Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-11-17

JUNIOR TOPIC - Paul Before King
Agrppa.
INTERMEDIATE AN D SENIOR TOPIC
An Appeal TO Caesar.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Paurs Courageous Testimony Before
King.
!. Paul Before Festus (25 lip.
As soon as FeStuy, the new gov
ernor, goes to Jerusalem, he Is be-
sieged with acsusers against Paul,
and they desire that he be brought TO
Jerusalem for trial. intending to lie
In wait and kill him on the way.
Festus refused their request, but
agreed to give them an opportunity to
accuse Paul if they would go down
to Caesarea. They 80, but are unable
to prove anything against him, Fes-
tus, willing to please the Jews. pro-
poses to send him to Jerusalem for
trial. For this Paul issues q rebuke
to Festus by asserting that he very
we'll knew that he was innocent. See
ing that 1t was impossible to get JUS
tice before Festus, Faul makes use
of his right as q Roman citizen, ana
appeals to Caesar. Paul well knew
that to 90 to Jerusalem meant death,
and since Festus was too much VI
time-seryer to release him when ne
knew that he was junocent, he makes
use of the radical step of appealing
to Rome as the last resort. Festus
seems to have been taisen by surprlse.
His failure to release an Innocent
man had placed him In an awkward
position, for he could give no explain
alton as to why al innocent man
should 20 to Rome for trial. For
man to appear before Caesar would
cast reflection upon lTestus. He now
consulted his council as to what TO
do, but since fhe RIman law gave
every man the right Of appeal to the
emperor, there was nothing left for
him to do but to grar:t his request.
u. Paul Before AsrIppa (25:13-
26:2D.
1. The occasion t25 1920. This
was the visit of Agrlppa and Bernice
to Festus Upon their arrival they
expressed q desire to hear Paul,
whereupon Eestus told them Of his
perplexity; so 1t wns arranged that
Paul be brought before them for ex-
animation.
2. The defense (25:1-2D. W The
Introduction wv. Ley. In this he ex-
pressed his delight that he now, could
sneak and tell his case to one who
was able to follow his line Of argu-
ment for Agrippa was an expert In
questions concerning the Jews; but
most of all he was now happy In that
he could witness to him Of the Savior
and perhaps lead Kim into the light
of God. (2) : In his manner of life
(vy. 4.12). This he showed had
been In strictest accord with the most
rigid sect Of the Jews. He possessed
the same hope--thnt Of coming De
liyerer-and reminded them Of the
fact tina. formerly he was most bit
terly opposed to Christ, as his zeal
would prove. These facts make the
change from a prosecutor to an ar
dent advocate all the more remark
able. (3) His supernatural CONVEX
sion ivy. 13-15). Jesus Christ ap-
nenred to him on the way to Damas-
Gus and revealed himself to him. (D
Jesus Christ commissioned him for his
work wv. 16-1S). He was sent unto
the Gentiles (a) to open their eyes,
so awfully blinded; (b) to perform
the blessed work Of turning them from
darkness to light; (c) to turn them
from the power Of Satan unto God;
(d) that they might receive forgive
ness Of sins; (e) and that they might
obtain an inheritance among the
saints. (5) His conservation wv. l9-
23). AS soon as he received his COM
mission he obeyed. The very vigorous
nrosecution Of his work brought him
into conflict with the Jews. for which
they sought to kin him. (6) The In
terruption by Festus ". 24. Seeing
how thoroughly in earnest Paul was,
he attempted to account for 1t by
calling him a crank, attributing 1t to
the rawlings Of an unbalanced mind.
(7) Paul's appeal to Agrippa wv. 20
27). Still maintaining his courtesy,
he appealed to his knowledge of the
work of Jesus and of the prophets,
for they have an intimate connection.
He was anxious to have Agrippa act
on the knowledge which he had.
III. Agrippa Almost Persuaded
(26 :2S32).
Whether this answer is n contemptu-
Gus sneer or not, it Is evident that his
soul was unwilling to yield. Paul
took Agrippa seriously. Paul's heart
longed that Agrippa and all concerned
would accept Christ and be saved. Ee
desired that all might have the saliva
| finn of Christ but would snare all the