Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-14
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For July 17th Acts GLIB "The Conversion of Saul
BY DR. MARION NH. HULL

Golden Text: Faithful L. the say
ing, ana worthy Of all occupation,
that Christ Jesus came into tho world
to save sinners; Of whom am chief"
Il Tim. lis.
The conversion of Saul of Tarsus
was the most important event in the
worlds history with the exception of
the life, death, resurrection and as
cension of Jesus Christ-for two rea-
sons: (D it changed the greatest
enemy of the truth into it's greatest
proof of the truth, for with the
trained mind, the consuming zeal, the
contemporaneouS witnesses, Saul OF
Tarsus had the best opportunity that
was ever presented to anybody to
learn the truth, and the fact that he
was convinced should leave no doubt
as to the truth in the mind Of any
one since. So then let US look at 1t
more in detail now.
Saul the Prosecutor
We have seen that sometimes after
the death of Jesus Saul of Tarsus
came to Jerusalem as member of
the Sanhedrim. The disciples were
most active in Jerusalem just then,
and many, even of the priests, were
being convinced of the truth of their
testimony as to the resurrection of
Jesus of Nazareth, whom they were
therefore proclaiming as the Christ.
The church had grown so large that
seven deacons were appointed to
minister in it's temporal affairs and
thus give more freedom for the
apostles to serve in other ways.
One of these deacons, from his name,
seems to have been an HelleniSt; and
he, Stephen, full Of faith and of the
Holy Spirit, was most active in CIV
ing his testimony among those who
influences. Some from various for
eign synagogues-and undoubtedly it
was Saul from Cilicia (Acts 6:9)-
disputed with him, but they were not
able to resist the wisdom and the
spirit by which Stephen spoke. This
finally resulted in his martyrdom,
the chief instigator being the young
phen's look, and Stephens life, and
prayer in death for his forgiveness
made an impression on Saul which he
never forgot. But at the moment 1T
Infatuated him beyond measure. He
determined to stop this blasphemy
and so he instigated house-to-house
hunt for any who were the leader
ship of it. He tore the church up in
Jerusalem, like wild boar does the
ground. He showed no mercy on
either men or women; they were
III @6 SCu " pl4SO1I1 S1NSA Tic SC1Il@
blance of trial before death (Acts
26:10-the word voice" is the Greek
word for pebble" When one voted,
he put his pebble" or ballot, in the
box. This verse also proves he was
a member of the Sanhedrim, for no
ing arrested and punished every one
he could in Jerusalem, he secured
letters from the high priest, who
happened to be a Sadducee and was
glad of such an ally, that he might
go to Damascus and bring to Jeru-
salem any he found there. Damascus
was then under the rule of Aretas
of Petra. and there are references in
the Talmud which show that he was
exceedingly friendly with the high
priest at that time. Saul would have
exceptional opportunities, therefore,
of executing his commission.
1t was 1853 miles to Damascus, and
himself and his company of Temple
Guards. it would have taken him at
least a week to make the trip. Or
dinarilv travellers would rest at mid
day on account of the intense heat
of the Syrian sun. but Saul, in the
for that even. (Acts $3.50
The journey had not been wholly
pleasant though, for Saul had been
occupied with some unpleasant COM
pany. AS member of the San
hedrim, he would have little CONVEX
satton with his servants: and so he
would be thrown upon his own
thoughts for company. He had been
SO active ever since Stephens death
that he had had not time to think.
But now he had nothing else to do.
The GoadS
midday just before he reached Da-
He appeared to Saul and
said, ut is hard for thee to kick
against the goads?" All, during that
long journey Sauis thoughts had
been to him what the goads are TO
Will not go as his master wants and
kicks back only to be stung by the
sharp iron on stick. until he yields
and goes forward as he should. saul
had been thinking-there were Ste
phen's arguments when they had dis
puted, Stephens speech Wnen the1
had tried him, Stephens face when
he said he saw the Lord Jesus In
heaven, Stephens wonderful prayer
for him; then there was the testl-
mony of lip and life given, by those
men and women whom he had drag
ged from their houses. lmprlsons99
md murdered. They had a peace and
. power that he had never been
able to attain even though he had
done his best to keep every REQUIRE
ment of the law. Gould thew be rlent
after all? Could he be Wrong-the
Jealous Pharisee? Oh. yes. these
things hurt like goads.
And yet all of this struggle was
in his sub-conscious mind, He SUN
had the letters; he was still press
ing on with great haste; and II you
had stopped him and talked with
him, he would have never acknoWl-
edged one Of these thoughts to you,
for he was not conscious or the1n
then-not until Jesus talked ABOUT
The Voice and the Light
Did you ever dead The Hound OF
Heaven?" 1t is a wonderful little
poem by Frederick Thompson de-
scriptive of how Gods love, ike an
English hound, never stops IN us
pursuit until it has caught It's op-
ject.
ST fled Him. down the nights and
down the days.
I fed Him. down the arches Oh the
years, ,
/ fled Him. down the labyrinthine
WAYS
Or my own mind" etc.
But with unhurrying chase.
And unperturbed pace.
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy'
Thew beat-and a Voice beat