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

made an end to his work as mission
airy and caused him to suffer imprlson-
ment for two years In caesarea, ana al
last, as a result of his concession to the
legalistic requirements, he was sent IN
chains to Rome.
PauFs efforts to. remove prejudice
against himself resulted in his facing
the danger of losing his own life. Thirty
years before the apostle had been di-
rector of the mob that stoned Stephen.
whose ministry had famed the flames
of religious persecution. Now Paul
faced the same fate because some Of
"the Jews from Asia" thought that Paul
had led Gentiles into the sacred place,
or inner court, that was separated from
the court of the Gentiles' by the low
wall with the signs of warning to the
Gentiles. One of these signs, that can
be seen by tourists in the museum at
Constantinople. states that NO one is
allowed to pass within the barrier and
embankment around the sanctuary.
Whoever is taken makes himself re-
sponsible for his death, which will en-
sue"
The only foundation for the charge
was that Paul had been seen in Jerusa-
lem accompanied by Trophimus. an
Ephesian. There is not single TACT
that would warrant the charge, but the
spirit of mob is not to Investigate. but
to carry out in its frenzy the sugges-
lions OF it's leaders whose charges
against Paul were without foundation.
except that he had preached that being
a Jew would not save man.
Some of the priceless legacies of
modern civilization and Christianity
have been handed down to US as the
result of religious persecution. The
writer's of history may play up the
Alexanders. the Hannibals. the Caesars
and the Napoleons, but the real mold
ers of nations and the makers of civili-
cation have been those men who, in
spired by the example of the Christ
! and His great apostle, have carried the
gospel to the sinners, sufferers, and
sick in every land. The great forces
OF the world have been men like Au-
gustine, Xavier. Marquette, Brainerd.
Carey. Judson. Mackay. Morrison. Peek
and Booth. whose heroic sacrifices rank
them with the worlds heroes. Like
Paul. they always found the Lord near
in time of danger.
God was the neglected factor upon
whose Intervention the Jews from
Asia" had not counted. Al just the
| moment when PauIs danger was the
greatest the commander of the Roman
cohorts stationed In the castle OF An
tonia. at the northwest angle OF the
| temple area, brought squad OF SOL
diers and rescued Paul. The shouts OF
the mob brought the Roman power
| which the Lord used, even while II was
unwilling and unwilling. as one of the
great instruments for the accomplish
ment Of His purposes In history. Moved
| the temple. the officer placed Paul.
whom he thought to be an Egyptian
agitator. under arrest. ana TO prevent
! his escape chained him to two soldiers.
/ Paufs passion to witness for Christ
| did not desert him. for he urged upon the
| commander that he permit him to preach
| TO his countrymen. Such an opportunity
| he had long sought, but now II came to
him unsought Paul was loyal to his Lord
/ and never allowed an opportunity to pass
1 by without witnessing out Of hts life. ex-
perience or Christian hope concerning
the Lord Jesus. The riot In the temple
providentially paved the. wny for Paul to
witness for Christ In Rome. where he
longed to preach the gospel, because
] God had appointed him to be witness
for Him untof all men OF what he had seen
and heard"