Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-07-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR JULY e
SECURED EXCLUSIVELY BIZ THE
BANNER FOR ITS MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of the Lesson, Acts xvii, 22-S4.
Memory Verses, 22, 23-Solden
Text, Acts xvii, 2S-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. M. Stearns.

do not know that we can tell how
long Paul remained at Athens, but he
gave a faithful testimokys. and some
believed chapter xvii. 34). The mes
senger OF the Lord is apt to be dis
couraged IL he finds opposition to his
message and seemingly few, If any,
believing, or II after a faithful testi-
mony there is neither thank you"
nor word of appreciation. 1t is true
that we must never speak to please
people nor covet their approval, but
most of US are so awfully human that
a word Of gratitude from one who has
been helped by the message is very
cheering q Thess. ii, 4; III Tim. ii, 15).
The devil viii be sure to tell you that
you have accomplished nothing and
had better seek some other occupation,
and messengers have been known to
heed his suggestion. am thankful
that some one said to me many years
ago. as / wondered If any good was
being done: do you recollect that
when the devil sowed his tares he
went his way, for he was sure that
they would grow? And you do not
seem to think that the Word OF God
Is as good seed as the devils tares."
That helped me greatly, and since
then l have gone my way after serv-
Ice. saying: Thank God; that viii
work; IT will surely accomplish His
pleasure" lisa. lv, IL: Jer. 1. II, R. W..
Leaving Athens, Paul went to
Corinth. wicked, worldly, commercial
center. notorious for its immortality,
and the first thing we read Of him is,
not that he preached, but that he
found employment with some who
were OF the same craft with himself
that OF tent making-and he abode
with them (verses 1-3). He would rath-
er work at his trade and thus earn his
living than be a burden to any one.
He afterward wrote to this people. ask
ing them to forgive him If he had
wronged them by not being a burden
to them Oh Cor. xii, 1870. 1t does
sound little like sarcasm. The Lord
Jesus Himself was known as the car
penter mark vi, 81 and no doubt help
ed to make living for the family till
He began His public ministry.
When the Sabbath days came round
Paul was ready to testify to the Jews
In the synagogue that Jesus was the
Christ, their Messiah verses 4. and
margin). Silas and Timothy. whom
he had left at Berea and for whom he
had sent from Athens that they might
come to him, reached him here at
Corinth (xvii. IA. 15). The phrase
pressed In spirit" Cverse 81 is trans
lated In the r. " constrained by
the Word" Weymouth says Paul was
preaching fervently. We think of
jeremiah. who. when he was derided
and reproached. was tempted to stop
speaking the Word of the Lord, but 1t
was such a burning fire within him
that he had to speak der. Xxx, 7-9). We
think also of Elihu, who said that he
was so constrained by the spirit within
him that he was like a bottle Of wine
ready to burst and he had to speak
that he might be refreshed Job. xxi.
1920.
When the Jews opposed Paul and
blasphemed he turned from them to
the gentiles and found an open door
In house close by the synagogue, own
ed by a man named Justus, who wor-
SHIPPED God verses 6, y. When God
wants His message proclaimed He will
provide a place. l held a class In one
town where all the churches were clos
ed against me for the truths sake, but
a hotel proprietor invited US to meet
In his parlors, and so we continued.
Paul said concerning one place, "A
great door and effectual is opened unto
me, and there are many adversaries"
q Cor. xvi, 81. Notwithstanding the
opposition at Corinth there was much
encouragement, for the chief ruler Of
the synagogue and all his house believ-
ed and also many OF the Corinthians
(verse 81. No doubt Ii was, as always,
because Of the manifest work Of the
Holy Spirit that the devil stirred up
such opposition. How Paul must have
been strengthened to continue by that
most gracious visit OF the Lord Jesus
Himself, who came to him in the night
and said, BE not afraid. but speak,
and hold not thy peace, for / am with
thee, and no man shall set on thee to
hurt thee, for l have much people In
this city verses o, 10). The day that
the Lord appeared to him on the way
to Damascus He said, II have appear
ed unto thee. and ! will appear unto
thee" Chapter XVI, 16). and this was
one OF those other appearings to him.
We have His completed word and
can hear Him speak to US at any time
II only we have ears to hear, for He
Is the same Lord who revealed Him
self to Samuel by His word q Sam.
III, 21), aud He loves to do 1t still. Be
ing thus strengthened, he continued at
Corinth a year and six months, teach
ing the word OF God among them (verse
III. In due time he sailed thence, TAX
ing Priscilla and Aquila, and, leaving
them at Ephesus, be went on to Gaze
sarea and Jerusalem and Antioch and
thus completed his second missionary