The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-10-20
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 22
PAUL's DEFENSE BEFORE
AGRlPPA.

GOLDEN TEXT was not disobsdisnt
unto the heavenly vision.-Acts 6:D.
1t is possible to use the Bible either
as a music box or q telephone. We
should let 1t speak the words Of the
Lord Jesus to us and our pupils. This
lesson occurred probably A. d. SO, per-
haps in August, the day after last Sun
days lesson. This was the same hall
where Agrippa had heard the people
calling him a god ACTS 12). Paul,
the center Of all interest, Is chained
to his Roman guardians. The prisoner
has been vehemently accused as one
worthy of death and had appealed to
O,esar, but Festus, not being well ac-
Quainted with Jewish laws and Gus
toms, could not make any definite
charge against him before the Roman
court Hence he turns him over to
Agrippa, who was well acquainted
with matters of Jewish law.
). Paul, the Preacher wv. 1-23).
n This was one of the great occasions
in the life OF this great man. Paul
was preaching to king and woman
of great influence "a sermon which
little changed their lives evidently.
and also to the coming ages. This
king and queen were welded to their
infamy. God had in n3pd on that
day an audience in comparison with
which that which Paul saw faded into
oblivion. Notice his argument. O
He begins with his own experience.
In these verses there are over forty
personal pronouns.
Men do not need so much light as
they do need heat, and Paul was
speaking out of the hot throbs of his
personal experience. Paul stood be-
fore them a living miracle, an incar-
nate argument We might tremble at
the doctrine of the resurrection. He
knew 1t was a marvellous thing that
God shoul1 raise the dead, but that
change had been wrought In him
which was equivalent to the miracle
of raising one from the grave.
Paurs plea was for the Roman as
well as the Jew. Considering his per-
sonal testimony, he declares that he
is true Jew Of the strictest sect wv.
4-8), and as such he lived in the
''hope of the promise" as predicted by
Isaiah and Daniel. That promise has
been fulfilled in Jesus, the crucified,
who rose again from the dead, and
Paul adds, II have seen him, for
which hopes sake, King Agrippa, /
am accused of the Jews" (2) wv. g.
15) Paul tells the audience that he,
himself, was once a Jealous perse-
cutor of the Christians. more SO than
those who are now prosecuting him,
'being exceedingly mad against
them" He then relates his Damascus
journey and the conversation held on
the road with the risen Lord.
The gospel Paul preached was to
, lead men into the kingdom of God
that they might receive forgiveness
of sins and an Inheritance among
those who were fitted for that inheri-
tance, who were the sanctified. For
this cause the Jews went about to kill
him.
u. Aerippa, the Doubter wv. 24-82).
reception of Paul's message. The
high priests way was to hate him and
oppose. Felix's way was 'go thy way
this time. When 1 have a more con-
venient season I will call" Festus'
way wv. 24-26) was to charge Paul
with madness. Much learning (literal.
ly, many writings) was turning him
mad, making him a lunatic, a dreamer,
one who lived In the atmosphere Of
wild imaginings. Paul's reply was
not harsh. "Most noble Festus" Gam.
R.) II am not mad, but speak words of
soberness," words Of eternal life and
spiritual life (of sound sense) that
were true and earnest. Paul thereupon
appeals to King Agrippa to confirm
his statements ". 2-6). The crazy
man is he who lives for this world
rather than for eternity. The devil
has cheated many man out of eter-
nal life by the method which Festus
followed. He has also cheated many
a Christian out of the larger life In
the same way. Pauls appeal to Agrip-
pa wv. 27-29) Is very suggestive.
Some people believe that the con-
tents of the prophecies are Of no pres
ent day value, and some are trying to
break their force. Some declare they
cannot be true, yet these prophecies
are the ones that declare that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God" The
literal translation of Agrippa's answer
is, I'm a little thou persuadest ne to
be Chrttian." It is said that Agrlp-
pa said this In sarcasm, but, like many
another attempted jest, it revealed the
real state of the heart.
Agrippa saw the cost of further con.
sideration Of the claims Of Christ and
was unwilling to pay the price wv.
SO-32). Thus Agrippa's soul was lost
and yet he was within one step OF
eternal life. Paul with great dignity
took advantage Of Agrippa's ambigu-
Gus expression, and said: Il would ia