The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-09-07
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDGYS01OOL
LESSON
CBy y. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course Of the Moody
Bible Institute. ChicagoD
Copyright, 1915. Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 10
THE ARREST og PAUL.


hast seen and heard.-Acts 22.i5.
No study of the book Of Acts IL
complete unless the teacher lmpresses
upon his pupils the opportunities for
environment Of the home or school,
Mt work or play. Deep interest at
taches to every detail leading up TO
Pauls visit to Rome. Therefore let
the teacher trace Paurs Journey from
Mileta To Jerusalem, which occupied
about four weeks. and took place In
the early part Of the year A. ID. 81.
I. The Arrival wv 1920. The Spirit
revealed To the disciples and To proph-
Its that II Paul went To this city he
would be In great danger. and the
Spirit was not forbiddlng hut only
n great work 10 do In Jerusalem. and
that he only could do II. Everywhere
Paul went he searched for" ". -
disciples. with whom he tnrried and
whom he enlightened In the way of
truth. Arriving in Jerusalem. he ap-
Mnason. outside OF the crowded city,
thus being less exposed TO danger and
finding n place Of rest. At public
reception ". 1s) Paul reports Of his
work, and no doubt he laid his strong
est emphasis on what God had
wrought through him. among the
churches of Asia. The leaders Of the
Jerusalem church received the gifts
Paul brought from the GENTLE
churches, glorified God for what he
had accomplished. hut saw clearly
that to accomplish his statesmanllke
purpose, something must be done to
make clear that the false reports as
wv. 20-22). They therefore resorted
10 diplomacy wv. 23-26). To the
many thousands Of Jews gathered on
this festival occasion In the city.
some Of whom were jealous for tho
law. they declared first that Paul
taught all the Jews which were among
the Gentlles not 10 forsake Moses
second, that he had not taught them
not to walk after the customs Of
Moses. The facts were Paul obeyed
the Jewish ceremonial laws person
ally. as n matter Of race. not as a
condition OF salvation.
~. The Arrest wv. 27-36). Paul's
attempt at Cancellation resulted not
In peace but In more dIscord. Every
true servant OF God Is sure 10 be mis-
represented. and II will not do always
TO attempt to set straight all the lies
that are told about him. God will
take care Of the lies and Of our repu-
tntions. Most OF the charges that
men. even Christians. bring against
one another are based upon "sup-
position" ". 29). II was not new
experience for Paul TO be mobbed. As
the maddened Jews dragged him out
Of the temple he must have recalled
himself, had had a hand (7:57. 5s).
How frequent u Is that we, ourselves,
are In due time treated in the same
way In which we have treated others
(Gal. go. II was the intention Of
the Jews 10 kill Paul at once without
trial (26:9. 1O). They fnncied they
were doing Gods service (John 10 ~.
This lesson Is striking example Of
the utter folly and wickedness OF mob
law. Pnul's time had not yet come,
and all the mobs on earth could not
kill him until God permitted II.
III. The ArraIsnnent wv. 37-40).
Tidlngs OF the riot came 10 the chief
captain. equivalent to our colonel
(Acts % :26). Paul was bound with
two chains. one from each Of his arms
to soldier. secured. yet left free to
walk with his guards, thus fulfilling
the prophecy Of Agabus ". Ply. Mobs
usually have great respect for SOL
oilers, for they are inwardly cownrdly.
No sooner was Paul on the stairs
which led TO the top OF the fortress
than the mob. afraid that they were
about to be baked OF their vengeance,
made a mad rush at him, with cries
Of "Kill him; kill him 7" and Paul,
unable In his fettered condition to
steady himself. was carried OF his
feet and hurried on In the same path
his Master had trod (John 1919
and Ne was again 10 hear that cry.
(Ch. % :22). During all this tumult
Paul had but one thought, how he
might witness for his Master, and
bring some OF his blinded accusers 10
a saving knowledge OF Christ. Thus
II was that he asked for the privilege
Of speaking, and most courteously did
he make his request. He spoke 20
the captain In the Greek tongue, not
In Hebrew, and great was the surprise
Of the captain.
Practical Application. When we are
attacked, no matter for what cause, n
we confidently look for dellverancs
and exercise self-control. God will
take care OF us.
Such conduct is disconcerting to our
Diplomacy is often dangerous and
Circumstantiai evidence isenever Of
great value.
There Is. however. a desirable form
Of diplomacy as when Paul addressed
the soldiers In his native tongue.