The Brinkley argus., 1916-10-06
INTERNATIONAL .SUNlYSQlOOL
 LESSON By n Q. SELLERS, Acting Director of the Sunday School Course of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago) Copyright. 1916. Western Newspaper Union-)
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 8
PAUL BEFORE FELIX.


 GOLDEN TExT-Herein also exercise myself to have a conscience void of of- fense toward God and men always.-Acts N:16
 This is a court scene, and it might be well with certain classes to intro- duce the lesson by describing such gathering. The lesson occurred five days after the last lesson, and twelve days after Paul reached Jerusalem, bearing the collection for the poor. The place, Caesarea, was the Roman capital of Judea.
 l. The Prisoners Examination (vv. 1-0). In addition to the Roman gov- ernor, Felix, attired in his gorgeous official regalia, on platform nearby, were the high priest of the Jews, in his highly colored and jeweled robes, the lawyer, Tertullus, in his Roman toga, and the elders of the Sanhedrin who had come down from Jerusalem to be witnesses against Paul. Of Tertullus 1t was said that, by his persuasive tongue, he could make white seem black, and could therefore more easily make it appear that Paul was "a dan- ger to the Roman power, and not mere ly turbulent and renegade Jew" The judge, Felix, was an exceptionally bad governor, who two years later was re- called by Nero to Rome. The infer ence of verse two is that Paul was an inciter of rebellion and robberies, but the exact charges were three-fold: (See w. 5-6) (a) that Paul was a mover of instruction (b) that he was a ringleader of sect of Nazarenes who were causing trouble in the prov ince: and Co that he had profaned the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. The charge of insurrection would be espe- cially obnoxious to Felix who had just been praised for keeping peace in his dominion. That of being leader of heresy was not serious, for the Romans had no desire to interfere between one Jewish sect and another, but it led to the last one. viz., profaning the tenn pie. The Romans had legalized the Jewish ritual, and for Paul to profane the holy place would be a serious out rage. The weakness of Tertullus' case was that he produced no evidence to support his charges. The accusers were there. but they had no witnesses.
 il. The Prisoners Defence (vv. 1O-21). Paul cheerfully made his defense, for he knew the Jews and their customs, and that Felix had married Jewess, (v. 24). We might consider this de- fense first negatively and then positive ly. On the negative side, Paul answers each charge seriatim. In the first place there had not been time for him to cause an insurrection (v. III. Going back over these days; (1) his arrival in Jerusalem (21 :15); (2) his appear ance before James t21 :1S); 6, 4, 5 and 6), the days of his VOW (Ch 21 PC, 2D CD his arrest; (8) his appearance be- fore the Sanhedrin; (9) the conspiracy and his deliverance; (1O, Il, 12 and 13) in Caesarea (See On. 24 :1). Paul's statement showed that the whole story of his experience was fresh in the memories of both friends and foes. It was the Jews who did the stirring up. Paul answers the second charge by acknowledging (vv. 14-16) that he be- longed to the Christian way of salva- ton, but denied that this was heresy. Paul was a true Jew and good Pharisee, for CD he worshiped the same God (v. 14); (2) he believed in the Jewish law and prophets. From them he knew he could prove that Jesus was the Messiah. (3) He agreed with the Pharisees (v. 1S) in hope to- ward God, a resurrection from tne dead and immortal life. Paul's life was 'void of offense" toward God in heart and worship, and toward men as shown in good deeds. It was for this that he exercised himself. Literally, he worked upon the raw material, disciplining and training 1t. Paul answers the third charge by simple denial that 1t had actually taken place, and calls for wit nesses. Positively, Paul explains that he had followed the God of his fathers, that he believed in fulfilled prophecy literally the resurrection of Jesus from the dead-that he came to Jerusalem Wssss OAAuo AOA tu0 QOVfp 0nO, 01 OcXOIU the council, he stands upon his in. tegT1ty.
 1II. The Jv1os's Delay (vv. 22-21). Felix had more perfect knowledge of that way" We believe he had se- cured this knowledge from Philip, the evangelist, and from Cornelius. the Ro- man centurion, both of whom lived In Caesarea. By deferring his decision, Felix avoided an outrageous injustice to Paul, and at the same time gave serious Offense to the troublesome Jews who knew of his evil conduct. From verse twenty-three we see that Paul was given liberty. literally such indulgence in freedom as would be con- sistent with his safety. Luke, the phy- sician, and Philip, the evangelist, wis., ited him here, bringing food, books and letters. After a time Felix and hts wife, Drusilla, sent for Paul to talk with him "concerning the faith in <~vI..-