Middletown transcript., 1916-09-09
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 10
THE ARREST OF PAUL.


GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt be a wit.
ness for him unto all men of what thou
hast seen and heard.-Acts 22:15.
No study of the book of Acts is
complete unless the teacher impresses
upon his pupils the opportunities for
living the Christian life in the normal
environment of the home or school,
at work or play. Deep interest at
taches to every detail leading up to
PauPs visit to Rome. Therefore let
the teacher trace Paul's journey from
AIiieta to Jerusalem, which occupied
about four weeks, and took place in
the early part of the year A. D. 81.
I. The Arrival wv 1920. The Spirit
revealed to the disciples and to proph-
cts that If Paul went to this city he
would be in great danger, and the
Spirit was not forbidding but only
teaching him for he knew Paul had
great work to do in Jerusalem, and
that he only could do 1t. Everywhere
Paul went he searched for" ". y
disciples, with whom he tarried and
whom he enlightened in the way of
truth. Arriving in Jerusalem, he ap-
pears to have made his home with
Mnason, outside Of the crowded city,
thus being less exposed to danger and
finding a place Of rest. At a public
reception ". 1S) Paul reports of his
work, and no doubt he laid his strong
ncf Nhnr rfy hot N4I hn6
wrought through him, among the
churches Of Asia. The leaders of the
Jerusalem church received the gifts
Paul brought from the Gentle
churches, glOrif1ed God for what he
had accomplished. but saw clearly
that, to accomplish his statesmanlike
purpose. something must be done to
make clear that the false reports as
to PauEs teaching were discredited
wv. 20-22). They therefore resorted
to diplomacy wv. 23-26). To the
many thousands Of Jews gathered on
this festival occasion in the city,
sOmee Of whom were Jealous for the
law. they declared first that Paul
taught all the Jews which were among
the Gentiles not to forsake Moses;
second. that he had not taught them
not to walk after the customs of
Moses. The facts were Paul Obeyed
the Jewish ceremonial laws person
ally, as a matter of race, not as a
condition Of salvation. He taught
that the Gentiles need not become
Jews nor obey the Jewish ritual, and |
that the law was not necessary for /
salvation for either Jew or Gentle. !
He taught also that the promises Of |
the Jews were to be fulfilled in both |
Jew and GENTLE who by faith became |
n true child Of Abraham and heir to
the promise. This made Christianity
a universal religion. (See l Cor. 100.
Ply.
u. The Arrest (vv. 27-36). Pauls
attempt at conciliation resulted not
In peace but in more discord. Every
true servant of God is sure to be mis-
and 1t will not do always
to attempt to set straight all the lies
that are told about him. God VIII
take care Of the lies and Of our \repu-
tFtfOns. Most Of the charges that
men, even Christians, bring against
one another are based upon 'sup-
position" ". 29). 1t was not a new
experience for Paul to be mobbed. AS
he maddened Jews dragged him out
If the temple he must have recalled
he treatment of Stephen in which he,
himself had had a hand (7:57, 58).
How frequent 1t Is that we, ourselves,
ire in due time treated in the same
way in which we have treated others
Gal. go. It was the intention of
he Jews to kill Paul at once without
/ trial (26:9. 10Y. They fancied they
we're doing Gods service John 16 :2).
This lesson is a striking example Of
he utter folly and wickedness Of mob
aw. Paul's time had not yet come,
md all the mObS on earth could not
iii him until God permitted It; his
leliverance came by the hands of an |
heather (23 :27).
~. The ArraIgnment wv. S7-4O).
Tidings of the riot came to the chief
aptain. equivalent to ou7 colonel
Acts % :26). Paul was bound with
wo chains. one from each Of his arms
o soldier. secured. yet left free to
walk with his guards, thus fulfilling
he prophecy Of Agabus ". Ply. MObs
sually have great respect for SOL
iers. for they are inwardly cowar6lly.
70 sooner was Paul on the stairs
7hich led to the top of the fortress
han the mob. afraid that they were
bout to he baked of their vengeance,
lade mad rush at him. with cries
I "Kill him; kill him." and Paul..
nable in his fettered condition to
teady himself. was carried off his
eet and hurried off In the same path
Is Master had trod (John 1919
nd he was again to hear that cry.
Oh. % :22). During all this tumult
aul had but one thought. how he
light witness for his Master. and
ring some Of his blinded accusers to '
saving knowledge of Christ. Thus
wa that he asked for the privilege
speaking. and most cOurteously did
e hAlNC hiS request. ne Spoh9 10 I
ne captain in the Greek tongue, not {
J Hebrew, and great was the surprise
the captain. The surprise probably q
'"s caused by the fact that he thought
e had an ignorant brigand. and not h
lat he had cultured, scholarly He i
rev and Roman citizen as a prison. v
:. A short time before this. a Ger n
lin Egyptian had gathered large o
Ddy Of, 7contented Jews on Mount
livet, whom he had deluded into the s
nlinf that he runs the Messiah md | O