Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-08-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR AUG.27
SECURED EXCLUSIVELY BIZ TILE
BANNER FOR IT'S MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO The
international SERIES
Text of the Lesson, Acts Xxx TO-.
Memory Verse, 24-Golden leAs
Acts Xxx, 32-Commentary Prepareu
by Rev. ID. M. Stearns.

a
Acts Xxx, 32-Commentary frepaie1
by Rev. ID. M. Stearns.
After the uproar OF Ephesus, raui
babe an affectionate farewell 10 lne
disciples there and crossed over 10
Macedonia, whittier Timothy and Eras-
tus had preceded him xix, p; k u.
After comforting the disciples, prob
ably in all places where he had preach
ed the word, he and his party recrossed
TO Troas. where he first heard the call
to Macedonia. He had tarried three
months in Greece, and now they abode
seven days at Troas Xxx, 2-6; XVI, 8, %.
There they had an all night preaching
service, at which one young man who
sat In a window slept so soundly that
he fell out from the third story and
was killed, but the Lord restored him
through Paul. and all were comforted.
Paul must have been full TO overflow
ing with messages which he felt would
be his last to them Xxx, 7-12, 25). While
all the party went by ship to Asses,
Paul walked across country to meet
them there verse 49,. While fellowship
with the brethren Is often refreshing.
there is nothing so grand as to be
alone with God, and this lonely walk
would give Paul opportunity for the
communion he desired.
fn hn nj
Jerusalem by the day Of Pentecost, so
instead Of visiting Ephesus again he
sent for the elders Of the church there
to meet him at Miletus, and the prin-
cipal part OF our lesson today is the
record of his farewell address to them
Oversees 14-1D. He reminded them that
for three years he had faithfully testi-
fed to Jews and Greeks repentance
toward God and and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ, testifying the Cos
pei Of the grace Of God and preaching
the kingdom of God verses 81, "a, 25).
These are the truths which all need to
know, and there is nothing so grand to
tell as the grace Of God which bring
eth salvation TO all and justifies freely
all who truly receive him (Rom. Ill.
"A; Eph. ii, 8, 8; Tit ii. IL; Ill, 40.
Since all are guilty before God and
the righteousness which He requires
no mortal man has nor can obtain by
his own efforts 1t is surely good news
that God has provided this perfect
In Christ Jesus and Of
fers 1t freely to every penitent sinner
Rom. Ill, 10; III Cor. v, 81; Cor. 1, 30;
Rom. X, A. Humility becomes us al
ways, lor we are nothing and know
nothing and can do nothing apart from
Him, and there is no room for Boosting
except in the Lord. II we realized how
great is the wrath from which we have
been delivered and which still rests
upon and awaits those who are not
saved there might be more prevailing
tears on our part for lost ones about us
verse 10; / Thess 1, 10; John ill, 36).
Then there is the building up or edify-
ing Of the saints SO necessary for the
glorifying Of God on the part Of His
saved ones (verse 32), and nothing can
do this but the word Of God, which is
the only food for the soul John xvii,
IL Jer. XIV, 49,. Paul could say what
many a preacher cannot say: II kept
back nothing that was profitable unto
you. -" / have not Stunned to de-
clare unto you all the counsel of God"
(verses 20, 30. Although 1t Is written
that call Scripture is given by inspira-
ton of God and is profitable" that
there is a special blessing upon all who
read or hear the book of Revelation,
that our Lord said that It was foolish
not to give heed to all that the proph-
cts had said QI Tim. fiji, 16 Rev. !, 8;
Luke, xiv, 25), yet there are those who
turn away from all prophecy and spe-
cially from the book of Revelation and
encourage others to do so. Such would
do well to consider what is written OF
those who feed themselves instead OF
the flock and are called wolves, thieves
robbers, hirelings oversees 20. 30; Eek
hxxiv; John X.
Paul was always speaking OF the
kingdom Of God, as was also our Lord
Jesus (verse %; xviii, %, 81; Matt. iv
%; Acts /, 81, but of all Bible topics
perhaps none is more misunderstood
than that Of the kingdom, which is yet
to be set up on this earth at the SECOND
coming Of our Lord and which cannot
be till He shall come, as He Himself
taught duke xix, lib. VIII all who
read these notes please bear with me
in my oft repeated assertion that THU
is not the age OF world conversion MOI
Of subduing all things to Christ? But
as James said at the council at Jeru
salem, 1t is the time of taking out from
tho gentiles a people for His name
that so He may come again with HI
church, His bride, as the Messiah o
Israel for their conversion as a nation
and then through them the winning o
all nations (xv, 1873.
The only business of believers is =
give the good news to others as quick.
as possible that the church may b
completed-cause all Jews and gentle
to hear, as Paul did In Asia xix, 10