Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-07-22
The LESSON FOR SUNDAY
Saul PFoCIaimS Jesus as the Christ
and Prepares Himself for Work.
lNCURS HOSTILITY AMONG The Jews

Testified for Jesus in Damascus ana
Jerusalem-Proves His Sincerity to
the Satisfaction of the Other Dis
ciples Who Start Him on His Way
as an Evangelist.
My Friends.
(By the Teacher).
Last Sunday you recall we studied
of the conversion of Saul to the teach
ings of Jesus Christ. He had a won
derful experience just outside Of the
gates of Damascus, to which city ne
was going in order to continue his
persecution of followers in the CHRIST
ian faith. Suddenly he and his at
tendants were struck by a great light
which knocked them PROSTATE ana
rendered Saul blind. Then there came
a voice which inquired, saul, why
Persecutest Thou Me?" and then and
there was Saul converted to Christ
ianity, the most stalwart champion OF
which he was to be from that time un-
til the end of his life. 1t was a great
day for the world when the Christ ap-
peared before this great unbelieVer and
made a. believer of him. For Saul was
at that time one Of the leading men or
Tarsus; and Tarsus was one OF the
leading cities Of the world. A great
student, great orator and q CRAFTY
politician possessed of great influence
his name was one that carried great
and civic cir
cles.
It was no easy thing, my friends, for
Saul to accept Christianity. 1t meant
a great sacrifice for him. 1t meant
the loss Of old friends. It meant the
loss of position and place. 1t meant
hard work and hardships and persecu-
tion and probable death.
No doubt Saul fully realized all that
when he saw the Light outside the
walls Of Damascus that day. But there
was nothing else to do but accept and
he did not hesitate. He saw his duty
there and then and he. went for 1t therc
and then. While he knew a great deal
about the Christian religion, he felt
that he did not know as much as he
should know and that the proper thing
for him to do was to go to place OF
retirement where he might think and
study and prepare himself thoroughly
to become a witness for Christ.
This little introduction brings US up
to the Scripture Lesson for Sunday.
Let US read it as it is found in the
Acts 9: 1890:
The Scripture Lesson.
1e And when he had received meat. he was
strengthened. Then was Saul certain days
with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20 And straightway he preached Christ IN
the synagogues. that he is the Son of God.
81 But all that heard him were amazed and
said: Is not this he that destroyed them
which called on this name in Jerusalem and
came hither for that intent. that ne might
bring them bound unto the chief priests!
% But Saul increased the more in strength
and confounded the Jews which dwelt al
Damascus. proving that this is very Christ.
% And after that many days were full
filled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
"a But their laying wait was known OF
Saul. And they watched the gates day and
night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and
let him down by the wall in basket.
&c And when Saul was come to Jerusalem.
he assayed to join himself to the disciples:
but they were all afraid of him and believed
not that he was disciple.
u But Barnabas took him and brought him
to the apostles and declared unto them how
he had seen the Lord in the way and how he
had preached boldly at Damascus in the name
Of Jesus.
% And he was with them coming in and
going out ut Jerusalem
20 And he spake boldly in the name of the
Lord Jesus and disputed against the Grecians:
but they went about to Stay him.
80 Which when the brathern knew. they
brought him down to Cesereu, and sent him
forth to Tarsus.
1t is not clear just where Saul went
:ato retirement to preach. He tells us
that he went into Arabia, where he
stayed three years studying and re-
flecting Most writers taink that he
went up into Mount Sinia and proba-
bly, he did. It was a At place for him
to go and if he did he visited a spot
hallowed by great memories and by
the presence Of other great men Of
revelation. Here Moses had seen the
burning bush and communed with God
on top Of the mountain. It was at
Sina also that Elijah had roamed in
his season Of despair and drunk anew
at the well of inspiration.
Recreated His Philosophy.
During his retirement in Arabia,
Saul recrcated his philosophy, re-
studied the prophecies and re-eXam-
incd the law. He earned his bread
while there by making tents for the
Teduoins. He had little as possible to
do with men during that period for he
says in Gal. 1:16, "Straightway I con-
ferred not with flesh and blood" There
was no desire on his part to be SUR
rounded by many friends and followers
as was his custom. His was an en-
tirely changed life. For, says Prof
Janes Iverach, "his old theory Of life
had been shattered; and what he had
regarded as attainments, advantages
and permanent possessions had be-
come valueless. He had read the an
cient Scriptures with d veil over his