Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-10-20
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 22
PAUL'S DEFENSE BEFORE
AGaLSPA.


LESSON TEXT--sActs 26 wv. 1, 24-3Nl
GOLDEN TEXT-z ssas not disobsdis1s
lsato the heavenly v1sion.-Acts 26:19
It is possible to use the Bible either
as music box or telephone. We
should let it speak the words of the
Lord Jesus to us and our pupils. This
lesson occurred probably A. D. 50, per.
haps in August, the day after last Sun.
days lesson. This was the same hall
where Agrippa had heard the people !
calling him a god (Acts 12). Paul, |
the center of all interest, is chained |
TO his Roman guardians. The prisoner !
has been vehemently accused as one
worthy of death and had appealed to
Caesar, but Festus, not being we'll ac-
quainted with Jewish laws and Gus
toms, could not make any definite
charge against him before the Roman
court. Hence he turns him over to
Agrippa, who was we'll acquainted
with matters of Jewish law.
|. Paul, the Preacher wv. 1-23).
This was one of the great occasions
in the life of this great man. Paul
was preaching to king and a woman
of great influence Ga sermon which
little changed their lives evidently,
and also to the coming ages. This
king and queen were welded to their
infamy. God had in mind on that
Gay an audience in comparison with
which shat which Paul saw faded into
oblivion. Notice his argument. %
He begins with his own experience.
In these verses there are over forty
personal pronouns. He, himself, was
Il living fact of the wondfous change
which Jesus wrought in the life of
man. Such testimony is the most ef
fective teaching.
Men do not need so much light as
they do need heat, and Paul was
speaking out of the hot throbs of his
personal experience. Paul stood be-
fore them living miracle, an incar-
nate argument. We might tremble at
the doctrine of the resurrection. He
knew it was a marvellous thing that
God shoul1 raise the dead, but that
change had been wrought IN him
which was equivalent to the miracle
of raising one from the grave
Paurs plea was for the Roman as
well as the jew Considering his per
sonal testimony, he declares that he
is \ true Jew of the strictest sect (vv.
4-S). and as such he lived in the
hope of the promise" as predicted by
81
been fulfilled in Jesus, the crucified,
who rose again from the dead, and
Paul adds, Il have seen him, for
which hopes sake, King Agrippa, /
am accused Of the Jews" (2) wv. g.
15) Paul tells the audience that he,
himself, was once jealous perse-
cutOr of the Christians, more SO than
those whc are now prosecuting him,
being exceedingly mad against
them" He then relates his Damascus
journey and the conversation helu en-
the road with the. risen Lord. The
metaphor of kicking against the
+ pricks seems to be that the mere you
resist the power that is urging you on,
the more painful it will be- 1t is of no
use to resist. [3) Paul shows the aim
and purpose Of the religion of Jesus.
He, the servant. is to be a minister.
! First of all he had received forgive
ness. That forgiveness carried with
| it responsibility of twofold nature
/ (a) to be a minister, literally an as
sistant, and (b} a witness (martyr). +.
! the human sidel witness of the pres
cnt as well as the things which should
happen in the future. as God gave
him revelation during his experience.
(See II Cor. 4 IS; Eph. :1S) Second.
it turned them from darkness to light,
the darkness of ignorance and sin unto
him who is the Light of the World''
(John 9:5l, and from the power of
Satan, the inveterate adversary of God
in all that is good (see Eph. 81
6:12; Col. 2:1-15 ;eu Thes = :9) unto
God
The gospel Paul preached was to
lead men into the kingdom of God
that they might receive forgiveness
of sins and an Inheritance among
those who were fitted for that inheri-
tance, who were the Sanctifted For
this cause the Jews went about to kill
him.
II. Agrippa, the Douhter wv. 24-32).
Five ways are suggested as to the
reception of Pau's message The
high priests way was to hate him and
oppose. Felix's way was go thy way
this time. When | have more CON
venient season | will call" Festus'
way wv. 24-26) was TO charge Paul
with madness. Much learning (iteral-
ly, many writings) was turning him
mad, making him a lunatic, a dreamer
one who lived in the atmosphere oi
wild inaginings. PauPs reply was
not harsh. Most noble FeStus' Cam
R) 81 am not mad, hut speak words OF
soberness,' words of eternal life and
spiritual lie (of sound sense) that
were true and earnest. Paul thereupon
appeals to King Agrippa to confirm
his statements (v. 2-G). The crazy
man is lie who lives for this world
rather THAN for eternity. The devil
has cheated many man out of eter
nal life hy the methed which Festus
y followed. lie har also cheated many
a Christian oHt of the larger life il
the same way. Paul's appeal to Agrip
pa (vv. 2T-29) is very suggestive.
Some people believe that the con
tents Of the prophecies are of no pres
ent day value, and some are trying tC
, break their force. Some declare they
, cannot be true, yet these prophecie,
are the ones that declare that "Jtsu,
Is the Christ, the Son of God." TIL,
literal translation of Agfippn's answer
is, ''ln little thou perslH.dest Inc t.
be 81 CHRISTIAN II is said that Agrig
{ pa said this in saYcaSn but lile MI II II
: another attempted jest. if revealed tht