T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S the simple trade of tent-making. In 16 A. D. he went to Jerusalem and studied about ten years under Gamaliel, return ing to Tarsus 26 A. D. He remained in Tarsus about ten years, perhaps work ing at his trade or teaching as a Rabbi in the synagogue schools. He may even have taken a post-graduate course in the Greek university -at Tajsus. He was familiar with Greek literature and quotes the Greek poets three times, Acts 17:28; 1 Cor. 15:33; Titus 1:12. He was still an exclusive Pharisee unconscious of God’s plan and purpose that he should he a missionary to the Gentile world. How many plan their life without refer ence to God’s will! Success and happi ness in life can only come to those who seek to know God’s will and bring their lives into conformity with His purpose. FRIDAY, July 8. Acts 22:3-10. Paul the Persecutor. In Paul’s speech before Agrippa, Acts 26:10, R. V., he says, “and many of the saints did I shut up in prison' and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.” Prom this last statement it is commonly supposed that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin. In that case he must have been thirty years old and married since these were the require ments for membership. He sincerely be lieved that the Christians had taken up a deadly heresy and were disgracing the law of Moses and the sacred temple. He thought he ought to stamp out the rapidly spreading sect. He threw him self into the persecution of the church with characteristic vigor but the very means taken to exterminate the church resulted in its wider diffusion. ' The church was scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Saul the persecutor was doing the same thing, although by oppo site means, as Paul the Apostle. SATURDAY, July 9. Acts 7:51-60. The Stoning of Stephen. The murder of Stephen was an act of mob violence. Nevertheless the Jews thought they were fulfilling the Mosaic law. Lev. 24:13-16. The witnesses were obliged to cast the first stones, therefore they removed their outer garments. DeuL 17:6-7. This is the first mention of Paul in the book of Acts. He is called by his Hebrew name Saul. He was an accom plice in the death of Stephen. He may have thought himself too much of a gen tleman to soil his hands with the rough and heavy stones, but he held the gar-
716 the same in every age. It is even possi ble that religion shall become the foe of salvation. TUESDAY, July 5. Luke 18:9-14. A Pharisee’s Prayer. This so-called prayer is little more than a selfish soliloquy. The prominence of the personal pronoun spoils it for a prayer. It is self-centred. The Pharisee projects his own personality Godward and sees the Supreme Being as a magni fied man and that a Pharisee. The right eousness of the Pharisee was self-right eousness that created and ministered to pride. “If righteousness come by the law—then Christ is dead in vain.” An abandoned sinner is a more promising candidate for salvation then a compla cent moralist. The Pharisee’s religion was ostentation. He did everything to be seen of men. He was perpetually pos ing. His religion was a masquerade, and that made him a hypocrite. A hypocrite may be self-deceived as well as deceive others. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof is the way of death. WEDNESDAY, July 6. Matt. 23:1-12. Jesus Warns against the Pharisees. Jesus alienated the religious leaders of Israel early in His public ministry by unsparing denunciations of their insin cerity. The ecclesiastical party had no use for a man they could not manage. Moreover they were jealous of His popu larity and His influence with the people. An open and irreconcilable break be tween them was inevitable. The uncom promising attitude of Jesus offered no alternative. The Pharisaic greed for re cognition and adulation was especially re proved. High sounding titles of which men are naturally fond are out of place in the Christian brotherhood. It is an explicit violation of verse 9 to call a minister and servant of any church, “father.” It is an explicit violation of verse 8 to seek or accept an honorary degree of any kind Whatever. Academic degrees are well enough when properly earned hut so-called honorary degrees rather detract than otherwise in view of their market quotations. THURSDAY, July 7. Phil. 3:1-12. A Summary of Paul’s EaHy Life. It is presumed that Paul was horn about" 3 A. D. Until he was thirteen he lived at Tarsus learning to read and write Greek and Hebrew and acquiring
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