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Text of the Lesson, Acts xix, 2s-4l-
Memory Verses, 20, SO-Golden
Text, Tim. vi, documentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. M. Stearns.


Prepared by Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.
PAUL is now on his third and last
missionary tour. AS he returned from
his second tour he left at Ephesus his
two fellow workers, Priscilla and
Aquila, whom he had brought with
him from Corinth. He then proceeded
to Jerusalem and thence to Antioch,
where he remained for some time be-
fore starting on this last tour xviii,
1929. We cannot think of him larry
ing anywhere without seizing every
opportunity to speak of Jesus Christ
and His sufferings and glory. Having
passed through Galatia and Phrygia,
nourishing and strengthening the dis
ciples with bread from heaven. he
came again to Ephesus (xix, u. Dur
ing his absence Priscilla and Aquila
had been busy Mt something more than
tent making, for a Jew from Alex
andrias eloquent and mighty in the
Scriptures, had come to Ephesus, and
because Of the fire that was in him he
spoke boldly in the synagogue and
taught diligently the things Of the
Lord. but he did not know of the
baptism OF the Holy Spirit. These two
faithful ones expounded the Scriptures
more fully to him concerning some
things, and then he felt led to go to
Corinth and was commended to the
disciples there, whom he was able to
help much, and he nightly convinced
the Jews, from the Scriptures, that
Jesus is the Christ xviii, 24-2s). There
is many a Priscilla who is qualified to
instruct more fully many an Apollos,
but the latter are not always as teach
able as this one seems to have been.
The crown OF glory is a special reward
for those who feed others with living
bread, and it is not eloquence that is
needed, but just a willingness to re-
ceive the message from the Lord and
deliver 1t In His name, as the disciples
received the bread from the Lords
hands when the 5000 were fed and
passed on 20 the people what they re-
ceived from Him. They neither made
lit, nor bought 1t, nor increased it. nor
| in any way improved upon it, but were
|simply channels or messengers be-
tween Him and the people. Our Lord
Himself only said what His Father
told Him to say, as He has told us in
John xii, 40. 90, and thus He honored
His Father, and the Father wrought
through Him.
- This gives no opportunity. to show
what we know or what we can do
and is therefore very humiliating to
the pride OF man. and many will not
submit to ii. But there is no other
way by which we can be true messen-
gers Of God. If the message is ours
He VIII not assume any responsibility
concerning it, but IL 1t is His message
He will see that His purpose and
pleasure are accomplished by 1t lisa.
. ly. III. When Paul came TO Ephesus
| Apollos had gone to Corinth, and Paul
began to inquire as to what the believ-
ers knew Of the Holy Spirit, and, see
ing their ignorance in this matter, he
taught them more perfectly and be-
came Gods channel to them of the
gift of the Spirit, so that they spake
with tongues and prophesied xix, 30.
Every true believer is a temple of the
Holy Spirit, and when any one re-
ceives the Lord Jesus the Spirit takes
up His abode in that person, but there
Is a difference between being indwelt
W the Spirit and filed with the Spirit
John xiv, II; Cor. vi, 10, 20; Acts ii,
A.. The Spirit abides In the believer,
and we cannot pray, as David did,
take not Thy Holy Spirit from me"
ops. Ii, III, but we may be filed and
refilled as the need arises for special
service.
For three months Paul spake in the
synagogue at Ephesus. boldly disput-
ing and persuading concerning the
Lord Jesus and the kingdom of God,
and when opposition drove him out he
continued in the school OF Tyrannus
for two years or more until all in the
province Of Asia (where he was for
/. hidden to speak ON his second tour, as
In xvi, 81 heard the word OF the Lord
Jesus. Some very special miracles
were also wrought by the Lord through
Paul (xix, S-12). Wicked men tried to
do wonders, even some in high reli-
gious standing, using the name Of the
Lord Jesus as they heard Paul do, but
they Jared badly indeed, while through
Paul the word Of God grew nightly
and prevailed xix. 1920. Having
sent Timothy and Erastus into Mace
donna, where he hoped to follow them,
ne continued in Asia, completing three
years there (xix, p. %; Xxx, 80. as we
shall see In our next lesson. Why he
was forbidden to go to Asia on his Sec
ond journey and now permitted to
spend three years there we may per-
haps learn some day.
The rest OF our lesson chapter Is oc-
cupied with the record Of the riot of
the silversmiths, whose craft was suf-
- A. -,