Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-09-28

Jehovah, to deliver thee.-Jer. 1:19
The stirring events of this lesson oc
Cured in the Castle Antonio and the
Sanhedrin hail. 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 Paul's third mis-
sionary journey. The lesson pictures
two successive days of strange adven
lures in which Paul was concerned
narrow escape and the unexpected
providences used in his deliverance.
The day was inaugurated by Paul's
magic words II am a Roman citizen"
which caused the commander, Lysias,
to release him from the threatened
scourging, and made him more than
ordinarily careful in his treatment of
Paul.
|. Before the Elders wv. 1-12). By
referring back to chapter 81, V. Is, we
find TIE 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 its blamelessness and
the fact that he is not an apostate
Jew. The high priest speaks to silence
him, but not gently. Although Paul
for moment seems to give way to his
justifable indignation, he quickly re-
veals his reverence for the rulers of
the people. He then divides the san.
hedrin. Read carefully chapter % 81
and compare with verses IL and IS.
The sanhedrin could not explain this
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.
gize? Is it ever wrong to speak evil
of 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 a
suggestive lesson for us all. 1t has
been limited that Ananias was not in
his priestly 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 it 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 APP
ologized because he had broken the
law found in Exodus % :28. In the
trial of Christ one of the officers struck
Jesus with the palm of his hand
whereupon Jesus answered him, say
ing: "If l have spoken evil, bear wit
ness of the evil, but if WELL why smt-
est thou me?" On the other hand
when Jesus was ill-treated by the com
mon soldires, he opened not his mouth
IL. The Plot and Deliverance wv. II
35). Paul's prospect was not a pleas
ant one. In his darkness God appeared
". ~. Perhaps Paul was tempted to
think he had made a mistake in COM
ing to Jerusalem over the protests of
his friends, but evidently the Lord
heartily approved of his testimony
there. A dangerous conspiracy was
forming against him, but God was, as
he always is, beforehand with his COM
fort and preparation for the crisis We
have often speculated as to what be-
came of the forty men who entered
into it (see V. 12)-whether they ac-
tually lived up to their oath. If they
did, they must have died of starvation.
They were determined men, willing to
go any length, and fancied they were
doing the will of God. There is no
more dangerous man than he who fan
cieS that he must be the Judge as to
who ar. Gods friends and who are his
foes, and that he is the appointed exc
cutioner of Gods judgment The plot
was well laid, and seemed certain of
success, but it failed miserably. (See
Psalm 2:1-4; 4:1-10; Isaiah Al 10Y.
The wicked, who leave God out of
their plans, no matter how cunningly
they plot are doomed to failure Rom.
SD. These plotters co-operated with
the priest. Ecclesiastics have often
descended to the lowest villainy. Men
are not murdered today, though their
regulations are often blasted by I'M
principled and hellishly impelled pro-
fessed followers of the lowly Naza-
rene. Paul had friends in this city.
His nephew's discovery and revelation,
and the Gentle soldier, colonel, eff
fered his deliverance. In the bows
heart there must have been great adj
miration for the uncle. 1t would be
well for teachers of boys to have them
repeat in their own language this boys
story. Paul was not safe in Jerusa-
lem. The Roman governor recognized
the nature Of the conspiracy, and the
desperate character of the Jewish IA
natics, and therefore sent him under
strong guard to Caesarea, which was