November 1928 __________________
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Internat ional Lesson Commentary Heart o f the Lesson—K. L. B. :: Outline—David L. Cooper :: Little Folk—Mabel M. Hope s
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D ecember 2, 1928 Paul Before His Judges Text: Acts 24:1-26:32 L esson , in O utline I. Paul Before Felix. Acts 24.
was;, "supposed to have upset the world. Paul was assailed at a time when Jeru salem was full of strangers who had come to the feast bringing accounts of his ac- tivitie&Tin various places,ipTertullus sum med Paul up in the words, “a pestilent fellow” (v. 5)., This is literally, if“a pes tilence." He was credited with being not only a bacterium, but a whole epidemic. Paul, who had already made two de fenses of himself : .(one in the temple area and one before the Sanhedrin) was then given a chance to speak. The next few
down for any; man; however great. • It brings all men down to the. same level. There is no human greatness before the . Gospel. fAll have sinned and icome short o f ' the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Be cause the Gospel can speak in this tone, it . lives forever,?’ ‘ Go thy wayi for this lime; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee” (v. .25). That was Felix’s way ©uf, , He has become the striking type of thou- Sands whd talk of getting saved when: it «pconv.enient. Again and again men have fooled themselves in the same way and cheated themselves out of eternal life. Perhaps- Felix had no set purpose to hard en his heart against the truth. It was merely the absence of a determination to ‘Surrender; to Christ immediately.;; The child puts off-till youth. The youth puts off till manhood. The man puts off till old age comes on. The aged man waits until his deathbed, and then often, it .is too late. “Behold, NOW is the accepted time” (2 Cor. 6 :2). It requifei but three words, to describe the result of Paul’s testimony. 1 . Delay ;■ f -the clear duty of Felix was to repent and accept Christ right then. 2. Resis tance. -Fc\ix fought his convictions down and never again allowed his peace of mind to be disturbed. 3. Rejection —what- ¿fver waS in Felix’s soul when he trem bled, it died away.. Dr. Stuart Holden tells how, when visiting Niagara Falls, he descended into the. cave of the winds. The cataract* sweeps past with a deafening roar. Ile asked the attendant how : he stood the noisie. “I ",never-¡(hear it,” he replied. “When I first came, I thought I couldn’t stand it; now I have became accustomed to it and do not give it a thought.” Thus men become deaf to the voice of the Spirit (Prov. 29:1). What must one do to be" lost? Nothing! Just keep on doing nothing about i t ! (Jno. 3:36). “A fter two years, ; Festus came into Felix’ room” (v. 27). Felix had refused to please the Jews by handing Paul over to them, nor would he offend them by giving Paul his liberty, “He left Paul bound.” Justice delayed for two years.- and^ Paul in jail! Had he soured upon Christianity? Would some of us have stood such a test? But Paul did not let time pass unimproved. Some say he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon during t h i s imprisonment. Others think there is more evidence of these having been written during his im-; prisonment in Rome. We may be sure he wrote many letters to churches and that he was frequently, consulted by church leaders. The Jewish leaders were still, like ser pents, watching their prey. Nothing can live so long as religious hatred. It start ed with Cain who murdered at the altar of God. It is still nurtured in churches today—some of them very orthodox, too! Festus had no sooner gone down to Jeru salem than the high priest and chief Jews
1. The charge of Tertullus: Vs. T9. 2. The defense of Paul. Vs. 10-21. 3. Paul’s, casé postponed. Vs. 22, 23. 4. Felix’s private interview with Paul. , Vs. 24-27. II. Paul Before Festus. Acts 25:1-12. 1. Accusation of Jews at Jerusalem. Vs, 1-5. 2. The trial at Caesarea. Vs. 6-12. III. Paul Before Agrippa. Acts 25:13- ,26:32. p Report concerning Paul by Festus to Agrippa.: 25 :13-22. 2. Agrippa’s desire to hear Paul. 25: 23-27. 3. Paul’s speech before Agrippa. 26: 1-23. 4. Conversation b e t w e e n Paul and Agrippa. 26:24-29. 5. Conference. concerning Paul. 26:30- 32. —o— A N AN IAS, the high priest whom Paul * had called a decorated hypocrite, was still hot on his track and here we find him going with the ciders of Israel and a spe competent to answer Paul. Modern lawyers are nothing in advance of Tertullus. It wás a typical speech, a model of “hot air” effusion. Tertullus “began to accuse him saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this na tion by thy providence, we accept it al- ivays, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness” (vs. 2 - 3 ). Felix was as crooked as a corkscrew, and all knew "it. The Jews hated him. This lawyer who would say anything for a fee, seized upon the only point in the • government of Felix upon which he could hang any praise, and lauded him to the skies. We can always figure that a flat terer is a slippery fellow (Prov. 29:5). People who are good flatterers are usually good for nothing else. As bad as Felix was, however, he had a spark of man hood left which made him despise.¡this slushy talk, and refuse to give these per secutors the. decision. Three charges were lodged against P a u l : 1 . S e d i t i o n .(v. 5). 2 . Sac rilege (v. 6 ). 3. Sectarianism (v. 5). He cial orator, Tertul lus, to inform the governor a g a i n s t P a u l . A Roman professional orator, it was t h o u g h t , would make a big ger impression upon Felix ,ánd would be
Why Not Vote
The Way You Pray? In President Glenn Frank’s oft-quoted prayer at the open ing of the Wisconsin Senate there occurs this very appropri ate petition: "Save us f r o m thinking about the next election when, we s h o u ld be thinking about the next generation.” It has come to pass now that dome change could Well be made and the wisest petition read: “While thinking of the ,n e x t election, help us to think about the next generation." The heritage we are to pass on to those who follow us should help to make it easy for- them to lead righteous lives Our nation has had its curse of poverty and crime sufficient to warn us against any terrible repetition of the sale o f liquor. Many o f our youth have .never seen a barroom and if we. vote for their protection as we pray ■ theyf never will see that sad sight.
verses are a repetition of his testimony. One thing only he had (o confess. “ But this I 'Confess' unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the Godl of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” (v. 14). Beginning at v. 22, we have Felix be fore Paul instead of Paul before Felix. Paul gave a message adapted to a rescue mission, in high society, and “as he rea soned of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come, Felix trembled” (v. 25). The Revised Version gives it: "he ,was terrified." His teeth chattered. He shook from head to foot. He wasn’t wholly beyond the l i n e of impression. When a man trembles under the. Gospel, it is high time to take action about his soul. Conscience is not altogether dead. Prayer can. still find a man who has a bit of tremble left in him. Did you ever think of the moral dig nity of the Gospel? It does not b a c k
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