The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-09-14
INTERNATIONAL.
S.UNIlXYSC[l()0L
LESSON
BY u. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of
= tho Sunday School Course OF the Moody
BiDlo Institute. Chicago.)
Copyright, 1915. Western Newspaper Union. }
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
soNER IN THE CASTLE.

GOLDEN TExT-IIe is my refuge and
| my fortress.-Ps. 91:2.
! Paul was rescued from tho mob by
the prompt action of Lysias, and was
saved from scourging by revealing his
Roman citizenship (21 :27-22 :20).
! Every true life, real social service, pa-
triotism and national righteousness
rest upon the value Of conversion to
| Christ. The fundamental message Of
the Christian church must always be
regeneration. With this message Billy
Sunday is gripping the large cities
ana DIR. John X. Mott is reaching the
student life Of the world.
]. PauPs Account of His Early Life
". l-5). BY his use of the Greek tongue
he obtained permission to deliver this
address, and by his wise use Of the
jewish language he gained the atten-
tion OF the excited crowd. Paul as
serted his Jewish origin. (Acts 21-39).
rarsus, where he was born. had uni
fersity which rivaled those Of Athens
ana Alexandria, and Paul had probably
heard it's great philosophers. Paul was
M educated man; he was brought up
IN Jerusalem from his early boyhood
ut the feet Of Gumaliel it's greatest
teacher. Thus his religious training
was according to the law Of the fu-
thcrs, and as touching the righteous
ness which is Of the law" he was
blameless (Phil, 3:G). He was Jealous
| for God, doing What he thought he
would have him do even when "perse-
cuted this way" the way Of forgive
ness, salvation and righteousness.
Jesus said, II am tic way" Paul was
! at this time an instrument in the hands
| of the rulers, carrying out their plans,
! but he exceeded them in his zeal for
"Ee traditions Of our fathers tGal.
I'D. lie was not at all like those
/ PhariseeS whom Christ condemned as
white scpulcherS." lie was not what
we would term today, "a bad man."
| ~. PauPs Turning Point w. 6-2D.
! Paul seems to pick out three different
crises in this rehearsal. G) His inter-
! view with Christ, Wien he saw Jesus
as he really was In his glory, living
risen Savior (Cor. OIL; 15.S). He had
positive proof Of the resurrection from
the dead. This proof convicted him
Of sin. He had heard Jesus call. He
had asked Jesus what he would have
him to do. He was ready to obey, and
something was given him to do. The
light which he met on that journey ar
rested him in his mad course. The
voice gave him his directions. In obedi-
ence to the command, ".Arise and co."
he gained knowledge and Skill (2) He
lights upon his Interview with AnHnias
". 14) where he received personal help
from an experienced Christian. In the
darkness and conflict of those three
days Of loneliness the questions must
have been: Could he leave rank, honor,
friends? Could he enter the service OF
the deSpised one and suffer reproach,
danger and death? During this con-
iiict he must have had before him the
vision OF what God would have him do,
and the work for which he chose him
wv. 1919. His vision and commission
constituted strong motive for right
decision. During the vision he came
into the light. and confessed his faith
by his baptism. AS result of those
three days and his interview witt
Ananias he came to know Gods will
more fully. The next step was OF
2:3S; Heb. 1922; Rom. 10:13; Cor
G:1D.. The purpose Of Paul's whole
life and mission was changed.
III. PauI's Dangerous Position wv.
20 30). The mob gave him audience
until his words about the Gentiles. His
declaration that God had commanded
him to go upon n mission to the Gen.
tiles was an ofrense to the Jews, and
his words fell like "spark upon an
infammable mass Of fanaticism." They
broke out into a frenzy Of excitement
and made preparations to stone him.
An Oriental mob Is hidcous beyond de.
gree, bowling, yelling, cursing, gnash.
Ing their teeth, fl!nging their arms
casting of their garments ". 23),
throwing dust into the air to relieve
their excitement and to express their
exccration. 1t was n manifestation of
their uncomfortable rage. The opposi.
tion of n mob is no proof that the
person 1t curses is wrong.
Immediately preparations stopped
The commander was called, and, learn.
Ing that Paul was free-born Roman
citizen, he had cause to be afraid that
he had gone too far.
To assert Roman citizenship falsely
was punishable with death.
The chief captain told Paul that
with great sum he had obtained his
'ioman citizenship, but Paul's reply
was, "But am Roman born"
Paul was well cared for after this
and, In order to find out why the Jews
were so opposed to him, the captain
summoned the S;anhedr!n to meet the
following day, thus unconsciously Civ.
ing Paul another opportunity to pro.