Western Kansas world., 1916-09-16
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDGSUOOL,
LESSON
tBy Fl O.. SELLERS. Acting Director of
the Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago0
Copyright. 1916. Western Newsuaper Union /,
LESSON FOR sEPTEMBER17
PRISONER IN THE CASTLE.

the prompt action of Lysias. and was
saved from scourging by revealing his
Roman citizenship (21 :27-22 :2o).
Every true life, real social service. pa
triotism and national Righteousness
rest upon the value of conversion to
Christ. The fundamental message of
the Christian church must ALWAYS be
regeneration. With this message Billy
sunday is gripping the large cities,
and DR.. John r. Mott is reaching the
student life of the world.
l. PauPs Account of His Early Life
tv. 1-5). BY his use of the Greek tongue
he obtained permission to deliver this
address, and by his wise use of the
Jewish language he gained the atten-
ton OF the excited crowd Paul as
serted his Jewish origin. (Acts 21-39).
Iarsus, where he was born. had q uni
Versity which rivaled those of Athens
and Alexandria, and Paul had probably
heard its great philosophers. Paul was
an educated man; he was brought up
In Jerusalem from his early boyhood
at the feet of Gamaliel its greatest
teachef. Thus his religious training
was according to the law of the fa-
theirs, and as touching the righteous
ness which is of the law" he was
blameless (Phi1, 8 :6): He was jealous
for God, doing what he thought he
would have him do even when 'sperse-
cuted this way" the way of forgive
ness, salvation and righteousness.
Jesus said, Il am the way" Paul was
at this time an instrument in the hands
OF the rulers, carrying out their plans,
but he exceeded them in his zeal for
the traditions of our fathers (Gal.
IL not of oil
Pharfsees whom Christ condemned as
white sepulchers." He was not what
we would term today, "a bad man."
III. Paurs Turning Point w. Cpd.
Paul seems to pick out three different
crises in this rehearsal. Cd His inter
view with Christ, when he saw Jesus
as he really was in his glory, a living
risen Savior (Cor. 8 i; 15.S). He had
positive proof of the resurrection from
the dead This proof convicted him
OF sin. He had heard Jesus call. He
mad asked Jesus what he would have
him to do. He was ready to obey, and
something was given him to do. The
light which he met on that journey ar
rested him in his mad course. The
voice gave him his directions. In obedi-
ence to the command, arise and GO"
ne gained knowledge and skill. (2) He
ngntS upon his interview with Ananias
(v- LAD where he received personal help
from an experienced Christian. In the |
darkness and conflict of those three |
days of loneliness the questions must |
have been: Could he leave rank, honor. |
friends? Could he enter the service of |
the despised one and suffer reproach, |
danger and death? During this con-
dict he must have had before him the
vision of what God would have him do,
and the work for which he chose him |
wv. 1913. His vision and commission
strong motive for right
1ecision. During the vision he came
nto the light, and confessed his faith
" his baptism AS n result of those
three days and his interview with
Ananias he came to know Gods will
more fully. The next step was of
'ourse CD his public avowal (See Acts
:3S; Heb 10 %; Rom. 1O:13: Cor
':1D- The purpose of PauI's whole
lie and mission was changed
H. PauPs Dangerous Position wv.
O-3O). The mob gave him audience
ntil his words about the Gentiles. His
declaration that God had commanded
i'm to go upon a mission to the Gem
lies was an offense to the Jews, and
is words fell like a spark upon an
1f1ammable mass of fanaticism." They
roke out into a frenzy of excitement.
nd made preparations to stone him.
N Oriental mob is hideous beyond de-
rec, bowling. yelling, cursing, gnash-
ng their teeth, fiinging their arms. |
asdng off their garments ". 23).
nrowing dust into the air to relieve
heir excitement and to express their
xecrauon- 1t was a manifestation of
lelr uncomfortable rage. The opposf-
on of mob is no proof that the
erson 1t curses is wrong.
Immediately preparations stopped.
he commander was called. and, learn
lg that Paul was q free-born Roman
tizen, he had cause to be afraid that
2 had gone too far.
To assert Roman citizenship falsely
as punishable with death.
The chief captain told Paul that
fth great sum he had obtained his
oman citizenship, but Paul's reply
as, But / am Roman born
Paul was well cared for after this.
Id, in order to find out why the Jews
ere SO opposed to him, the captain
lmmoned the Sanhedrin to meet the
flowing day. thus unconsciously giv-
G Paul another opportunity to PRO
aim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul indeed was ready to be bound
Id also to die at Jerusalem for the !
me of the Lord Jesus