The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-07-07
LESSON FOR JULY 10
SAUL THE PHARSSEE.


SAUL THE PHARtsEE.
LESSON TExT-Acts 7:54-s:s; s2;s. Z;
a:4, &, g. 10.
GOLDEN TExT-Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners; OF whom
I am chief.-I Tim. lis.
REFERENCE WATERFALL Cor. lb:s;
Gal. 1:13; Phil. 3:4-S; Tim. lib
PRIMARY TOPIC-Going to School In
Jerusalem.-Acts 22:3, 4; 5:A.
JUNIOR TOPIC = Saul Prosecuting
Christians
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Young Pharisee.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Saul Prosecuting the Church.
l.. Saul's Training as a Pharisee
(Acts 22 IA; 26:4,5).
/. Taught to love his own nation. Il
am Jew" The Pharisees were
the nationalists Of their day. Those
who are intellgently loyal to their own
nation can more effectively help others.
2. Taught to love Gods law. Taught
according to the perfect manner OF the
law of the fathers" Love for the
Holy Scriptures Is a valuable asset
In life. One may misinterpret it and
dangerously misapply it; but If he
has love in his heart for 1t there is
hope of getting him to come into right
relationship to 1t. ...
3. Was Jealous toward God" The
root of the word Jealous signifies
ito boil" 1t means a passion for God
and His work. It was zeal for God
that made Saul think of and plan
for his work. This zeal for God ex-
pressed itself In persecution of the
Christians whom he regarded as do
ing that which was contrary to Gods
law and purpose. He spared neither
age nor sex, even to Imprisonment and
death (Acts 22:D. r ff
,slIi. Saul Thoroughly Conscientious
i(26:9, 1O). u i..
In his conscientisusness he opposed
Jesus, for he regarded Him as an
impostor. Saul is to be commended
In that he responded: to. his conscience,
but he is to b condemned for his
attitude toward Jesus; for there was
overwhelming evidence that Jesus was
Gods Son and came In fultillment OF
the Scriptures The resurrection Of
Christ was such an outstanding mira
cle--a proof Of the Deity Of Christ,
that there was no room left for doubt.
vi. Stephens Martyrdom (Acts Z:
54; 8:3). D.'
In order to understand the signifi-
canoe of his martyrdom we must OBJ
tain synthetic view Of his life.
/. Who Stephen was (6:1-O. He
was one of the seven who were ap-
pointed to look after the temporali-
ties of the church.
2. Why Stephen was opposed (6:S-
15). In his work he testified of Christ
and by the Holy Spirit wrought mira,
cles. These mighty works aroused
the people, The following features
characterized him: (D Wisdom
which means common sense; (2)
grace, which means beauty Of charac
ter; (3) power. He had the ability
to do wonders and great signs ant
speak the truth effectively. The meI
of the opposing synagogues were MOI
able to withstand the wisdom ant
the Spirit by which he spake." They
arrested and brought him before thu
great council. Even here they coult
not silence him by argument, SO the,
decided to do it by violence.
8. Stephen stoned q :54-60). Befor'
the council he made magnificent de
fense. This he did by tracing tn
history of Israel from the call of Abra
ham to the crucifixiOn of Christ. Hi
aim in this review was to show tina
God never had been localized and tina
the temple was but a small part o
Gods plan. In his address he di'
not speak against the temple, bu
showed that God did not in the full
est sense dwell In 1t at any time. H
proved this from Scripture lisa. 81
Il, 2; Kings 8-27). In his conclu
sion he declared that the Jews ha
always been a stiff-necked people, RI
sisting the Holy Spirit, and now thel
stubbornness had reached Its culmins
ton in the betrayal, rejection an
murder of the Son Of God. Thi
charge cut to the heart. His argl
ments were unanswerable. Being III
willing to answer him and at the sam
time to accept the truth presente'
their anger was stirred to its highe.
pitch; so their only answer was stone
They gnashed upon him as q mad do
In this hour of trial God gave him
wonderful vision. He was permittt
to see into heaven itself, and thel
he got sight Of the glorified Son
Man standing at the right hand 4
God. 3
4 Stephens burial (S:1-3). II
death 10 described as falling aslee
This 10 really all that death is to u
Christian. Devout men buried hi
making great lamentation over him.