Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

them the rights of men equal to that of
Israel. 1t is one of Christianity's con-
tributions to the progress of the world
that it secured for humanity the rights
Of man as men by it's revelation of
mans relation to God. Paul recognized
that he had to yield his preference for
work in Jerusalem to the command OF
God. whose psovidential preparation of
Paul prepared him to be the great
apostle to the gentiles when he thought
that he was best fitted to win his own
countrymen for Christ.
Privilege always breeds a selfish lust
of monopoly. Christ condemned the
spirit in the elder brother. The Jews in
their jealousy Of spiritual privilege and
unwiIlingness TO share with others re-
ye4led their declension as a people The
journalist is always opposed to the mis-
sionary expansion policy Of Christ The
people, who had listened with interest
and growing approval Of Pauis posi-
ton. revealed their selfishness when he
brought his complete and unanswerable
argument to a close by claiming that
the reason for his gentle utilization
was due to the divine command that
came to him in answer to prayer in the
temple, ordering him TO depart to the
gentiles.
The Jews did not believe in Gods
grace for the gentiles and once more
the voices of the mob was heard de-
handing Paurs life. 1t was scene Of
confusion. All crying, gesticulating
which is one of the common occurrences
when orientais get excited. Casting of
their outer garments and gesticuiatins
wildly the mob cried out that Paul was
not fit to live, because he. Jew, claim
ed that the Messiah had come and had
ordered him to set up the inessianic
kingdom among the gentiles.
The captain evidently did not under
stand the Senletic speech, used by Paul
and the people. but he knew that 1t was
tn he
him to place Paul within the prison. So
he ordered him to be scourged. hoping
that by this method he could learn
from Paul what was the cause of the
public disturbance in the temple and
why the mob were SO angry at the
apostle that they threatened to take
his life. Inside the barracks, Just as
the centurion was about to fiog Paul,
the apostle protested, claiming that he
was a Roman citizen, therefore ex-
empted from torture, especially as he
had not been tried by a court, according
to law. The news of this protest alarm
ed Claudius Lysias, for an outrage
against a Roman citizen was serious
offense and might get him into trouble.
For moment he hesitated to believe
that the poor Jew, could have possibly
obtained the privilege OF citizen. for
y had COS, him great sum to %, obtain
that he had been born a Roman citizen
he doubted IL no longer. In that case
Paul's citizenship was a matter of rec
ord and could easily be established
MOREOVER, to make false claim Of
citizenship was a capital offense. He
treated Paul thereafter with the re-
spect due a Roman under suspicion of
crime. and summoned the Jewish
authorities for a conference the next
day In order to ind out the truth of
the affair.
Previous to this time Paul had not
cIsiraed the protection Of the Roman
power when he had been called upon
10 suffer. He followed the leadership
of the Holy Spirit. There are times
when a missionary is justified in seek
ing the protection Of his government,
and there are other seasons when he
is called upon to endure suffering, sor-
row and sacrifice for the glory Of God.
Some hold that Paul should have done
so here II he did err In the demand
of his rights the lesson has at least
revealed something Of Paurs marvellous
self Possession, Quickness of thought
and power Of adaptation. The reason
why Paul could be SO generous as to
address his wouid-be murderers with
out abiding to their attempt on his
life was that he had learned to say
| Of Christ Jesus, He is my refuge and
my fortress; my God, In whom
| trust" He proved his love and trust
| in his Lord by the self-forgetfulness
| Of his own peril when he tried to take
advantage OF his opportunity to try
| and win his countrymen for Christ
| whom they rejected when they refused
to listen to Paul.