The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-09-13

OUOV H.UUUSO III NVAS 0UU0OyO
lessen for Teachers and PGpilo
Edited ~ Charles 4. Msysis.
o.A~r ssaoo z I sssa sio.s"0A1'
0Yyy021D. Ia. |
President -. Sears McHenry, Denisoi
sec.-Treas. ..Chas. K. Meyers. Denisoi
FL. Hoffman. Denison; WIN. Lindberg
Kiron; FL. VanSlyke, Manila: H. J
Cook, Denison; Frank WoOlston, Deni
son; =. g: Virgins: Dow City.
r'.......:.. Miss Susie Graft, Denisor
Secondary Grade, +. L. Hoffman, Denisor
Adult Department s,ro, = st;i, 'Manii,s
noms Dep..' Mrs.. E. W Pierce. Denisor
-: Rev: j. Tosr rtel Denls 90
"..r... Miss Manetta joreensen. Val
Missionary Department
3&.......l. Mrs. Anna Williams, Denisor
Sept. IA Prisoner in the Castle
Acts q. .
1t will be remembered that in our
last lesson we were told about the
seizure of Paul when he was In the
Jewish temple at Jerusalem and how
he was taken outside and would have
been killed by the enraged Jews If he
had not been rescued by the Roman
soldiers. The soldiers took him to the
fort or castle and were followed there
by the bowling mob who cried Away
with him." Paul was fully alive to the
position in which he was placed. He
asked for permission to make de-
tense OF his conduct before the Jews.
This was granted and the record o!
what he said makes up the contents OF
the chapter which we consider today
as lesson.
He spoke in the Hebrew tongue. He
called them to witness that he had
been educated in Jerusalem as o Jew
ish priest or rabbi. under the instruc-
ton of Gamalial, one OF the greatest
Jewish scholars. He then recalled his
zeal In the prosecutions of the chris.
tians. his journey to Damascus and
the voice from heaven which changed
the entire course of his life; told OF
his recovery from blindness on Vist-
tation of EAnanias and his commission
that he had been chosen to proclaim
the gospel unto oil men. He told Of
lllS ICLuru " JcIuSdlCuk tAuu VI 6oAA5
to prayer in the great tempel and at
that time he had q special message
from God commanding him to leave
Jerusalem and to go forth to the Gen
tiles with the gospel message.
The listening Jews before Paul as
he stood on the steps OF the Roman
castle gave him a quiet hearing until
he said that God had sent him to the
nnio1 "a
with him, for it is not ut that he
should live. The Roman captain OF
course did not know what Paul had
been saying and when the Jews made
this cutlery he thought 1t meant they
were convinced he was bad man.
The captain was about to use the RO.
man method of beating with thongs or
whips to force confession from a
prisoner as to his crime when Paul
asserted his Roman citizenship asking
whether it was lawful to scourge kO-
man without trial. The Roman cap
tain was surprised to find his prisoner
q Roman when he was treating him
as wicked Jew. and speedily com
manded that no injury be done Paul,
and told the Jews that on the morrow
he would bring the prisoner before
their council for trial. ....;,li +;
Paul challenges our admiration for
his great defense before his Jewish
accusers. He truly. was very great
man-one whom every person can pat
tern after in character. While he was
ready to do anything and everything
TO advance the cause of Jesus his mas
ter mind commanded over every situa-
ton When he was imprisoned at
Philippi he refused to leave the jail
quietly because he, Roman citizen,
had been put in publicly and he de-
manded that with the same publicity
he be given his freedom. While he|
was going from place to place on hist
missionary trips he found time tot
write the magnificent epistles or let
ters to the Ephesians, Philippians and
GalatiOns- which challenge
the admiration of all thinking people
for their insight into the truths Of
the christian religion and their power
full presentation. AS we 60 forward in
his history we shall find him address.
ing Roman governors and princes
without fear and in manner to do
honor to himself and to the cause OF
Jesus which he represented.
1t might be we'll to consider for a |
moment the cause for rejoicing which |
can well come to readers that they |
have citizenship in the United States,
country having religious and politi- |
cal liberty guaranteed to all. This did
not come by accident or without hun
dreds of years of patient struggle on
the part of our ancestors In England.
Citizenship in the great Roman empire |
stood for much In the days. OF Paul,
and was q guarantee Of justice and re.
spect from all peoples where the Ro'
man authority extended. Greater,
however, is citizenship in the republic
OF the United States, the leading chris
tian nation of the world. Paul was
proud of being a Roman citizen. Let
us all be proud of being Americans: i
Every christian has, however, q cit.
izenship guaranteed in a greater, more
important place than the United
States. 1t is in the promised heavenl
which Jesus told about, and where
He said He was going to prepare
place for those who love Him. 1t Is
recorded that eye hath not seen, norl
ear heard, neither have entered into
the heart of man, the things which
God hath prepared for them that love
Him. Il Cor. 2-9.) And this was said
meaning you and ME. Is this not grand
and glorious Citizenship in heaven
amidst surroundings arranged by God
Himself and where there is no more
pain or crying. Roman citizenship
was to be coveted in the days OF Paul
= 4. TO- t1,n t1ekU