Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-10-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson ll.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. 8, 1916.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of the Lesson, Acts xiv. 1921.
Memory Verses. IA, 15-Goiden Text.
Acts xiv. te-commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. NJ. Stearns-


by Rev. o. NJ. stearns-
This chapter gives US Paui's testi-
mony before the high priest and the
elders from Jerusalem. at Caes;irea, In
the presence of the governor Felix. and
also some account OF one of Paufs
talks with Felix and his vie Dru
silla. The prosecutors from Jerusalem
brought with them an eraur who.
with iattery for Felix. did large
amount of lying against Paul. which
the Jews i1.roEsel. saying that these
things were so verses l-91. Paul de
MED their accusations and deiied them
to prove what they said and then stat
ed the case truthfully verses 1913.
His confession that be believed all
things which are written In the law
and In the prophets verse "A, reminds
US that our Lord said that the two
with whom He walked to Emmaus
were foolish In not doing SO. and also
that He expounded from Moses and
the prophets and the psalms the things
concerning Himself saying that al
must be fulfilled luke xiv. 25-27. Al
1t Is counted heresy even now by
many supposedly orthodox preachers
to look for literal Israel to occupy
the land given to Abraham. Isaac and
Jacob. and literal kingdom OF God
on earth with Israel as a center. who
shall, as a nation made righteous by
receiving Jesus Christ as their Mes
slab when He shall come in His glory
then bring blessing to all nations.
have been told to my face by a teach
er OF large Bible classes that the Jews
were no more to God than the Indians
Of our country. but / am still believing
God and standing with our Lord and
with Paul and expect 30 to continue BY
HIS grace. AS to the resurrection of
the dead, both Of the Just and unjust
when understood In the light OF all
Scripture. that also is most simple and
helpful
All the dead shall rise: that Is clear
not only from lesson verse 10. but also
from our Lords own words In John
', %, %, with Dan. XII. 2 That the
hour Of John v. 2s. may. and will. Gov
er a thousand years Is easy from the
fact that the hour OF John v, 25, has
already covered nearly 1900 years
In Luke xiv. IA. the resurrection Of The
Just is spoken Of as a time Of reward
for the righteous. and Cor xv. %
says They that are Christ's at His
coming" In Rev. Xxx, 5. 6. 1t Is writ
ten that those who do not take part In
the first resurrection will not rise till
the end OF the thousand years. There
is no foundation in the Scriptures for
the thought that our resurrection takes
place when we die or for the use of the
words at a funeral ~he Is not here
he Is risen" for those words were
used Of the literal resurrection body
Of our Lord There is no foundation
for the thought of a general resurrec
ton of all. good and bad. at what is
called the last day.
II this sounds strange to any VIII
read. please do not turn away from II.
as once did hut hook into II humais
and prayerfuiiy. with real desire 10
know the mind Of the Lord. and Ec
VIII surely teach you Let US custi
vate conscience void Of offense to-
ward God first and then toward men
(verse 49,. Felix. having heard both
sides ana seeing through some things.
decided that the matter be deferred
until Lysias. the chief captain. could
come and advise him more fully
Meantime he treated Paul well as a
prisoner. giving him liberty and allow
ing his acquaintance to see him and
minister to him verses %. 23i. As
we think of Philip and his household
and all who heard the word in the
home Of Cornelius. 1t is possible that
Paul was made as comfortable as
prisoner could be. and. no doubt. he
used every opportunity to preach
Christ cruciied. risen and returning
to set up His kingdom.
We may infer from verse q that the
case was deferred for at least two
On e 60 that hn al t.-t y, t,a1