The Green Forest tribune., 1916-09-08
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 10
THE ARREST OF PAUL.
LESSON TEXT-Aets 2l:I7-4o.

complete unless the teacher lmprGSSGS
 upon his pupils the opportunities for
 living the Christian life in the normal
 environment of the home or school,
 at work OF play. Deep interest at
 taches to every detail leading up to
 paul'S visit to Rome. Therefore let
 the teacher trace Paul's journey from
 Mileta to Jerusalem. which occupied
 about four weeks, and took place in
 the early part of the year A. D. 57.
 i. The Arrival (vy 17-2G). The Spirit
 revealed to the disciples and to proph-
 cts that if Paul went to this city he
 would be in great danger, and the
 Spirit was not forbdding but only
 teaching him for he knew Paul had
 q great work to do in Jerusalem, and
 that he only could do it. Everywhere
 Paul went he "searched for" (v. ?
 disciples. with whom he tarried and
 whom he enlightened in the way of
 truth. Arriving in Jerusalem. he ap-
 pears to have made his home with
 Mnason. outside of the crowded city,
 thus being less exposed to danger and
 finding place of rest. At a public
 reception (y 1S) Paul reports of his
 work, and no doubt he laid his strong
 est emphasis on what God had
 wrought through him. among the
 churches of Asia. The leaders of the
 Jerusalem church received the gifts
 churches, glorified God for what he had accomplished. but saw clearly
 that, to accomplish his statesmanlke
 puTpo ''. something must be done to
 make clear that the false reports as
 to Pauls teaching were discredited
 (vv. 20-22). They therefore resorted
 to diplomacy (vv. 23-26). To the many thousands of Jews gathered on
 this festival occasion in the city,
 some of whom were jealous for the
 law, they declared first that Paul
 taught all the Jews which were among
 the GentiIes not to forSake Moses
 second, that he had not taught them
 not to walk after the customs of
 Moses. The facts were Paul obeyed
 the Jewish ceremonial laws person.
 ally, as a natter of race not as
 condition of salvation. He taught
 that the GentlIes need not become
 Jews nor obey the Jewish ritual, and Tfr-r- -I--l te < < = .ascessary f9y
 salvation for either - |--.1i .9s
 He taught also that the promises of
 the Jews were to be fulfilled in both
 Jew and Gentle who by faith became true child of Abraham and heir to the promise This made Christianity universal religion. (See I Cor. Q 20 2D.
 II. The Arrest (vv. 27-36). PauPs attempt at eoneiliation resulted not in peace but in more discOrd. Every true servant of God is sure to be mis- represented, and It will not do always 10 attempt to set straight all the lies that are told about him. God will take care of the lies and of our repu- [" tions. Most of the charges that men. even Christians, bring against one another are based upon sup position" fv. 291 It was not a new experience for Paul to be mohbed. AS the maddened Jews dragged him out of the temple he must have recalled the treatment of Stephen in which he. himself had had hand (7:57. 5S). 1 How frequent it is that we. ourselves. are in due time treated in the same way in which we have treated others (Gal. 6:D. It WIS the intention of the Jews to kill Paul at once without trial f2G:9, 10). They fancied they were doing Gods service (JOhn 16 .2). | This lesson is striking example of ! .he utter folly and wickedneSs of mob | aW. Paufs time had not vet come. | lnd all the mobS on earth could nof [ lill him until God permitted it; his iellverance came hy the hands of an mscrupulous heathen (23 :2T.
 I. The Arsaignment (vv. 37-4o). Ifdings of the riot came to the chief 'aptain, equivalent to ou: colonel Acts 23 :26). Paul was bound with wo chains, one from each of his arms O soldier, secured, yet left free to walk with his guards. thus fulfilling he prophecy Of Agabus (v. 21. Mohs lSually have great respect for sol Hers. for they are inwardly cowardIv. No sooner was Paul on the stairs which led to the top of the fortress han the mob. afraid that they were bout to be baked of their vengeance lade mad rush at him, with cries f Kill him; kill him." and paul nable in his fettered condition +o teady himself was carried off his eet and hurried off in the same path is Master had trod (John 19.15l nd he was again to hear that cry. Ch. 222 ::22). During all this tumuIt 'aui had but one thought. how he night witness for his Master. and ring some of his blinded accusers to
 saving knowledge of Christ. Thus
 wa that he asked for the privilege speaking, and most courteousIv did 0 make his request. He spoke to , @ captain in the Greek tongue. not / Hebrew, and great was the surprise 7 the captain. The surprise probably . "S caused by the fact that he thoupbt ? had an ignorant brigand and not h lat he had cultured. scholarly He 1, 'ew and Roman citizen as prison- ', ,. short time before this. a cer- n in Egyptian had gathered large n 'dy of discontented Jews on Mount ivet, whom he had deluded into tbe 6, lief that he was the Messiah, and n,
 whom he had declared that at his f, ord the walls of Jerusalem would 6, II down. Paul told the captain who
 was and asked parp,;ee;o,, eak to these rioters. hoping to quiet