
salvation for either Jew or Gentle.
He taught also that the promises of
| the Jews were to be fulfilled in both
Jew and Gentle who by faith became
| true child of Abraham and heir to
the promise. This made Christianity
a universal religion. (See l Cor. 9 20,
2D.
II. The Arrest wv. 27-36). Paul's
! attempt at cOnciliatiOn resulted not
in peace but in more discord. Every
true servant of God is sure to be mis-
represented, and it will not do always
to attempt to set straight all the lies
that are told about him. God will
take care of the lies and of our repu.
tGtions. Most of the charges that
men, even Christians, bring against
one another are based upon ''sup
position" ". 29). 1t was not a new
experience for Paul to be mobbed. AS
the maddened Jews dragged him out
of the temple he must have recalled
the treatment of Stephen in which he
himself had had a hand e 81, 5S)
How frequent it is that we, ourselves
are in due time treated in the same
way in which we have treated other.
(Gal. SD. 1t was the intention ot
the Jews to kill Paul at once withou
a trial (26:9, 10Y. They fancied they
were doing Gods service John 16 :2)
This lesson is a striking example o.
the utter folly and wickedness of mol
law. Pauls time had not yet come
and all the mobs on earth could no
kill him until God permitted it; hi
deliverance came by the hands of al
INSCRIPTIONS heather (23 :27).
I. The Arraignment (vv. 37-4O)
Tidings of the riot came to the chic
captain, equivalent to our colone
(Acts % :26). Paul was bound Will
two chains. one from each of his arm
to a soldier, secured. vet left free +
walk with his guards, thus fulfilling
the prophecy of Agabus ". 2D. Mob
usually have great respect for sol
No sooner was Paul on the stair
which led to the top of the fortres
than the mob, afraid that they wer
about to be baked of their vengeance
made mad rush at him, with erie
of "Kill him; kill him!" and Paul
unable in his fettered condition f
steady himself. was carried off hi
feet and hurried off in the same pat
his Master had trod (JOhn 1915
and he was again to hear that CRY
(Ch. % :22). During all this tumul
Paul had but one thought how h
might witness for his Master. an
bring some of his blinded accusers t
saving knowledge of Christ. Thu
it wa; that he asked for the privi.ee
of speaking, and most courteously di
he make his request. He spoke t
the captain in the Greek tongue. M
in Hebrew and great was the surpris
of the captain. The surprise probabl
w"s caused by the fact that he though
he had an ignorant brigand, and M
that he had a cultured, scholarly H
brew and Roman citizen as a prisol
er. A short time before this, a ce
tain Egyptian had gathered a lars
body of discOntented Jews on Moul
Olivet, whom he had deluded into II
belief that he was the Messiah ar
II whom he had declared that at h
word the walls of Jerusalem wOu
fall down. Paul told the captain wi
nc was, and asked permission
speak to these rioters, hoping to qui
them with the simple facts of his lif
and his petition was granted.
Practical Application. When we a
attacked, no matter for what cause.
IT we confidently look for deliveran
q. and exercise self-control, God W
is take care of US.
y Such conduct is disconcerting to O.
n enemies.
m Diplomacy is often dangerous al
ar mist aderstOod.
i" Circumstantial evidence is never
great value.
There is. however, q desirable for