The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-13


thoroughly, and with the use OF a map
locate the places mentioned. The date
Of this lesson Is A. D. SO, and 1t oc.
CURED at the crisis Of the events which
determined the way Paul should go to
Rome, Nero being the emperor ut that
time.
!. Paul In Tho Prison at caesarea
.(yv. 10y. Paul was worn out, badly
In need Of rest, and is given during this
imprisonment much freedom. He was
accompanied by Luke, his physician,
and probably some of his other friends.
For almost 20 years Paul had been iv.
ing strenuous life, crowded full CT
labors that would have crushed IN or.
binary man. Now for some consider
able time he had time to thoroughly
master and assimilate the truth which
he had been preaching, the results Of
which have come down to us in the
form Of letters. seven Of which at least
were written during and after the
events Of this lesson. His imprison.
ment also gave many Of his friends
opportunity to secure his counsel and
guidance. The vindictiveness and
hatred Of the Jews is evident by this
new plot whereby they sought the helr
Sof Eestus against Paul. The corrupt
: Felix had been succeeded by q NOR.
upright man, Festus. The scheme OF
these enemies Of Paul and of Jesus had
already resulted In giving Paul an op.
portunity to preach Jesus as tho Christ
and the Judge Of men to persons whs
otherwise would not have been within
the scope Of his influence. Through
ibis persecution he had reached leading
officials and educated men OF. the Ro-
mans and Of the Jews. Bunyan, 10
Pedfofd Jail, and Luther in Witten.
berg Castle. arc Illustrations of the
;principle that, "diliculties are tho
stones out Of which all Gods houses
Iare built"
Felix, on giving up his office to hi.
successor, left Paul bound (Ch. 24:oO
though he knew he ought to be re.
LEASED, but by this vile, Ubiquitous act,
the gave Paul another one Of his de-
sired opportunities to witness for
Christ in high places. The shrewdncss
,of Festus saved Paul from falling into
the trap of tho Jews, for God was guild.
ling Festus, and at the same time
guarding Paul.
!: u. Paui's Appeal to Caesar wv. z.
i12). The Jews made many and griev.
Ious complaints. but without bringing a
single witness to prove. their asser.
lions. Doubtless these were tie same
old charges that had been brought be.
fore Felix through Tertullus two years
before. and which now, as then, could
mot be proved. Paul was permitted to
iapswer for himself, and he declared
that be had broken neither the Jew
|ish nor the Roman law. Most of thu
enemies Of Christianity and Of the
Bible "lay many and grlevous charges
against 1t which they cannot prove"
In all ages the enemies of God and his
word mistake strong and confident
charges and vllifcat!ons as proofs.
,Paul's life was absolutely clean, and
he could say, II hate not slnncd at all"
~, 8 r. W in any Of the directions In
which he was charged. Festus. as the
newly appointed governor, desired to
90 tho Jews favor; literally, desired
to gain their favor. Therefore he said
TO Paul. "Wilt thou 60 up &c Jerusalem.
and there be judged Of these things be-
fore me?" This amounted to an ac-
qnittal Of Paul on the charges that
would come under the Roman law.
IA There remained only such charges as
would naturally come before the San
hedrin, and the question was whether
Paul would accept an informal acqult-
tai from the Roman court on condition
that he submit to trial before his
own people on the other count. Fes.
tus wished to throw upon Paul the re.
Isbonsibility Of refusing to go to Jeru.
salem. and to avoid displeaslng the
ltpJews.
/ Festus got courteous but a sting
ing and well deserved rebuke from his
.bhsoner. Paul was perfectly willing
10 take any punishment he deserved,
Sven unto death, but, having cloai
f9nsclsnce, he had no fear Of Festu.
81 any man. His appeal to Caesaf
vas most unexpected. 1t confused
F4stus and baftled the Jews. The Lords
5gp words on his midnight visit to
Paul IN prison are here suggested (2a {:
~.
Festus could. make but one decision,
'Tnto Caesar thou shalt 60" Paul's
sincere and open character was the
means Of his safety and power.
Il u. Paul and AsrIppa wv. 1S-2-).
Agrppa was The king Of the northern
part Of Palestine, a Jew and trained
IN religious. ceremonies, but one who
never mixed politics with religion,
wearing his Judaism as a garment.
His father, Agrippa I, slew James
the elder, the apostle. ~,
!. The great.grandfather, 1.-THE Great"
caused the massacre Of the infant limo.
cents (Math. q.
He married his own sister, Bernice,
who came with him on this visit to
Festus.
Festus declared Paul's cause unti
49, ttpr