Middletown transcript., 1916-09-16
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
PRISONER in THE CASTLE.


Paul was rescued from the mob BY
the prompt action of Lysias, and was
saved from scourging by revealing his
Roman citizenship (21 :27-22 :29) D..
Every true life, real social service, pa
triotism and national righteousness
rest upon the value of conversion to
Christ. The fundamental message of
the Christian church must always be
regeneration. With this message Billy
Sunday is gripping the large cities,
and DR.. John R. Mott is reaching the
student life of the world.
|. PauIs Account of His Early Life
". 1-5). By his use of the Greek tongue
he obtained permission to deliver this
address, and by his wise use Of the
Jewish language he gained the atten-
ton of the excited crowd. Paul as
serted his Jewish origin. (Acts 21-S9).
Tarsus, where he was born. had uni
versity which rivaled those of Athens
and Alexandria, and Paul had probably
heard its great philosophers. Paul was
an educated man; he was brought up
in Jerusalem from his early boyhood
at the feet of Gamaliel its greatest
teacher. Thus his religious training
was according to the law of the IA
theirs, and as touching the righteous
ness which is of the law" he was
blan eIess (PhiI, 8 :6). He was Jealous
for God, doing what he thought he
would have him do even when ''perse-
cuted this way" the way of forgive
ness, salvation and righteousness.
Jesus said, II am the way" Paul was
Mt this time an instrument in the hands
of the rulers, carrying out their plans,
but he exceeded them in his zeal for
'the traditions of our fathers (Gal.
:14). He was not at oil like those
PhariSees whom Christ condemned as
white sepulchers." He was not what
we would term today, "a bad man."
He could not have done his work or Oc-
cupied his position if he had been. He
was sincere in a bad cause; he was
jealous in a mistaken religion; he was
honestly on the wrong side. Politically
and religiously prominent and active
he was in error still.
II. Paul's Turning Point w. CPD
Paul seems to pick out three different
crises in this rehearsal. (1) His inter
view with Christ, when he saw Jesus
as he really was in his glory, living
risen Savior (Cor. 9:1; 15.8). He had
positive proof of the resurrection from
the dead This proof convicted him
of sin. He had heard Jesus call. He
had asked Jesus what he would have
him to do. He was ready to obey, and
something was given him to do. The
light which he met on that journey ar
rested him In his mad course. The
voice gave him his directions. In obedi-
ence to the command, "Arise and CO."
he gained knowledge and skill. (2) He
lights upon his interview with Ananias
". 14) where he received personal help
from an experienced Christian. In the
darkness and conflict Of those three |
days of loneliness the questions must |
have been: Could he leave rank, honor, |
friendsP Could he enter the service of |
the despised one and suffer reprOach. |
danger and death? During this con-
hict he must have had before him the |
vision of what God would have him do, |
and the work for which he chose him |
wv. 1919. His vision and commission |
constituted strong motive for right
decision. During the vision he came
into the light, and confessed his faith
by his baptism. As a result of those
three days and his interview with
Ananias he came to know Gods will
more fuiiy. The next step was of
course (3) his public avowal (See Acts
2 :3S; Heb. 10 %; Rom. 10 :13; Cor.
8 :1D. The purpose Of Paul's whole
life and mission was changed. For each
Of us, in our own degree, conversion
brings similar changes of life. Have
we experienced this great transforma-
lion?
Ill. PauI's Dangerous Position wv.
20-30). The mob gave him audience
until his words about the Gentiles. His
declaration that God had commanded
him to go upon a mission to the Cen
lies was an Offense to the Jews, and
MS words fell like a spark upon an
mass Of fanaticism." They
broke out into a frenzy of excitement,
Ind made preparations to stone him.
An Oriental mob is hideous beyond de-
yree, bowling, yelling. cursing, gnash-
ng their teeth, hinging their arms,
,asting off their garments ". 23),
hrOwing dust into the air to relieve
heir excitement and to express their
,xecration. 1t was a manifestation of
heir uncomfortable rage. The Opposi-
ion of a mob is no proof that the
'erson it curses Is wrong. The wrong
vas not in Paul but in the mob; the
ause of the famine in Ahab's time was
lot In Elijah; the cOmmOtiOn of our
lay is not with the reformers but with
hose who uphold the evils which
hOuld be reformed. Paul used every
,ower he had to aid his fortune-his
roman citizenship, his social position,
lis knowledge Of law and his training
nd quick wit. The chief captain who
poke Latin and Greek would not un-
lerstand what Paul was saying in
Hebrew (Aramaic), but from the fury
f the people he concluded that Paul
lust be some great criminal, and
ordered that Paul should be
by torture to confess his
rime. While they were binding Paul
e quietly asked the officer II It were
awful for them to scOurge a ROmaD
ltIzen, being unc0ndemned.
Immediately preparations stopped
he commander was called, and, learn.
lg that Paul was free-born Roman
itlzen, he had cause to be afraid that