November 1930
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
531
Three days of blindness, in which he had time to take an inventory of his past, as well as to let the glorious vision be in delibly burned into his heart, were neces sary to prepare him for the new course of his life. V. 11. When I could not see. Saul be came totally blind (cf. 9 :8 ). I came into Damascus. Not at the head of a band of destroyers who expected t o ' lead many captive Christians back to imprisonment and death, but now, a broken, humbled man, Saul was “led by the hand,” and was ready to be led also by the Spirit of God. V. 12. And one Ananias. In the first story of Saul’s conversion (9 :10 ), Ana nias is simply called a disciple. On this occasion, when speaking to the Jewish mob, Paul does not mention that Ananias was a Christian, and he makes no note of the vision that Ananias had. A devout man according to the law. This language would sound better in the ears of the Jews than it would to say that he was a devout Christian. In spite of his Christian pro fession, he was “well reported to by all the Jews.” V. 13. Came unto me. The student should remember the details of the fuller account given by Luke. The Lord had told Ananias in a vision to find Saul in the house of Judas on a street which was called Straight. Ananias was afraid to go until the Lord told him of the perse cutor’s transformation. Said unto me, Brother Saul. In that simple salutation, “brother,” the persecutor was welcomed into the Christian church. Receive thy sight. According to Acts 9:17, Ananias added, “and be filled with the Holy Spir it.” I looked up on him. Sight was imme diately restored. Some have imagined that a weakness of eyes remained with Paul throughout his life as a result of his ex perience. But it seems unwise to build such a theory upon the slender evidence that is at hand. V. 14. The God of. our fathers. An expression which Paul was wise in using in speaking to a congregation of Jews. Hath appointed thee. Luke’s account (Acts 9:17) reads: “The Lord, even Jesus . . . hath sent me.” Paul was called to apostleship. In order to be qualified he must first know the will of God. . Second, he must have seen Jesus Christ, the righteous one. Perhaps Saul had never seen Jesus in the flesh. Third, he must receive a direct call to apostleship by word of mouth from the Lord. V. IS. Thou shalt be a witness. Paul’s commission was to Jews, Gentiles, and kings. He was also informed that he was to suffer much for Christ’s sake (cf. 9:15, 16). * * * L e sso n Q u e stio n s V. 3. Was Paul ashamed of his Jewish ancestry? Was he always interested in the salvation of his own people (cf. Rom. 10 :1)? Where was Tarsus? Was it an important city? Where had Saul had his religious education? Was he well trained in the Hebrew ceremonial law? Did he have a good conscience and a great zeal for God (cf. Phil. 3 :4 -6 )? V. 4. Why were Christians called “this Way” ? What was Saul attempting to do? Was he thoroughly conscientious in his attitude toward the church (cf. Acts 23: 11; 2 6 :9 )? May one be honest yet blind and disobedient?
2. The sight of the glory of God is always overpowering (cf. Isa. 6 :1 -5 ; Rev. 1 :17). 3. Every injury a Christian suffers is an attack upon the Christian’s Lord. W e have the privilege of suffering for Him and with Him (cf. Matt. 25 : 40, 45). 4. Liberal criticism tries to persuade Christians that Saul’s vision was merely a strange subjective experience, and that Saul’s Christianity sprang out of his Phariseeism, tempered by his knowledge of Greek philosophy. But Saul most sure ly had an objective vision that day. He saw a real person, the Lord Jesus. It was an exclusive vision in that he saw no one else. It was inclusive in that he saw in the Lord JesUs everything he ever would need thereafter. 5. None will ever find Christ the Sav iour who refuse to say in effect, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to d o ? ” fcf Rom. 10:9, 10). 6 . The babe in Christ does not step at once from the first calling upon the Lord into the service and experience of a ma ture Christian. Like Saul, he is led a step at a time. Marching orders are given him and grace is supplied for every changing position and circumstance. 7. What tenderness there is in the first words of Ananias to the former perse cutor, “Brother Saul” ! In a moment, fiercest enemies become brethren when there is submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 . Saul received sight in many senses, pm received physical vision. He saw the Lord Jesus who ever after was real to . him. He saw, in a general way, the fu ture program for his life. . Added light upon details was given -as? it was neces sary m the years that followed. 9. Saul’s vision was not for personal self-gratification. He was given light that he might lead others into light. He saw the Lord in order that he might make the Lord Jesus known. Every Christian ex perience should be made a means of blessing to others. * * * G olden T e x t I llu str a tio n Two young soldiers were talking about tEe service of Christ. One of them said, I can’t tell you all that , the Lord Jesus is to me. I do wish that you would en list in His army.” “I am thinking about it,” answered his comrade, “but it means giving up several things; in fact, I am counting the cost.” An officer, passing at that moment, heard the remark, and, laying his hand on the shoulder of the speaker, he said, Young friend, you talk of counting the cost of following Christ, but have you ever counted the cost of not following Him?” For days that question rang in the ears of the young man, and he found no rest till he sought it at the feet of the Sav iour of sinners, whose faithful soldier and servant he has now been for twenty-seven years. — o— . ' December 21, 1930 1 Timothy: The Influence of Home Training Lesson: Acts 16:1-3; Phil. 2:19-22- 2 Tim. 1:1 -6 ; 3:14-16. (Lesson Text: 2 Tim. 1:1 -6 ; 3:14-16.) Golden Text : “From a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able
A Thanksgiving Prayer Lord, I thank Thee for the great ness O f Thy love’s unfailing spring; Let my heart be always singing, Everywhere for everything. Only fo r Thy glory living, Serving Thee in humblest ways, Keep me, Lord, Thy heart from grieving, Teach me, Lord, to live Thy praise. —Living Waters ;
V. 5. Was Saul, as a persecutor, in partnership with the Jewish authorities ? What assistance had they given him ? Why did Paul speak of these Jewish au thorities, his accomplices, as “brethren” ? Did he show tact in thus addressing the mob? V. 6 . To what city was Saul journey ing? By what event was he suddenly halted? How great was the light that he saw? How do you explain that light? V. 7. What was the effect of the vision upon Saul? What did he hear? What question was asked of him? V. 8 . What question did Saul ask ? Was he sure that he had seen the Lord and heard His voice? What did the Lord answer? What lesson do you get out of the Lord’s use of the title, “Jesus of Nazareth” ? Whom did He say Saul had been persecuting? Does the Lord Jesus identify Himself with each of His dis ciples (cf. Matt. 25 :40, 45) ? V. 9. What was the effect of the vision upon the bystanders? Did they see and hear all that Saul saw and heard? V. 10. What did Saul say next? Is submission to the Lord necessary to sal vation (cf. Rom. 10:9, 10, R. V .)? What was Saul told to do? V. 11. Did Saul become totally blind?' How did he find his way into Damascus? V. 12. Who was Ananias? If he was a Christian, how could he have “a good report of all the Jews,” since the Jews usually hated Christians? V. 13. Was Ananias willing at first to go to Saul (cf. 9 :13-15) ? In what way did he address Saul? What made Saul and Ananias brethren? Did Saul receive anything else than his eyesight (cf. 9 :1 7 )? V. 14. Why did Paul, speaking of this event to the mob in Jerusalem, refer to God as “the God of our fathers” ? What three things did Ananias say that God had in mind for Saul? Was it necessary for an apostle to have seen the Lord Jesus and to be called personally by Him? V. 15. To whom was Paul sent as A witness? What message was he given? * * * P ra c tic a l P o in ts 1. The great turning point in the life of every one of us is the moment when We meet the Lord Jesus. Saul’s meeting with Jesus Christ meant also a great turning point in the history of the church. Won derful consequences came from that event w'hich occurred in a rather obscure place and which was known at first to probably only a few people.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs