Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-11-15
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
lesson vIll.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 10, 1916.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Acts xviii. list
Memory Verses, 80, 31-GoIden Text
Rom. |, t6-commsntary Prepared by
Rev. D. NJ. Stsarns
After carrying three months at Maita
another ship from Alexandria. which
had wintered In the isle. was sailing
for Italy. and on that they departed
and reached Italy In safety. remaining
three days at Syracuse and seven days
At Puteoi on the way. No doubt the
gospel was preached at both places.
but ut the latter place there were be
l;eFerS. and the fellowship must have
lSs.4 yers helpful 10 all 1t would be
great event for the brethren at
l'a,eG.i 10 hear from those who Lad -
recently come from Jerusalem. and IL
hear Paul tell of his missionary ,onrs
and rehearse ali that God had done b.
him and eli that lle had suffered on hi>
tours at Jerusalem must have thriAc !.
an assembly Of believers and Inspired
them with greater zeal for God aud
his kingdom.
The brethren at Rome. having heard
OF Paurs arrival IN Italy. came out to
meet him as far as Appii forum and
the three taverns. and having wei
coined him and encouraged him. they
returned to Rome together. | some
times use this incident as suggestively
illustrative Of our meeting the Lord in
the air and returning with Him when
He shall come TO set up His kingdom
Just the meeting and returning-I have
no other thought Of any analogy In the
incident tverses 11-15,. Another hand
full Of purpose seems to have come
dwell by himself with soldier that
kept him tverse l6D. That soldier must
nave learned much Of Jesus Christ. for
as Paul talked to him privately 1t was
like pouring water into bottle rather
than throwing II at a lot Of bottles
Our Lord spoke more than once to
audiences Of one. as In the case of
Nicodemus and the woman Of Samaria
Having called the chief Of the Jews
together. Paul explained to them why
he had come to Rome as a prisoner
adding. For the hope Of Israel ! am
bound with this chain tverses 1920
There is only one person who Is called
the hope of Israel or the hope of the
church, only one in whom there Is any
hope for either ger. xiv. s; xvii. 10:
Joel Ill. 16: Tim. !. II. His coming
for Us is our blessed hope and His
coming with us In glory viii prove
Him to be the hope and Saviour of
Israel as a nation Git Il, Ii; lisa.
NV. 8. Q; Zech. Xii. 10: xiii. ID. The
brethren al Rome said that they had
never heard anything against Paul
but they would Ike to hear what he
thought Of this sect that was every
where spoken against. A Cay having
been appointed. many came TO his
lodging. TO whom he testified and ex
pounded the Scriptures Of Moses and
the prophets concerning Jesus and the
kingdom of God, from morning till
evening verses 2i-29.
As they Listened to him some beEev-
ed not. They could not agree and had
much reasoning among themselves.
which led Paul to turn to the gentiles
with the good news. quoting TO the
Jews what the Holy Spirit had said by
Isaiah concerning them hundreds OF
years before in what we call chapter
vi. These sayings Of the Spirit through
Isaiah concerning Israers blindness
and hardness OF heart are quoted i'll
Matt. xiii. IA, 10: John XII. 80. 40: Rom
xi. s. as well as In our lesson. Jere
miah and Ezekiel were both told that
they must expect opposition and that
their message would not be received
by many tier. |, II. 10; Eek ii and
iii, xxxiii. 81. The apostles also were
told that they were sent out as sheep
In the midst Of wolves and might ex-
pect to be hated. put out Of the syn
agogue and killed Matt. Z. 1928; John
XIV. 1921: xvi. 1-3l. The most that we
can aim to do in this age is by all
means to save some Il Cor. il, 22). for
we are nowhere taught that the world
viii ever be won to Christ until Israel
shall have received Him at His coming
in glory. aud then when the glory Of
the Lord shall have risen upon Israel
and shall be seen upos her the nations
shall come to her light and kings to
the brightness of her rising.
Paul continued to preach the king
dom of God and teach those things
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ
for two whole years to all who came
TO him In his own hired house There
were many believers. even in Caesars
household and his bonds for Christ
were manifest at Caesars court as well
ms elsewhere. and many Of the breih-
rem In the Lord. waxing confident b.
his bonds. were much more bold to
SPEAK the word without fear Phil L
Is. n. margin: Nv. ~ This book Of
the Acts begins with the Lord Jesus