Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-10-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR OCT. IS
SECURED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
BANNER FOR IT'S MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
rext of the Lesson, Acts xiv, 1921.
Memory Verses, Ia. 15-Golden
Text, Acts xiv, l6-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.


The successor 10 Felix. Iorcius FEES
sus. seems to have been in some re
spects like minded TO Felix. for he. too
was willing TO do the Jews a pleasur,
(xxiv. 81; XIV. l2). and he would hay,
sent Paul back to Jerusalem had h.
been willing to go. This was what tn,
Jews desired. that they might lay II
wait for him by the way and kill hin
iXxv. b. Their hatred of Paul does
not seem 10 have decreased la the least
iuring two years. for they were still
full Of grierons complaints against hin
which they could not prove oversees 2
| y He was having wondruus fellow
ship with the Lord Jesus. for whose
| sake he was suffering and of whom II
was written. False witnesses did rise
np: they laid 70 my charge things that
| knew not "Rcproach hath broken
my heart. aud am full Of heaviness''
rs. Xxxv. III: Xix, 20i.
When we consider such words as
these, Thou shalt be hid from the
scourge Of the tongue "Thou shalt
keep then secretly in a pavilion from
the strife of tongues" There shall no
evil befall thee" No weapon that is
formed against thee shall prosper"
Dob V, 81; rs. XXI. 20: xci. 10: Isa
liv. Ia and other similar assurances
we are tempted 20 wonder a little. but
then we remember that Paul was told
that he must suffer great things for
christ's sake. and he taught others
that we must through much tribula-
ton enter into the kingdom of God and
that all who will live godly In Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution. And our
Lord said to Ills disciples that in the
world we would have tribulation, and
after He ascended He said TO one OF
the churches that the devil would cast
some OF them into prison. but they
were to continue faithful even if they
died for it. and some who had been
killed were told to rest awhile till 9th
ers should be killed as they were (Acts
tx, 10; xiv. %; II Tim. iii. -: John xvi.
80; Rev. ii. 10; vi. III. He certainly
loIes His own and will TO the utter
most. yet He allowed the disciples
to. toll nearly all night against con
trary wind, and lie allowed Lazarus
TO continue sick and die and be buried
that God might be glorilied
We must bear In mind that just be.
cause we arc His we have the world.
the flesh and the devil To contend with
but lie will not suffer us 10 be tried
above that we are able and all our
trials and Affections are working for
us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory Il Cor. X. 10; III Cor.
Nv, 1918. When from the kingdom
and the glory we look back over our
life story and consider all the way
by which He has led us we may per
haps see reason for everything He
has done or permitted But we shall
surely say right'was the pathway lead
ing to this. 1t therefore becomes us
during this little while to say. las for
God, His way is perfect lust and
true are Thy ways. Thou King of ma.
tons" Ops. xviii, 30: Rev XIV. lib.
If only we could have no will OF our
own and rest wholly ana fully ia the |
perfect will and love of God we would |
have a foretaste of heaven in spite of |
all our trials here. When Paul refused |
to return to Jerusalem and appealed to |
Caesar that decided matters for the |
and Festus said. Unto Gaze /
sar shalt thou go" verses 0-12). Ii
may be that the Lcrd's night message
10 him. $50 must thou bear witness
also at Rome '(xxiii. ID. helped him
% decide to appeal to Caesar, for Gaze
'ar meant Rome, and this may have
seemed to him his opportunity.
King Agrippa and Bernice having
'ome TO CaesaFea TO salute Festus, the
whole matter was laid before them.
md Agrippa expressed desire to
lear Paul for himself. and that will
'e our lesson for next week. Thus was
icing fulfilled the Lords message to
Snanias concerning Paul. "He is q
'hosen vessel unto me to bear my
lame before the gentiles and kings
nd the children OF Israel ok. 15). AS
festus rehearscd the matter to Agrip.
d to be a question Of Jewish supersti.
lon. and specially concerning one
esus, who was dead, but whom Paul
ffirmed TO be alive VERSE 19). Does
ot that seem TO describe the knowl-
dye that many so called enlightened
eople have Of Him even now? Many
re like Gallo and care for none of
hese things xviii. HID. while many !
lore, even among churchgoers, who ,,
IKE some part in the public worship ]
utwardly. know nothing Of Him as !
ersonal Saviour and friend. S
1t Is written of such in lisa. xxx, 13. |
This people draw near me with their
louth and with their lips do honor {
le. but have removed their heart far {
'om me-" Also In Eek. xxxiii. 81.
They hear thy words. but they viii r
ot do them, for with their mouth they I
lew much love. but their heart goeth Y
tier their covetousness." In Matt.
n \ ~ 1