Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-09-30


GOLDEN TExT-rhev shah e~b,
| against thee: but they shall not prevail
against thee. for am with thee saith
jehovah. to deliver thee--Jer- 1:is.
The stirring events of this lesson oc-
CURED in the Castle Antonio and the
Sanhedrin hall, near the temple court
OF Jerusalem; also in Caesarea, the
Roman capital-of Judea, on the Medi-
teranean coast, in the year A. d. 81,
just at the close of Paurs third mis-
slonary journey. The lesson pictures
TWO successive days of strange adven-
lures In which Paul was concerned. a
narrow escape and the unexpected
providenceS used in his deliverance
Inc day was fnaugurated by Paul's
magic words II am Roman citizen !"
winch caused the commander, Lysias
to release him from the threatened
scourging, and made him more than
ordinarily careful in his treatment of
Paul.
l. Before the Elders wv. LIP. By
referring back to chapter 81, v. Is. we
ind the charge which really underlay.
all of Paul's trouble his preaching in
the name of the Lord Jesus. paul,s
defense is interesting. He gives us a
rehearsal of his Christian life. LAYING
emphasis upon it's blamelessness and
the fact that he is not an apostate
Jew. The high priest speaks to silence
MIN, but not gently. Although Paul
Tor moment seems to give way to his
1ustiiable indignation, he quickly re-
veais his reverence for the rulers of
the people. He then divides the SAN
nedr1n. Read carefully chapter % :6-7,
and compare with verses IL and 1S.
n hxa<4p ~
testimony Of Paul, and were seeking
to put aside the whole question. An
interesting discussion would be to con-
slider the insult to Paul. Was his in
dignation right and rightly expressed?
Another question, the matter of Paul,s
apology Just for what did he apollo
glze! Is 1T ever wrong to speak evil
or rulers? These were indeed DAYS of
stress and storm. Was Paul justified
In dividing the sanhedrin in order to
conquer their opposition to him?
Again, how God used these incidents
IN the furtherance of the Gospel is q
suggestive lesson for us all. 1t has
been limited that Ananias was not in
ms pr1estly garments, and therefore
perhaps not readily recognized by
Paul. Paul may never have seen him.
as he was elected high priest after |
Paul had left the council. 1t is inter- !
esting to note that 1t is not said that |
anyone struck Paul or that Paul did |
not apologize for his words or DENY
them to be true, but only for their be-
Ing spoken to the high priest. Read |
In this connection what Christ said to |
the Pharisees (Matt. % :27). Paul ap-
oiogized because he had broken the
law found in Exodus % %. In the
trial of Christ one of the officers struck
Jesus with the palm of his hand. |
Jesus answered him, say
ing: IF have spoken evil. bear wit
ness OF the evil, but if well, why smit-
est thou meT' On the other hand.
when Jesus was ill-treated by the COM
mon soldires, he opened not his mouth.
IL. The Plot and DeIiverance wv. 10
S5). Paul's prospect was not pleas
ant one. In his darkness God appeared
20 his faithful servant to cheer him
". III. Perhaps Paul was tempted to
.hink he had made a mistake in COM
ng TO Jerusalem over the protests of
lis friends, but evidently the Lord
heartily approved of his testimony
mere. A dangerous conspiracy was
orming against him, but God was, as |
le always is, beforehand with his COM
ort and preparation for the crisis. We
ave often speculated as to what be-
anne OF the forty men who entered
nto 1t (see v. 12)-whether they ac-
ually lived mp to their oath. If they
Id, they must have died of starvation.
hey were determined men, willing to
o any length. and fancied they were
DING the viii OF God. There is no
lore dangerous man than he who fam
les that he must be the judge as to
no are Gods friends and who are his |
,es, and that he is the appointed exc
1toner OF Gods Judgment. The plot ri
as well laid, and seemed certain of {
lccess, but it failed miserably. (See l
salm al; "a lilo; Isaiah Al :1O). I
he wicked. who leave God out of | {
leir plans, no matter how cunningly Q
icy plot, are doomed to failure Rom. G
.31). These plotters co-operated with 2
e priest. Ecclesiastics have often =
seconded to the lowest villainy. Men 5,
e NOT murdered today, though their =
putations are often blasted by nm :
1nedpied and hellishly fmpelled pro- =
ssed followers of the lowly Naza- :
ne Paul had friends In this city. :,
IS nephew's discovery and revelation. -
d the Gentle soldier, a colonel. eff y
red his deliverance. In the bows :,
art there must have been great adj .,
ration for the uncle. 1t would be 81
III Tor teachers OF boys to have them r.
peat In their own language this boys 10