Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-11-04
|. Paula Arrest l21:ls-4Ol.


!. Paui's Arrest (21 :1S-40).
The immediate occasion of this was
his effort to remove the prejudice
which certain ones held against him.
His reception by representatives OF
the church was most cordial. In order
that all the brethren In Jerusalem
might gracously receive him, 1t was
proposed to him by the elders that
he take Jewish vow to prove
that he was In no way opposed to the
law. They recognized that such an
act would In no way compromise or
involve the Gentle brethren. AS to
how far this act concliated the Jews
we are not told but 1t only enraged
the unbelieving Jews causing them to
resort to mob law. These maddened
Jews on the basis Of superstition,
seized him and dragged him from the
temple and beat him mercilessly, in
tending to put him to death. Paul
was rescued from the mob by the
Roman guard, stationed nearby. Paul
kept himself under control and po-
l@.ly asked permission of the captain
to speak to the people. When he adj
dressed him In Greek and quoted his
Roman citizenship, the captain grant
ed his request.
II. Paups Defense 22:1-2O.
/. His claim for a rightfu hearing
wv. 1-3). ~ His birth ". 81. He
was q Jew born In Tarsus. city OF
no mean reputation. (2) His educa-
ton ". 81. He was educated in school
under the tutorshlp of Gamallel, and
instructed according to the perfect
manner Of the fathers" ". 81. His
zeal ". 81. He was as Jealous to-
ward God as those Jews who were
trying to destroy him.
2. His attitude toward Jesus (vv.
4. -. 81 prosecuted this way unto
the death"-it was one of hatred, rs
was that Of the Jews.
3. How his attitude was changed
wv. 6-l6). His changed attitude was
brought about by the intervention Of
God. While on his way to Damascus,
with authority to bind and bring the
Christians to Jerusalem to be pun
ished, he was smitten to the ground
by light from heaven, and the voice
of the Lord said, "Why persecutest
thou me?" When Paul inquired Ms
to what the Lord would have him do.
he was told TO 90 to Damascus, where
he would be told what to do. Ana
Mas was sent by the Lord to make
known His viii to him.
4. The Lord commissioned him to go
10 the Gentiles wv. 17-2D. II was
not Of his own will that he preached
to the Gentles, but by the Lords d.
rect commission.
III. Paul Before the sanhedrln (23:
1-10).
The Roman officer. In order to learn
why Paul was arrested, commanded
the chief council to assemble, and
brought Paul before them.
l. Pauls earnest look at the coun-
ell wv. l, y. This was soliclta-
ton of their honor to give him fair
hearing, and also look of conscious
integrity and unfsltering courage. He
protests that his behavior as per-
secutor of the church and preacher Of
the Gospel has been in keeping with
the highest principle Of national In
tegrity. At this the high priest or
dered him TO be smltten on the mouth.
.. Pauls stern rebuke of the head
of the council ". 81. "God shall
smlte thee, thou whited sepulcher'-
fair without and foul within. This
was a just sentence, no doubt direct
ed by the Lord. Pauls words show
that he had the highest respect for
the office, but the man now occupying
1t was not worthy Of 1t.
3. Paul's appeal to the Pharisees
wv. 6-10). Seeing that he could not
get fair hearing, and percelvlng that
the body before him was made up Of
Pharlsees and Sadducees, he appealed
to the Pharisees, hoping to get their
attention, for his preaching had some
thing in common with their beliefs.
This resulted In squabble.
w. The Lord Stood by Paul ". 11).
Paul was In great need of grace to
sustain him. He may have begun to
question the wisdom Of his course In
going to Jerusalem, but this assured
him that his course was right, and
thus comfort was brought to him.
v. The Conspiracy to XIII Paul wv.
12-22).
More than forty men banded to-
gether for the purpose of getting Paul
out Of the way. They placed them
selves under curse to abstain from
eating and drinking until they had
murdered him. God defeated their
plans without a miracle. This was
done by Paul's nephew. Their fatal
mistake was that they left God out
Of the question.