October 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
466 Saviour, it would be wise if Paul did something that would show that he still honored the law. Accordingly, Paul took upon himself a peculiar vow which made necessary his appearance in the temple for seven full days. But just before the seven days were completed, the Jews from Asia recognized him, and immediately they went about to have him persecuted, even unto death. These Asiatic Jews charged Paul with teaching against the people of Israel, with defaming the law, and with defiling the temple. This accusation stirred up the crowds that were gathered in the city for the feast. Blinded as they were by preju dice, they could not see that the very ac tion of Paul in taking this voluntary vow spoke aloud of his reverence for the law, the temple, and the nation. The reason for the Jews’ charge that Paul defiled the temple was that they “sup posed” he had taken a Gentile into the holy place. They had seen him with Tro phimus in the city, and they “supposed” that he had taken him into the temple court into which no Gentile was permitted to enter. There were two courts in the temple, the inner and the outer courts. Into the former, none but Jews were ad mitted; it was separated from the outer court by a wall, called the middle wall of partition, beyond which no stranger was to pass, under penalty of death. II. T he D anger for P aul (30-36). The crowd was stirred to a pitch of fanatical frenzy which came perilously near to the murder of Paul. Fanaticism of any kind is a dangerous thing, espe cially religious fanaticism. It results in mob rule, uncontrolled by the sense of justice, and it is as dangerous to the inno cent as to the guilty. They “laid hold on Paul and dragged him out of the temple” ; that is, out of the inner court. The doors were immediately closed. Then the law less spirit of the mob was manifested. They would have killed Paul then and there, without any further enquiry. But the tumult had reached the ears of the Roman official who had charge of the guard of the temple. The t o w e r of Antonia Castle, connected with the tem ple by a flight of stairs, was occupied by soldiers, about 1,000 of them, under a chief captain, or tribune. This captain at once came upon the scene and rescued Paul from the hands of the mob. 1. The mob was not only lawless but it was cowardly. As soon as the soldiers appeared, the enraged mob ceased beating Paul. They were like a pack of wolves, ready to tear an unprotected victim to pieces, but ready also to flee at the first sign of personal danger. The majority was against Paul, but the majority is not always right. The voice of the people does not always speak the truth. 2. The mob was unreasonable in its lawlessness. When the chief captain inquired for the cause of the uproar, he found that the people did not know what it was that had enraged them. They were in such con fusion that they could not give a sensible reason for their fury. In spite of this, they were eager to tear Paul to pieces, and the soldiers were needed to surround the apostle in order to protect his life.
vantage of being sustained by the presence of his fellows. But Paul stood alone—as far as the eye of man could see—yet not alone. Paul knew he was as safe as though there were no mob to attack him and no Roman soldiers to protect him. The Christian, as he remembers the presence of his Lord, finds calmness and quietness of soul. 2. He showed no resentment. He brought no railing accusations against those who unjustly accused him of wrongdoing. As far as Paul was con cerned, it was not the people themselves who were to blame, but Satan behind the people who brought the charge, and who sought to put to death the servant as he had the servant’s Lord. 3. He was surrendered to. the Lord. This was the secret of his composure. Paul looked upon himself as the prisoner of Christ; hence he felt he could not be taken prisoner by any other power. He looked upon himself as the servant of Christ; therefore, his Master would sure ly take care of him. He thought of him self as being the property of the Lord; therefore the Lord would protect His own possession. Moreover, he considered him self the representative of the Lord; so the treatment he received was really given to his Lord. It would be well if every Chris tian today shared Paul’s keen sense of re lationship to Christ. Then would he be kept, as Paul was—calm and unruffled and wholly satisfied, whatever experiences came. Lesson Questions Vs. 27-29. Why were the Asiatic Jews angry with Paul? Whom did they sup pose he had taken into the temple? With what result? What vow had Paul taken? Was it misinterpreted by the Jews? Were they ignorant of the truth that the perfec tion of the law necessitated the gospel of grace? Vs. 30-36. What was the object of the infuriated mob? What evidences are there that these enraged Jews were cow ardly and lawless? By what means were their efforts thwarted? Vs. 37-39. Show how Paul’s sense of union with Christ made him calm and un afraid in the face of danger. Is this the secret of the Christian’s composure to day? _____ Golden Text Illustration Benjamin Franklin is said to have dis covered that sowing plaster in a field would make things grow better. When he told his neighbors about this discovery, they did not believe him. But early the next spring, he traced some letters with his fingers, close by the path where men would walk. He put some plaster into these letters and then sowed seed all over the field. After a couple weeks, his neigh bors who passed that way were surprised to see, near the path, the words, this has been plastered,” growing in brighter green than the grain of the rest of the field. Franklin did not need to argue with his neighbors about the benefit of plaster for fields, for, as the summer wore on, those bright green letters rose above the rest of the grain, as a relief plate: “This has been plastered.” The Lord Jesus Christ wants to write on our lives the words: “These people are Christians.” There are many people liv ing about us, who refuse to acknowledge
BLACKBOARD LESSON
T h e C omposure of P aul (34-39). In Paul, we have a picture of the proper manner in which to meet false accusa tions. His calm was unruffled; he knew he was entirely innocent of the charges brought against him, and he knew that what he suffered was not for himself, but for his Lord. As the Lord stood in Paul’s place and answered every accusation that might be brought against him at the court of heaven, so Paul stood in the stead of Christ, to answer the charges which, in reality, were levelled at the Lord and not at His servant. Because of this, Paul had a sense of quietness and assurance which enabled him to reveal surprising composure in the face of desperate dan ger. 1. He displayed the courage of a sol dier. The warrior of the world has the ad- “As Thy Days” B y A delina F ermi When we life’s horizon scan, Storm clouds oft appear; Straightway we are filled with dread, Apprehensive fear. “How shall we have strength to bear All the coming ill, When the storm shall break on us With its blast so chill?” Fqolish heart, be still and wait, Leave all future woes In thy tender Father’s hand; In His love repose. What thou dreadest may not be; Clouds may pass away; _ Stormy dawn may usher in Calm and sunny day. Every trial, task, or pain Coupled is with grace, In the darkest, fiercest storm, Goodness we may trace. As thy days thy strength shall be Is His promise sure; They who claim His blest support All things can endure. “I am with you all the days, Even to the end.” Jesus, Master, be to us Truest Guide and Friend. May we trust Thee, step by step, All life’s devious way; May we prove Thy promise true, Strength for every day. —L iving W aters .
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker