Evening star., 1928-12-01

Golden Rule Sunday calls for us to
MAKE our final gift to assist the children
of the Near East. They were saved
through the persuasive power OF the
leading nations of the world from the
perils of persecution, just as Paul was
saved by the Intervention of Claudius
LySiaS from the mob In the temple and
protected by him when Paul faced the
Sanhedrin because he was a Roman
citizen. The tribune not only preserved
the apostles life, but by sending him to
Felix under guard, Paul was placed be-
yond the reach of danger. Our gifts
today ought to place the orphan chill
dren of the Near East in a position OF
self-support. Their persecution will work
out for their good and the advance
ment fthe Kingdom Of God, just as
Paul'S persecution carried the gospel TO
Rome, where he had longed to preach
the good news.
Five days after Paul had reached
Caesarea, the high priSt AnaniaS and q
delegation from the Sanhedrin ap-
peared before the governor. accom-
panied by Tertullus, who appears to
have been a lawyer, authorized by the
Roman government to appear before
their courts and rulers. The lawyer S
flattery of Felix was in the main un-
true. He made q three9old charge
against Paul, that the delegation from
jerusalem concurred in, as being true.
He claimed that Paul was guilty OF trea-
son, heresy and sacrilege, asserting that
the apostle had incited insurrection
among the Jews, was ringleader OF
the NazareneS, and that he had at
tempted to desecrate the temple. These
charges brought Paul's case before the
highest tribunal in Judea. According 10
Tacitus, Felix exercised the power OF
a king with the temper OF slave: He
had been born Roman slave, obtained
his freedom from Claudius Caesar, ana
rose to an important post IN the empire
through favoritism and influence. HIS
reign was one of terror because he re-
mained a slave at heart during all his
career as public servant.
Paul Before Felix.
When Felix beckoned to Paul to an
swer the accusations, he faced the UNI
righteous governor without fear. He
met the issues calmly and courageously
He tactfully referred to the fact that
since Felix had been a judge man
wears, that he was pleased to present
his case before him. This was not fat
terry. but an acknowledgment Of his
faith in Roman justice. 1t was recog-
milton of the fact that the governors
experience had qualified him to under
stand the charges and his defense, for
he claimed that he was not guilty.
Taking up the accusations, one by one,
Paul refuted the charges made by Ter
tullus. Concerning the charge Of trea-
son, he declared that 1t was folly to
charge that he was an inSurrectioniSt
since he had entered Jerusalem only IL
days previous. His acts for that time
proved the abSurdity of the charge.
Half Of the time he he'd spent in .he
temple and the balance Of 1t in the
palace of Herod In CaeSarea, so that he
had little opportunity to foment Sedi-
ton. since he went up to Jerusalem.
He entered sweeping denial and point
ed out that the charge had not been
proven. He acknowledged that he was
a Christian, but insisted that belonging
to the NazareneS was not contrary to
the law. His loyalty to the Jewish faith
was proven by the collection, that he
brought to Jerusalem to aid the poor.
The charge of desecration, Paul pointed
out had been raised, when he was COM
pleting q religious VOW in the temple
and that the Sanhedrin had not been
able to find any evidence to prove him
guilty.
Felix, recognizing the hostility of the
Jews, who were present, postponed
making known his decision until he
could confer with Lysias. Pauls enc
mics saw that they could make no
headway with Felix, so did not press
the case further. They were satisfied
to keep him shut up in prison at Caesa-
rea, where he spent two years. Felix
frequently had him brought before him
with the hope that either Paul or some
Of his wealthy friends would offer him
a financial reward. One would like to
know why Felix expected the money
would be forthcoming, for Paul dressed
like a workingman and lived plainly
One of the many times Felix brought
Paul before him was when DruSilla was
souls, Paul faced the avaricious ruler
and his illegal wife, who was the law
full wife of Aziz, the King of Amesa
and courageously reasoned of right
eousness, temperance and Judgment to
come" He made Felix tremble, when
he spoke of his unbridled passion and
limitless self-indulgence. His demand
for conscientious conduct toward God
and man went home to that small con-
gregation, both of whom were living in
sin. He warned them of the approach
ing judgment. where influence and
pull would not influence the decision
of the Divine Judge. Felix was under
conviction, but he put of making his
decision in the hope of obtaining money
from Paul or his friends, who he evil
IDENTIFY believed had money.
After two years imprisonment Pauls
DESTINY was placed in the hands of q
new governor, who evidently was mar