The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-03-16
LESSON FOR MARCH 10
PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN.

eight. we enter upon the second great
division of the Book of the Acts. II
marks the beginning Of preaching out
side OF Jerusalem and also the employ
ment OF lay.preachers. The persecu
tion Of the Jerusalem church was
chiefly led by Paul ". 81 and result
ed in a wider dissemination OF the
good news " ~. Philip the deacon
went TO Samaria where multltudes
heard and saw tvv. 5. 81 and where a
remarkable work OF grace attended
his dealing with Simon Magnus. who
thought he could buy the gift OF the
Holy Spirit bestowed by the apostles
". 9-2D. The APOSTLES returned TO
Jerusalem w. 25) leaving Philip to
continue his great revival in Samaria.
|. Divine Preparation. w. 90. 27 a.
The marvellous way God leads u.s.
waJs we do not comprehend. to ac.
complish his great designs Is nowhere
better illustrated than here. Philips
work would seem to demand his undI.
vided and personal supervision. but
he exhibits his superior wisdom by at
once obeying this new command
Heb. ll:S). The Samaritan road
Joined the great Jerusalem highway
to Egypt in the mi1st of uncultivated
pasture land. Philip carried sealed
orders" and as he came to GAIA he
met this man from the region south
Of Egypt, who was probably Jewish
proselyte. having adopted their re.
ligion, and was returning from wor.
Shipping at Jerusalem.
II. Dillgent Study. v. 1929. Philip
overheard this high official as he was
reading aloud from the prophecy by
Isaiah, probably from the Greek
translation. The Spirit directed Phil.
ip to Join himself to this evidently
honest inquirer. not because O! his
wealth and position but because he
was a seeker after truth John 7:l7.
Ps, 25:9). This statesman gives US
most simple and practical illustration
". 2S r. W of how to study the Bible
and to improve the time occupied in
travelling. Both Luke. who wrote the
Book Of Acts. and Philip. the evangel.
list, seem to accept all of Isaiah with.
out reservation. This method Of read
ing study is the one that will surely
secnra for us revelations from God.
iii. Direct instruction. v. 3U-35 We
do not advocate indiscriminate assault
upon every passing stranger in our
desire to do personal work. Philip
took each step as directed by the Holy
Spirit. II we are attuned to the Spir.
it's small voice" we will surely hear
his "Go near" which will send us to
those whom we may win for Christ.
It is true that this passage from the
prophet Isaiah is somewhat obscure
and, apart from Jesus of Nazareth. ir.
reconcilable "In his humiliation his
judgment tiustice) was taken away
a fair trial not given: his genera.
tion who shall declare" (Am. r. W
I. e., his contemporaries who among
them considered that he was cut or
out of the land of the living New
Cent. Biblel. Prof G. A. Smith has
declared that none but prejudiced
Jews have ever denied that this great
known as the ffty.third oil
Isaiah. was fulfilled in Jesus of Naza.
reth. and achieved all of its details In
him alone" Philips question was a
pertinent one; good for this present
time. and the eunuchs reply was
much more frank than many pro.
fessed Christians of today would be
willing to admit. We have one who
Is ready to guide even as God met
his rulers need John 1925; 1913;
Jno. 220. The importance of un.
lerstanding is great Matt. 1919.
1920, 24:l5). The two portraits here
presented of the Messiah are seeming.
y irreconcilable and are still great
puzzle to the Jews. Prince Of
Peace, despised and rejected: Suffer. |
ing Savior. King eternal: there are
many such seeming paradoxes. lnn.
lels and rationalisls have propounded
'uch theories as suffering Israel"
,ut how can the sufferer be represent.
I'd as suffering for the sins of others
han himself? ". 4. s, s. 9. II, 12)
md these others be my people" q. 9.
sraeD verse eight.
Philip began" at that same point
II contact and preached Jesus" In
Iced this chapter Is full of Christ.
Iesus is the central subject OF all
Scripture. Philip explained the hu.
OF Christ and the glories OF
he Messiab's kingdom. There is no
Ilgher work than to help others to a
learer vision.
w. Declared Faith. " 36-4O. The
unuch had doubtless seen the rite OF
aptism in Jerusalem and at the first
pportunity he desired to make pub.
C his new found faith. Baptism is
and a symbol Rom. GIL.
J and Immediately after the eunuchs
eclaration OF faith w. 37) Philip at
nee administered the rite. after
hich, his work being done. Philip is
hisked away while the eunuch jour.
eyed on rejoicing"
These two men we're total strangers,
ct this wayside conversation gains
no who must have heralded far the
ospel as he witnessed along his Jour. !.
BY and in his home land
Philip made Caesarea his home and
eentY wears later met Paul In that 1