New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-11-11

myself. to have always a conscience void
Of offense toward God and man.-Acts
24:16.
REFERENCE MATERIAL- Luke
l2:4-l2.
PRIMARY ToPIC-wly Paul Wa Not
Afraid.
JUNIOR ToPIC-The Secret of Paui's
Courage.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
defense Before a Roman Governor.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Paufs Defense Before Felix.
!. Paul Accused wv. 1-9)
Tertnllus. perhaps a Roman barris-
ter, formally made the accusation ac-
cording to Roman law. He began with
flattery. He gave Felix the fullest
praise when he and all the people
knew that he lied for Felix was n
of the worst gOvernors-destltute OF
morals and justice. He brought a four
fold charge against Paul:
/. "A pestilent fellow" ". 81. This
would indicate a fellow utterly base
u corrupt-a plague.
2. An inciter of rebellion. a mover Of
sedltion ". %. This they hoped.
would bring him into conflict with the
Roman power.
3. That he was the r~ingleader Of a
sect-a schismatical party-a hereto
". -.
4. That he had pr"faned the temple
". @.
u. PauPs Defense wv. 1921
In this defense note:
!. Paul's f%rankness and courtesy ".
10Y. Flattery is entirely wanting. He
gives recognition of the fact that Felix
had been ruler of this people long
enough TO be able 10 judge justly. as
the habits and ways of the Jews were
familiar to him; and then. in Il digni-
fled manner, assume that Felix will
render a just decision based upon the
facts of the case.
.. The charge of sedition denied wv.
II, 12). lie tlatly and scornfully de-
MED this charge. showing its utter
falsity, since the time was too short,
being but twelve days since he went to
Jerusalem, and half of that time had
been spent ms n prisoner Of the RO-
mans. His conduct while there dis
proved 1.-THE disputed with no man In
the temple; neither did he make any
attempt to incite the people in the city
nor IN the synagogue.
3. The charge of heresy wv. 1I-lG).
This charge he me by II concession
and "A denial. He admitted that he was
of the 'Way" which they called heresy.
but clearly showed that it was In
keeping with the Hebrew religion ~
he worshiped the same God ". 14) ;
(2) he fully believed in the same
Scriptures ". 40 CD he had the same
hope of a coming resurrection of the
dead ". 49,. He declared that he
made rs the principle of life a m
science void Of ofrense before God and
man.
I. The charge of s~acrllege, or profa-
nation of the temple wv. 11-21). This
charge he refuted by showing ~ that
he had come all the way from Greece
". 10 TO worship at the feast; (2)
that he had not come up e~mpty-hand-
ed. but had brought aims for his M
ton ". ~ t3) that there were not
competent witnesses present TO testify
as TO his behavior IN the temple ".
by challenging his enemies to
testify as to his conduct In the council
". 20).
10. Paul Before Felix the Second
Time wv. 22-2O.
This is a sort of a sequel to the
trial. Wicked as Felix was, Paul's
manner somewhat won his favor,
though he did not release him. His
was indulgent Imprisonment,
which kept him free from his enemies
while under Roman protection. Felix
sent for Paul that he might hear Of
Christ from him. Paul behaved him
Alright before these sinners In high
life. He reasoned of righteousness,
self-control and Judgment to come. be-
fore Felix and his sinful wife. with
such power that Felix was terrified
and declared that he would hear Paul
further at a convenient time. This was
n most flimsy excuse for not changing
life and granting justice TO Paul.
lie was so In bondage TO sin that he
was unwilling 10 change. Also he
hoped that by delaying matters lac
would receive a bribe.