Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-09-06
1HE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR Sept. 10
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Text of the Lesson, Acts xxi, 1928.
Memory Verses, 81, 32-Golden
Acts xxi, documentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. nj. Stearns.


OF Pauls return journey to Jerusalem
from his third missionary tour and of
some OF, the happenings there after his
return. Our lesson two weeks ago was
his farewell to the elders of the church
at Ephesus who came to Miletus to
meet him. Sailing by the south of the
island Of Cyprus, they landed at Tyre
and, finding disciples, tarried there
seven days. We may imagine what
blessed fellowship they had in the
word and In prayer and that wonder
ful farewell on the shore when men,
women and children knelt in prayer.
Knowing the message Of the Spirit
through the disciples that Paul should
not go up to Jerusalem. they could
scarcely refrain from feeling some anx-
ETY. about him, but they could only
commit him to God, as they could not
dissuade him from going on oversees 1-6).
Continuing their voyage, we find
them next at Caesarea at the home OF
Philip, the evangelist, one OF the seven
whose four daughters did prophesy,
and there they tarried many days, and
again we may easily imagine the fell
lowship In the word and in prayer.
We cannot think of Paul tarrying any
where without speaking of Christ cru
cited, risen again, assembled, interced-
ing and returning to set up His king
dom and always urging the believers
to walk worthy Of such God and
Saviour, who had called them to such
a kingdom and glory and made them
joint heirs with Himself. While at the
home Of Philip a prophet from Judea
named Agabus came and testified
strongly. by the Spirit that at Jerusa-
lem Paul would certainly be bound and
given into the hands of the gentiles.
Therefore he was once more urged by
the believers not to go, but his reply
was that he was ready to be bound
and to die also for the name of the
Lord Jesus verses 7-13).
At the time of his conversion the
Lord told Ananias that Paul would
be called upon to suffer great things.
and on this journey to Jerusalem Paul
was impressed that something unusual
awaited him. Yet nothing moved him,
and he counted not his life dear unto
himself IL only he might glorify God
chapters TX, 10, 16; Xxx, 22-25; Phil. l.
20). When he would not be persuaded
even by the brethren at Caesarea to
give up going to Jerusalem at this
time they ceased pleading with him,
saying, 1.-THE will of the Lord be done, T"
and so the company went on their
some disciples from Caesarea and an
old disciple from Cyprus with whom
they were to lodge. verses 14-16).
When the spirit hindered Paul from
going into Asia or Bithynia he yielded
and obeyed Chapter xvi, 6, y. Was
he obedient now or somewhat self
wflled, or was he simply bold and
fearless in doing what he believed to
be right, knowing that it was part
OF his calling to suffer for Christ's sake
and he must not shrink from It? Sub
seQuent events and the words in verse
shat he should not go up to Jeru-
salem" would seem to indicate that
this time he was bit self willed. But
It is one of those things that am
waiting to have cleared up in the king.
dom, meanwhile desiring for myself
more of his fearless holiness and
whole hearted devotion TO the Lord.
A glad welcome awaited him at Jeru.
as he declared I'm detail what things
God had wrought among the gentiles
by his ministry they glorified the Lord
oversees 1920. The record in verses
20-26 concerning the thousands of be
lieving Jews who were jealous of the
law and insisted upon circumcision and
other customs for Jews who believed
Is to me another perplexity and does
not look like the freedom wherewitf
Christ sets us free John viii, 1896
Gal v, u. The suggestion of James
and the elders that Paul shall seek Il
conciliate these custom keeping Jew:
by joining in this vow with four othel
men does not seem like the leading Of
the Spirit or in accord with Paul''
stand, mot as pleasing men. but God
who trieth our hearts" q Thess. H. 4
Gal 1, 10. Neither did it work out al
!. they had hoped that 1t would, but lee
30 a riot which moved the whole city
causing Paul TO be cast out Of the tenn
pie and beaten as they went about Il
kill him. necessitating his rescue from
their hands by the chief captain ant
his soldiers Oversees 27-39.
As the captain could not understand
what the uproar was about nor VIII,
Paul was nor what he had done. To-
some cried one thing and some anoth
er, he caused him to be bound and car
ried into the castle. AS he was beinl
borne by the soldiers up the castl'
stairs because of the violence of tn,
people he asked permission to speak t
the chief captain, who was surprised
that he could speak Greek, and asket
IL he was not an Egyptian leader of |
band Of murderers oversees $3.50. Al
our Lord Jesus was numbered witt
franeUrpSgOrS we mugt not think