The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1916-10-12
LESSON FOR OCTOBER IS


LESSON TExT-Acts Is wv. LIP.
GOLDEN TExT-It Is enough for the
disciple that he be as his teacher, and
the servant as his Lord.-Math. 1o:25.
Teachers ought to urge their schol-
ars to read Chapters "a, 20 and 70
thoroughly, and with the use Of 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 at that
time.
I. Paul in the Prison at Caesarea
wv. 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 liv-
ing q strenuous life, crowded full of
labors that would have crushed an 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 help
Of Festus against Paul. The corrupt
Felix had been succeeded by more
upright man, Festus. The scheme OF
these enemies Of Paul and Of Jesus had
already resulted in giving Paul an OPP
portunity to preach Jesus as the Christ
and the judge Of men to persons who
otherwise would not have been within
the scope of his influence Through
his persecution he had reached leading
officials and educated men of the RO-
mans and Of the Jews. Bunyan, in
Bedford Jail, and Luther In Witten-
berg Castle, are illustrations of the
principle that, difficulties are the
stones out Of which all Gods houses
are built" The three days referred to
In verse l evidently mean after the
| landing at Caesarea from his journey
| to Rome of this new governor. The
principal men of the Jews Immediately
| repeated the charges which Tertullus
had falsely made. (See last lesson.)
Notice they ask for favor" not JUS
| tice, knowing If the favor were granted
and they once secured Paul's presence
In Jerusalem, they would have him In
| their power. Festus, however, an
swers that Paul shall be kept In Caesa-
rea since he. himself, should be at the
| trial, and he was not intending to go
to Jerusalem at that time; however,
he guarantees fair trial.
Felix, on giving up his Office to his
successor, left Paul bound (Ch. "a :27)
| though he knew he ought to be re-
leased, but by this vile, Ubiquitous act,
| he gave Paul another one Of his de-
sired opportunities to witness for
Christ In high places. The shrewdness
of Festus saved Paul from falling into
the trap of the Jews. for God was guild
ing Festus, and at the same time
guarding Paul.
u. PauFs Appeal to Caesar wv. z
12). The Jews made many and griev-
| GUS complaints, but without bringing a
single witness to prove their asser-
| tons. Doubtless these were the same
old charges that had been brought be-
| fore Felix through Tertullus two years
before, and which now, as then, could
| not be proved. Paul was permitted to
| answer for himself, and he declared
that he had broken neither the Jew
| ish nor the Roman law. Most Of the
enemies of Christianity and of the
Bible 'lay many and grievous charges
against 1t which they cannot prove"
| In all ages the enemies Of God and his
word mistake strong and confident
charges and vilifcations as proofs.
Paul's life was absolutely clean, and
he could say, 81 have not sinned at all'
". 8 R. W In any of the directions In
which he was charged. Festus, as the
newly appointed governor, desired to
do the Jews favor; literally, desired
| to gain their favor. Therefore he said
to Paul, "Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem.
and there be judged Of these things be-
fore meT This amounted to an ac-
quittal Of Paul on the charges that
| would come under the Roman law.
There remained only such charges as
would naturally come before the San
hedrin, and the question was whether
Paul would accept an informal acQuit-
| 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-
1 sponsibility Of refusing to go to Jeru'
salem, and to avoid displeasing the
/ Jews. Paul Indignantly stood up and
said, II am standing before Caesars
/ Judgment seat (vv. 10, IL, Read care.
fully. Paul was appealing to prop
er tribunal, to one that had a famous
reputation for its findings He was ex
ercising his rights as Roman citizen
He was also In the exercise of those
rights, using the means God had fol
his presentation Of the Gospel In the
City of Rome. Paul never abused the
rulers of his nation (See Romans 9 g