The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-11-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

can by DIR. U. S. Wright.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20.
PAUL BEFORE THE KING
Acts 25:1-26:32.
Now hath Christ risen from the dead,
the first fruits o. them that are
asleep.-I. Cor. 1920
WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION
CHANGES.
A new world does not come in with
the new officers. Prediction prom
ises may be very rosy, but when one
takes them in hand the thorns are felt.
The millennium is not made over night
or started with an Inauguration. Old
problems are as persistent as hysteria
patients at free clinic. Out Felix, in
Festus, with Paul still a disturber of
the political peace. The outgoers usu-
ally leave some gift like that for the
special plasure for the incOmers for
fear they will not otherwise fully APP
preciate the privilege of office. Now
Festus was by far the better man of
the two and an entirely different type.
Felix was an opportunist when Ly-
sias is come; "When thy accusers are
come; "When | have a convenient
season l will call thee, all proclaim
the easy-going, undecided man of to-
morrow. Festus arrived, tired from
long oversee journey, with all the
getting settled details if office and ad-
ministration, but "after three days
went up to Jerusalem" son the NOR
row he commanded Paul to be
brought" Thou hast appealed unto
Caesar; unto Caesar thou shalt GO"
"And Agrippa said unto Festus, 4 also
could wish to hear the man myself
Tomorrow, saith he, thou shalt hear
him. " Here speaks the prompt, eff
cient man of today who does things
first and explains afterward. It was
entirely characteristic that the hold
over problem should be promptly met.
But it was forced on him at Jerusa-
lem, whose smouldering hate had lost
none of its heat against the Apostle,
and took this opportunity to make
first request which it would be polite
to grant in an attempt to secure the
favour of his new wards who had
ousted his predecessor. Believing
they would play the game fairly he
was the more willing to carry out
their wish, but he was a Roman with
reverence for the law which he would
not override even to secure their good
will. Immediately after their coming
to Caesarea he brought out the pris-
oner and listened to their heated
charges which left him in the great
est perpleXity, for he was not familiar
with Jewish ideas. His simplicity
played into their hands, for it seemed
to him the most natural thing in the
world for such questions to be settled
by those who understood them. 1t was
polite also to treat the Jewish court
with respect and it seemed an easy
way out of his inheritance to carry
the case to Jerusalem, reserving the
Roman jurisdiction over the sentence.
But Paul knew the temper and the
treachery of the Sanhedrin too well to
venture. Agabus and the other Chris
tians who had opposed his earlier go
ing would have been perfectly sure
that it was the Spirit speaking to him
now when he sturdily refused to allow
himself even to be taken there under
cover of Roman spears. Here was a
hard blow for Festus With every in
tention of doing the right thing, his
very first judicial decision was ques-
toned and taken out of his hands by
an appeal to the Emperor who had
sent him there to keep things from be-
ing referred to him. He was seemingly
failing both with his subjects and with
his home Office But he hesitated only
long enough to learn the facts and
made his decision instantly: "To Gaze
sar thou shalt go"
WHEN THE BELT BREAKS
King Agrippa was the pageant ap-
peal to Jewish prejudice, for he was
but a phantom king. However, he
made good appearance and helped
bit in difficult situation. His visit
of welcome to the new Governor brot
him to the palace at time when Fes-
tus was especially glad to see him, for
he was sitting up nights thinking how
he could send Paul to Rome without
charge that would justify such trip.
For the whole matter should have
been laughed out of court long before.
The king brought his sister, the beau
tiful widow Bernice, about whose
name gossip had talked in scarlet,
who carried the dignity of a queen
into the court of the provincial CAPT