The Green Forest tribune., 1916-10-20
LESSON FOR OCTOBER P
PAUL'S DEFENSE BEFORE
 AGRIPPA.

should let it speak the words of the Lord Jesus to us and our pupils. This lesson occurred probably A. D. 59, per haps ia August, the day after last Sun- days lesson. This was the same hall where Agrippa had heard the people calling him 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 well 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 well acquainted with matters of Jewish law.
 |. Paul, the Preacher (vv. 1-23). This was one of the great occasions in the life of this great man. Paul was preaching to king and 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 day an audience in comparison with which that which Paul saw faded into oblivion. Notice his argument. CD He begins with his own experience. In these verses there are over forty personal pronouns. He, himself, was living fact of the wondrous change which Jesus wrought In the life of iS tho af- 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 a living miracle, an incar- nate argument. We might tremble at the doctrine of the resurrection. He knew it was marvellous thing that God should raise the dead, but that change had been wrought In him which was equivalent to the miracle of raising one from the grave.
 PauIs plea was for the Roman as well as the Jew Considering his per sonal testimony, he declares that he is a true Jew of the strictest sect (vv. 4-S), and as such he lived in the hope of the promise" as predicted by Isaiah and Daniel. That promise has been fulfilled in Jesus, the crucified, frrsTiSSers rsTiSSe that Paul sh,om the uead, ana i uu. , -->-@A-sh -shimsee seen him, for Which hopes saKe,s King Agrippa, l am accused of the Jews" CD (vv. g. 151 Paul tells the audience that he, himself, was once a zealous perse- cutor of the Christians, more so than those who are now prosecuting him, being exceedingly mad against them" He then relates his Damascus journey and the conversation held on the road with the risen Lord. The metaphor of kicking against the bricks seems to be that the more you resist the power that Is urging you on, the more painful 1t will be. It Is of no use to resist. (3) Paul shows the aim and purpose of the religion of Jesus. He, the servant, is to be minister. First of all he had received forgive ness. That forgiveness carried with ii responsibility of a twofold nature, (a) to be a minister, literally an as- sistant, and (b) a witness (martyr), the human side, a witness of the pres ent as well as the things which should happen in the future, as God gave him revelation during his experience. (See II Cor. 4 6; Eph. 1 :1S) Second. 1t turned them from darkness to light, the darkness of ignorance and sin unto him who is the Light of the World' (John 9 :5), and from the power of Satan, the inveterate adversary of God in all that is good (see Eph. :21; 6:12; Col 2:1-15; II Tines. go 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 sanctified For this cause the Jews went about to kill him.
 II. Aerippa, the Doubter tvv. 24-32). Five ways are suggested as to the reception of Pauls message. The high priests way was to hate him and oppose. Felix's way was "go thy way this time. When I have a more con- venient season l will call" Festus' way (vv. 24-26) was to charge Paul with madness. Much learning Qiteral- ly, many writings) was turning him mad, making him lunatic dreamer, one who lived in the atmosphere of wild imaginings. Pauls reply was not harsh. Most noble Festus" (Am. R.) q am not mad, but speak words of l sOberness," words of eternal life and | spiritual life (of sound sense) that | were true and earnest. Paul thereupon appeals to King Agrippa to confirm his statements (v. 2-6). The crazy man is he who lives for this world rather than for eternity. The devil has cheated many nan out of eter- nal life by the method which Festus followed. He has also cheated many Christian out of the larger life in the same way. Pauls appeal to Agrip- pa (vv. 27-29) is very suggestive.
 Some people believe that the con- tents of the prophecies are of no pres ent day value, and some are trying to break their force. Some declare they cannot be true, yet these prophecies are the ones that declare that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" The literal translation of Agrippa's answer is, Tn little thou persuadest me to be a Christian" It is said that Agrip- pa said this In sarcasm, but, like many another attempted jest, it revealed the kof fa af +ho ,-@