Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-03-29
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Second Quarter, Fol
April z, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Text Of the Lesson, Acts tx, Ill, f7-19.
Memory Verses, II, 19--Golden Text.
Tim. j, 15--Commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. M. Stearns.
The first two verses of our lesson
chapter describe Saul going on in the
same spirit as when he consented to
the murder of Stephen and kept the
raiment of those who stoned him. He
Is still breathing out threatenings and
slaughter against the disciples of the
Lord (vhat horribly bad breath from
the pitt, and he is Endorsed by Israers
high priest. who was professedly Gods
high priest. The account of his zeal
for the devil is written in five differ
ent places-in our lesson chapter and
in Acts xxi. XVI: Gal. and Tim |.
He confessed that he was biasphemer
and prosecutor; that he was exceed
ingly mad against the saints, beyond
measure prosecuting the church of
God. shutting up men and women In
prison and giving his voice against
them when they were put to death and
all the time thought that he was right
in thus opposing the teaching and the
followers of Jesus of Nazareth. He
was. as he afterward said. blinded b.
the god of this world and ignorant of
his devices, and it was an exceeding
abundant graca that had mercy on
him and saved him QI Cor. H. IL; iv. 4:
Tim. /, al.
The day came when he reached the
limit, and Gods clock struck its mo
further" Dob xxxviii. III. He was not
at preaching service nor under any
so called means, of grace, but on his
way to imprison and kill more saints
and nearing his destination. many in
Damascus trembling II they knew of
his coming, when suddenly, about
noon, he fell to the earth because of
a light from heaven above the bright
ness of the sun which shone upon him,
and he heard voice saying to him In
the Hebrew language, Saul. Saul. why
persecutest thou me?" The people who
we're with him saw the light, but did
not hear the words. He not only saw
and felt the light and heard the words.
but he saw the Lord Jesus verse III,
who thus condescended to appear to
him personally. as He will to the ma
ton at His coming in glory, for 1t Is
written, They shall look upon me
whom they have pierced" and they
shall say. 10. this is our God; we
have waited for Him. and He will save
u.s. (Zech- xii. 10; Rev. 1, Z: lisa. XIV. 81.
To Saul's question. who art Thou,
Lord?" the answer came, Il am Jesus
of Nazareth, whom thou persecu test-
What an Illustration of the assurance
that believers are members OF His body
and that to touch one Of His Is as
touching the apple of His eye. tEph-
v, 80: Zech- ii. 81 Although Saul's nat
ural eyes were blinded by this great
light and he remained three days with
out sight. he received sight such as he
never had before. the eyes Of his I'M
Outstanding being enlightened. for the
light of the knowledge Of the glory OF
God In the face Of Jesus Christ had
shone in (Eph. 1, IS; II Cor. Nv. g.
From that hour he was born from
above. "A child of God, q sinner saved,
a rebel surrendered. wholly submitted
to Jesus Christ risen from the dead
and assembled to heaven. The glory OF
that light from heaven made him for
ever blind to all human greatness or
righteousness, and now to him to live
was Christ (Acts xii. IL: Phil. 1, 2D.
With trembling and establishment he
submissively said. Lord. what wilt
thou have me to dog" And thenceforth
he was the bondservant OF the Lord
Jesus Christ. What his comInunings
were those three days without sight
or food or drink, and where he went to
In Arabia, and his experiences there
for three years tActs TX, 8: Gal. l, 1910
we may perhaps learn from his own
lips some day. but this we may be sure
of-there was no one worth while to
him but Jesus Christ. How wonderful
are the words of the Lord to Ananias
concerning him. HE is a chosen vessel
unto me, to bear my name. for
will shew him how great things he
must suffer for my names sake"
(verses Is, 16l. Compare chapter xxi.
14-16; xvi. 1918. and get better
grasp Of his full commission.
Take to your own hearts. o fellow
believer. that these things were writ
ten for US and that we. too. may be
vessels unto honor sanctified and meet
for the Masters use. prepared nato
every good work ,QJ Tim. ii. 21 The
Lord had shown Saul, in a vision. DIR
ing his blindness. a man named An
anias coming In. and putting his hand
on him that he might receive his sight
Verse 12l. and Ananfas in person lit
orally fulfilled it. putting his hands ON
him end saying. Brother Saul. the
Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto
thee IN the way as thou earnest. hath
sent me that thou mightest receive thy