The Brinkley argus., 1916-09-29
LESSON FOR OCTOBER l.
PLOT THAT FAILED.
LESSON TExT-Acts ss.


 GOLDEN TExT-They shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith Jehovah, to deliver thee.-Jer. 1:19.
 The stirring events of this lesson oc- cured in the Castle Antonia and the Sanhedrin hall, near the temple court of Jerusalem; also in Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea, on the Medi- teranean coast, in the year A. D. 57, just at the close of Paul's third mis- sionary journey. The lesson pictures two successive days of strange adven- lures in which Paul was concerned, a narrow escape and the unexpected prOvidences used in his deliverance. The day was inaugurated by Paul's magic words "I am a Roman citizen" which caused the commander, Lysias, to release him from the threatened scourging. and made him more than ordinarily careful in his treatment of Paul.
 l. Before the Elders (vv. 1-12). By referring back to chapter 21. v. 18, we find the charge which really underlay all of Paul's trouble, his preaching in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul's defense Is interesting. He gives us a rehearsal of his Christian life, laying emphasis upon its blamelessness and the fact that he is not an apostate Jew. The high priest speaks to silence him, but not gently. Although Paul for moment seems to give way to his justif1able indignation, he quickly re- veals his reverence for the rulers of the people. He then divides the san- hedrin. Read carefully chapter P :6-7, and compare with verses IT and IS. The sanhedrin could not explain this testimony of Paul, and were seeking to put aside the whole question. An interesting discussion would be to con- sider the insult to Paul. Was his in- dignation right and rightly expressed Another question, the matter of Paul'S apology. Just for what did he apolo- gize? Is it ever wrong to speak evil of rulers? These were indeed days of stress and storm. Was Paul justified in dividing the sanhedrin in order to conquer their opposition to him? <in the furtherance of the gosped is a suggestive lesson for us all. It has been hinted that Ananias was not in his priestly garments, and therefore perhaps not readily recognized by Paul. Paul may never have seen him, b ;orI, v,r;o ftnr Paul had left the council. It is inter- esting to note that it is not said that anyone struck Paul or that Paul did not apologize for his words or deny them to be true, but only for their be- ing spoken to the high priest. Read in this connection what Christ said to the Pharisees (Matt. 23 :27). Paul ap- ologized because he had broken the law found in Exodus p :28. In the trial of Christ one of the officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, whereupon Jesus answered him, say- ing: If I have spoken evil, bear wit ness of the evil. but if well, why smit- est thou meT' On the other hand, when Jesus was ill-treated by the com mon s0ldires, he opened not his mouth.
 II. The Plot and Deilveranee (vv. 12- 35). Paul's prospect was not a pleas ant one. In his darkness God appeared to his faithful servant to cheer him (v. III. Perhaps Paul was tempted to think he had made q mistake in com ing to Jerusalem over the protests of his friends, but evidently the Lord heartily approved of his testimony there. A dangerous conspiracy was forming against him, but God was, as he always is, beforehand with his con- fort and preparation for the crisis. We have often speculated as to what be- into it (see V. 12)-whether they ac- tually lived up to their oath. If they did, they must have died of starvation. They were determined men, willing to go any length, and fancied they were doing the will of God. There is no more dangerous man than he who fan cies that he must be the judge as to who are Gods friends and who are his foes, and that he is the appointed exc cutioner of Gods judgment. The plot was well laid, and seemed certain of success, but 1t failed miserably. (See Psalm 2:1-4; GA lilo; Isaiah fl :10. The wicked, who leave God out of their plans, no matter how cunningly they plot, are doomed to failure (ROm. S:3D. These plotters co-operated with the priest. Ecclesiastics have often descended to the lowest villainy. Men are not murdered today, though their regulations are often blasted by un- princiPled and hellishly impelled pro- fessed followers of the lowly Naza- rene. Paul had friends in this city. His nephew's discovery and revelation, and the Gentle soldier, colonel, ef- fered his deliverance. In the boys heart there must have been great ad- miration for the uncle. It would be well-for teachers of boys to have them repeat in their own language this boys story. Paul was not safe in Jerusa- ha racpnniza6