The Green Forest tribune., 1916-10-06

This is q court scene, and 1t might be well with certain classes to intro duce the lesson by describing such Il gathering. The lesson occurred five days after the last lesson, and twelve days after Paul reached Jerusalem, The place, Caesarea, was the Roman capital of Judea.
 |. The Prisoners Examination (vv. 1-9). In addition to the Roman gov ernor, Felix, attired in his gorgeous official regalia, on platform nearby, were the high priest of the Jews, in his highly coIored and jeweled robes, the lawyer, Tertullus, in his Roman toga, and the elders of the Sanhedrin who had come down from Jerusalem to be witnesses against Paul. Of Tertulus it was said that, by his persuasive tongue, he could make white seem make 1t appear that Paul was "a dan ger to the Roman power, and not mere ly a turbulent and renegade Jew" The judge, Felix, was an exceptionally bad governor, who two years later was re- called by Nero to Rome. The infer- ence of verse two is that Paul was an inciter of rebellion and robberies, but the exact charges were three-fold: (See w. 5-6) (a) that Paul was a mover of insurrection (b) that he was a ringleader of q sect of NaZareneS who were causing trouble in the prov ince: and (c) that he had profaned the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. The charge of insurrection would be espe- cially obnoxious to Felix who had Just been praised for keeping peace in his dominion. That of being leader of hereSy was not serious, for the Romans had no desire to interfere between one Jewish sect and another, but it led to the last one, viz, profaning the tenn pie The Romans had legalized the Jewish ritual. and for Paul to profane the holy place would be serious out rage. The weakness of Tertullus' case was that he produced no evidence to support his charges. The accusers '~iN 'AiSi W put NiACS WltucSScS.
 ii. The Prisoners Defense (vv. 1O-21). Paul cheerfully made his defense, for he knew tie .iss$s, tiffs. d tAer tli e,:stcas and that Felix had married Jewess, (v. 24). We might consider this de- fense first negatively and then positive ly. On the negative side. Paul answers each charge seriatim. In the first place there had not been time for him to cause an insurrection tv. ID. Gong back over these days: CD his arrival In Jerusalem (21 :15); {2) his appear ance before James (21 :1S) 6, 4. and 6). the days of his VOW (Ch 21 PC, 27) CD his arrest; (S) hls appearance be- fore the Sanhedrin; (9) the conspiracy and his deliverance; (10, II. 12 and 13) in Caesarea (See Oh. :D. Paul's statement showed that the whole story of his experience was fresh in the memories of both friends and foes. It was the Jews who did the stirring up. Paul answers the second charge by acknowledging (vv. 14-16) that he be- longed to the Christian way of Salva- llOIIt pui dCUIcu LlldI lillS was btEeNYs Paul was a true Jew and good Pharisee, for CD he wOrshiped the same God (v. 14) @ he believed in the Jewish law and prophets. From them he knew he could prove that Jesus was the Messiah. (3) He agreed with the Pharisees (v. 15) in hope to- ward God, a resurrection from the dead and immortal life. Paul's life was ''void of offense" toward God in heart and worship, and toward men as shown in good deeds. It was for this that he exercised himself. Literally. he worked upon the raw material, disciplining and training it. Paul answers the third charge by simple denial that 1t had actually taken place. and calls for wit nesses. Positively, Paul explains that he had followed the God of his fathers, that he believed in fulfilled prophecy literally the resurrection of Jesus from the dead-that he came to Jerusalem with aims for the poor, and, as before the council, he stands upon his in- tegrity.
 III. The Judges Delay tvv. 22-27). Felix had a more perfect knowledge of that way" We believe he had se- cured this knowledge from Philip, the evangelist, and from Cornelius the Ro- man centurion, both of whom lived in Caesarea. By deferring his decision, Felix avoided an outrageous injustice to Paul. and at the same time gave serious offense to the troublesome Jews who knew of his evil conduct. From verse twenty-three we see that Paul was given liberty, literally such indulgence in freedom as would be con sistent with his safety. Luke, the phy- sicjan, and Philip, the evangelist, vis- ited him here, bringing food, books and letters. After time Felix and his wife. Drusilla, sent for Paul to talk with him "concerning the faith in Christ" Drusilla was a daughter of Herod Agrippa I (vv. 12-23), and a sis ter of Herod II (See On. 26). She was a beautiful woman. much younger than
 Felix who was possibly about sixty
 years of age. She and her only child perished In the eruption of Vesuvius A. D. 79. Paul before Felix empha- sized three points. CD Righteousness right principles, right conduct, integ-
 rity and justice-duties which man
 owes to man. @ Paul reasoned of temperance, literally self-control. Tem- perance, as here used, Is ability to guide and restrain ones emotions and
 appetites; having the passions and
 powers of the soul under the control of
 reason and conscience. (3) Paul l preached of judgment to come. where