Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-10-12
INTERNATIONAL
.S(|NDAYS0lOOL
LESSON
Q3y E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of
Sunday School Course, Moody Bible In
stitute, Chicago)
(copyright, 1915, Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR OCTOBER IS
APPEAL TO CAESAR.

| LESSON TEXT-Acts 25 WV LIP
| GOLDEN TExT-It is enough for the
disciple that he be as his teacher, and
the servant as his Lord.-Math. 1925.
Teachers ought to urge their schol-
ars to read Chapters "a, % and 20
Thoroughly, and with the use of a map
locate the places mentioned The date
of this lesson is A. d. So and it oc-
Cured at the crisis of the events which
determined the way Paul should 20 to
Rome, Nero being the emperor OF that
time.
|. Paul in the Prison at caesarea
wv. 16). Paul was worn out, badly
in need of rest, and is given during this
Imprisonment much freedom He was
accompanied by Luke. his physician,
and probably some of his other friends.
For almost 20 years Paul had been liv-
ing strenuous life, crowded full of
labors that would have crushed an or
binary man. Now for some consider
able time he had time to thoroughly
master and assimiIate the truth which
he had been preaching the results of
which have come down to rs in the
form Of letters, seven of which Mt least
were written during and after the
events OF this lesson. His imprison-
ment also gave many of his friends
opportunity to secure his counsel and
guidance. The vindictiyeness and
hatred Of the jews is evident by this
new plot whereby they sought the help
Of Festus against Faul The corrupt
Felix had been succeeded by a mere
upright nan, Festus. The scheme Of
these enemies Of Paul and Of Jesus had
already resulted in giving Paul an op-
portunity to preach Jesus rs the Christ
and the judge of men to persons who
otherwise would not have been within
the scope Of his Influence. Through
his persecution he had reached leading
officials and edneate{ men Of the Ro-
mans ana of the Jews. Bunyan, in
Bedford jail, ana Luther in Witten-
berg Castle, arc fllutratf6ns Of the
principle that, "difIiculties ere the
stones out Of which all Gods aouses
are built"
Felix, on giving up MS office to his
left Paul bound (Ch. "a :27)
though he knew he ought to- De re-
leased, but by tits vile, Ubiquitous act,
he gave Paul another one of his de-
sired opportunities TO witness for
Christ in high places. The shrewdness
Of Festus saved Psul from falling into
the trap Of the Jews, for Cad was guild
ing Festus, end at the same time
guarding psul.
II. Paurs Appesi 70 Caesar Wv. T
l2). The Jews made rlany and griev-
Gus complaints, but without bringing 1t
single witness to prove tfleir asser-
tons. Doubtless these were tEe same
Did charges that had been brought be
fore Felix through Tertuiius two years
before, and which DOW, as then, could /
not be proved. Pauk was permitted to
answer for himself, and he declared
that he hasi' broken aeitheY Dire Jew
ISL nor tie Roman Etw Mest Of the
enemies oE Christianity aml eff the
Bible LAY many ara griev5Is charges
against it which they cannot prove"
In all ages tie enemies Of Gsea ana Ills
word mistake, strong and confident
charges and yiiiGvntioas sa proofs.
Pauls life was absolutely clcdr, and
he could say, Il have not staued at all"
". g z. ~ in any Of the directions in
which he was charged. Festus, as The
newly appointed governor, desired to
do the Jews favor literally, Desired
to gain their fayen. therefore lie said
to Paul, wilt thoa. So ~ to Jerusalem,
ard there be judged of these Things be-
fore me?" Tbis amounted to ar ac-
quiftai of Paul on the charges that
would come under the Roman law.
There remained Only sach charges as
would naturally come before the San
hedrin, and the question was whether
Paul would accept an informal acquit-
tai from the Isoman court on condition
that he rdblrit 20 a trial before his
own people on the other count. Fes-
tus wished to throw upon Paul the re-
nponsibility Of refusing to go TO Jersl-
ssaieIn, and to avoid dispieasiag the
Jews.
Festus got a courteous but sting
ing and well deserved rehuke frun his
prisoner. Paul WAS perfectly willing
to take any punishment re deserved.
even uate death, bat. having a elear
conscience, he had no Gear OF Fesscs
or any man. His APPEAL to Caesar,
was most unexpected. 1t confused
Festus and bnfiled the Jews. The Lords,
own words on his midnight visit to
Pant in prison are here suggested <2i
III.
Festus could make bat one decision,
Unto Caesar thou shalt CO." Paul''s
sincere and open character was the.
means Of his safety and power.
III. Paul and Agrippa wv. 1927.
Agrippa was the king of the northern
part Of Palestine, jew and trainel,
in religious ceremonies, but one uha
never mixed politics with religion,
wearing his Judaism as a garment.
His father, Agrippa |, slew James