The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-09-06

.....s:.... Miss Manettas Jorgensen. Vail
hissionaf fIp sE nns Williams. penisop
Sept 1o-The Arrest of Paul.-Acts
n, 17-4O. ..,-t ''.-.t .- ..-
The lesson today brings to our mind
one of the turning points in the history
Of the great Apostle Paul. We have
before learned as to his conversion and
Of his, great missionary journeys in
Asia Minor and lands bordering on the
eastern end of the Mediterranean sea.
He was then free to 60 and come as the
calls of the work of the gospel of Jesus
seemed to demand. From this lesson
onward Paul will be a prisoner and
must 70 where those who hold him in
charge direct. The lessons OF the past
two months have been indeed interest
ing, but from now they take on many
things which will hold i'rapt attention
if properly presented. r..
It will be remembered that one of
the things which made the parting of
Paul with the elders from Ephesus SO
affecting was the signs showing that he
would never again see them or the peo-
pie with whom he had labored so hard
and to such good purpose. AS he went
toward Jerusalem it became clearer
there was trouble in store for him, and
his friends begged him to turn back.
This brought forth from the great man
a declaration which stands forever as
showing the true character of Paul.
Martin Luther before the Diet OF
Worms breasted the same heroic spirit
when saying, in effect, Here stand;
l cannot do otherwise, God help me,
when asked to denounce his writings
as false without proof from the bible
that such was the case. Paul made his
answer to his friends who asked him
to turn back from Jerusalem:
what mean We to weep and to break
my heart? For l am ready not to be
bound only, but to die at Jerusalem for
the name of the Lord Jesus
1t is with the spirit thus set forth by
their great leader that the ministers
and missionaries of the cross have gone
forth to their great victories through.
oht the world. " -.
In time Paul reaches Jerusalem and
Is given most cordial greetings by
the christians there. 1t will be remem-
bered that he came bearing funds for
the relief of the poor Jews of that city.
James, the leader of the church in that
city, and others, suggested to Paul that
to make showing before the Jewish
christians that he was not In favor OF
breaking down the laws of Moses and
the:customs of the temple, he with four
others enter it as religious pilgrims
performing such ceremonies and say
ing such prayers as was usual with
those coming from abroad to worship
there. This Paul consented to do, and
with his companions went to the tenn
pie and in an orderly manner entered
and began their prayers.
It was while thus engaged that Jews
from Asia, where he had been on mis-
sionary journeys recognized him and
raised an cutlery that he was profaning
the sacred temple by his presence and
had led men not Jews to be there. Then
there were doings, and at once mob OF
enraged Jews seized Paul with intent
to kill him then and there. With this
murder in their hearts they were not
unmindful of the sanctity of the temple,
but rushed him out and the doors were
closed. Then they did rush at him, and
his death was near at hand, II causes
which the Jews had not counted on,
had not come to the rescue.
As is well known the country where
Jerusalem was located was under the
rule of the great Roman empire and
was. thus policed by Roman soldiers.
The outcry at the temple caused such
an uproar that the Roman officer at
the castle heard and saw and rushed
q body of soldiers out to, quell the riot.
On the arrival of the soldiers the Jews
fell back and surprising that a motor
ious criminal had been captured, seized
him and bound him with chains and
hurried him off to the castle. The en-
ragged Jews followed with fierce out
cries. AS Paul was about to be taken
in he made request to the officer to be
allowed to speak to the crowd which
followed, and when this was granted
he stood up on the steps and spoke in
the Hebrew language. Silence for a
time followed and he was given hear
Ing. IL. ...
As the lesson of next week will take
up the words of the address made by
Paul at this time, we will not relate
them now. but turn to a few thoughts
on what we can learn from the history
OF Paulfas just considered. First, note
the herOism of the great apostle. Al
though convinced that prosecutions and
trouble awaited him at Jerusalem, he
didepot hesitate to go forward, for he
was, ready to die If need be for the
naiqh of the Lord Jesus. When we see
Whist the early christians were called
upon to endure and what sacrifices the
mi6tionaries make in our day, and the
prosecutions which christians In heath
en- lands must undergo, we we'll can
Thank God we live in a christian land.
Butqwith these blessings there should
not come Indifference to Gods cause
and lack of readiness to make sacri-
fees for the faith we profess. Second,
Paul was ready to undertake any thing
which was thought would advance the
cause of Christ and allay opposition
to it, He thus set an example for lat
er men to follow. Third, the promise
that all things work out for good to
those who love God will be shown in
that Paul as a prisoner was taken to
Rome, and was there able to declare
the gospel to the people he could not
have otherwise reached. The enraged
Jews thought to murder him, but their
wrath but served to spread the news
Of the blessed Jesus the more in the
world. .. ssss.-.-.... ,-.