Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-09-27
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. l, 1916.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text Of the Lesson, Acts xiii. 14-24
Memory Verses, 20, 21-Golden Text.
Jer. i. t9-commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. IA. Stearns-

Jer. i. fo-Commentary Prepared by
Rev. o. N. stearns-
The chief captain, who with his sol
diers, had rescued Paul from the hands
Of the mob. gave up all thought Of
scourEing him when he found that ne
had a Roman citizen TO deal with. and
one that was such by birth. for 1t had
rost the captain great sum TO obtain
his citizenship. Then he determined
to bring him before the Jewish chief
priests and council that he might If
possible learn the cause of all this up
roar against this man xxi. 21-30i
Just word about our heavenly citi-
zenship AMI joint-heirship with Jesus
Christ. which no amount of money or
good works can purchase but can only
be obtained by birth. the new birth.
born from above fTit- iii. A.; Ps.
Xix. G. 1: Zeph. /. IS: John Iii. 8, ). -.
When obtained. then whoever touches
us touches Him whose we are. and all
the power OF heaven Is ready to de
liver us II necessary.
: Paul began his testimony before the
Jewish council by an assertion that he
had always lived In all good conscience
before God This led 10 command
from the high priest to smite him on
the mouth. which brought from Paul
some true scathing words. God shall
smite thee, thou whited wall" Tor
which he apologized when he knew
that he was the high priest He was
certainly not Gods high priest. except
In name. like the nominal believers at
Sardis. who had a name to live. but
were dead Rev. Ill. L: lesson verses
49,
When Paul perceived that be had be
sees and Sadducees he began a testi-
mony which soon set them one against
the other TO such a degree that again
the captain had to rescue Paul from
their hands by force. lest he should
have been pulled In pieces by them
verses clio. The captain must have
been sorely perplexei by this strangest
Roman citizen he probably ever had on
his hands. for this was the third riot
from which he had rescued him.
1t may be well to note here a simple
distinction In doctrine between Sad
ducees and Pharisees. the former be-
lieving In no resurrection nor angel
nor spirit while the latter are said to
have believed both verse 81. but when
We recall what the Lord Jesus said
Of the Pharisees in Matt xiii. calling
them hypocrites, serpents, generation
Of vfpers. on the way to hell. there was
no choice between their beliefs In the
light Of eternity. They were all in the
same boat. In the same broad way to
destruction. Oh. how they hated the
truth of God even as they had hated
Him who is the Truth. and conspired
together TO kill Him. which they final
" accomplished tActs II, %. q: Ill. Is
10; ", 10; Y, 29-32).
They SO hated Paul and his Testimony
to Jesus and His resurrection and d
full and free salvation without circum
cission or any works OF the law tina.
over forty Of them took an oath tina
they would neither eat nor drink TIL
they had killed Paul fverses 12-14, q. 301
We are sure that they did not succeed
u Killing him, and how long they fast
ed we do not know, but we remember
some words which are still true. -He
that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh
the Lord shall have them In derision.'
sSFVr = - a u - a L.