Evening star., 1921-11-19
Sunday School Lesson

Herod. who was eaten by the worms:
the great-grandson of Herod the
Great and grand-nephew of Herod
Antipas. who beheaded John the
Baptist" His father, Herod Agrippa
!, had imprisoned Peter and put
in-law Of Felix, for Drusilla and Ber-
nice. with whom he was living in
incest, were his sisters. He had
ruled q small section beyond Jordan
called Trachonitis for about ten
years. He was interested in the
desire to hear Paul. with the view
of helping the new procuretor pre-
pare the case for Rome.
Festus summoned Paul to appear the
next day before the king and his court
without delay. This decision literally
apostle-"He Is a chosen vessel unto me
to bear my name before the gentiles,
and kings, and the children Of Israel"
When the prisoner was brought in be-
fore the court with all its pomp it was
one OF the most striking scenes in all
history. Canon Glazebrook has describ-
ed 1t. There sat in mock majesty the
freedman Festus, who, from being a
slave, had risen by the basest arts to
to the ruler Of a Roman province-a
man whom the whole conditions Of
his life had conspired to render hard.
selfish, INSCRIPTIONS and common
place. By his side was Agrippa, the
shadowy prince of a petty Jewish
state, the splendor of whose dress
was only matched by his personal
scrvility and insignificance. Before
them that shabby, bleared-eyed pris-
oner, bowed with the premature age
of hardship and suffering, was the
man whom future ages were TO rec
ognize as beyond all comparison the
greatest man of his generation. The
very names of Festus and Agrippa
live because they once had the power
classic address is considered one of
the worlds greatest orations.
The apostle did not have time to
make an elaborate preparation. 1t is
evident by Festus. summary of the
case case that he has given It much
his death. His investigation proved
that he had done nothing worthy of
capital punishment. Paul had ap-
pealed to Caesar and the purpose of
their conference was to ascertain a
reason for, sending him to. Rome.
the apostle permission to speak,
Paul slowly stretched forth his man
acled hand" and with marvellous
skill and moral earnestness proceeded
to deliver his fifth defense of the
faith in an effort to win the king for
No orator ever used more con-
summate art in his address. No man
ever tried more earnestly to convert
the unexpected opportunity into a
glorious victory. Commencing with
a tactful reference to his personal
happiness In having the opportunity
to present his case to Agrippa, who
was an expert in the affairs of his
race and religion. Paul presented his
record as Jew because he hoped
through his own experience to make
the king see in Jesus the fulfillment
of the Messianic hope and prophetic
thorough Judaism in blood. education
and feeling. He revealed it by his
persecution Of the Christians. when
he thought that by SO doing he was
obeying the will Of God.
inconsistent with his we'll known
position as a strict Pharisee. He
had always believed, with his sect,
in the promise of a resurrection made
by God to their fathers and recorded
in the Scriptures. The prevailing
the Pharisees. The apostle contended
that 1t was not criminal for him to
believe in the resurrection Of the
dead. since it was in accordance with
the faith of his nation. The grave
of Jesus was for His disciples the
resurrection from the dead. revived
that hope. His persecution of the
early Christians he cited as proof
of his patriotism. His conversion
changed that policy. 1t was due to
the demonstration OF the fact that
and heard His voice.
Religion had always meant for Paul
obedience. He dared not disobey the
Masters voice. He went everywhere