LESSON III.—SUNDAY, JULY 16, 1893.
[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.] 22. And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are somewhat superstitious.
23. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this set I forth unto you.
24. The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25. Neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26. And he made of one every nation of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
27. That they should seek God, if happily they might feel after him, and find him, though he is not far from each one of us;
28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29. Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.
30. The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent;
31. Inasmuch as he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Golden Text.—"God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24. 1. Give a brief account of Paul's travels since our last lesson. Note 1.
2. Give the opening words of Paul's speech. Verse 22.
3. What altar did he especially notice in the city? Verse 23. Note 2.
4. Whom did he preach? Verse 23.
5. What distinguishing characteristics did he give of this God? Verse 24. See also Ps. 96: 4, 5; Jer. 10: 10-12.
6. What memorial has God given us of his great power?
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto the Lord thy God; . . . for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex. 20: 8-11.
7. What is also the sign of God's sanctifying power?
"Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Eze. 20: 12.
8. Who is our immediate Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier?
"In whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins;" "for in Him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through Him, and unto Him." Col. 1:14, 16.
"And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth." John 17:19.
9. What kind of a being is he? and how is he to be worshiped? Golden text.
10. Can we truly worship God while knowingly holding error for truth?
11. Did God need all those altars and the offerings placed upon them? Verse 25.
12. What do all receive from him?
13. Does he make a difference between various nations and people? Verse 26.
14. For what purpose has God given men life and breath and all things? Verse 27. Note 3.
15. With what words did he confirm God's love to them? Verse 28. Note 4.
16. Man being of such high origin, what ought he not to think? Verse 29. Note 5.
17. How mercifully does God regard man in ignorance? Verse 30.
18. But what is necessary when light comes? Same verse.
19. In view of what is repentance demanded? Verse 31.
20. By whom will he judge the world? Same verse. See also Rom. 2:16.
21. What pledge has God given of this? Same verse. 1. After the jailer was baptized, as recorded in our last lesson (Acts 16:19-34), the magistrates, hearing of the manifestations of God's power, and doubtless fearing supernatural wrath, sent to the sergeants, and instructed them to let the prisoners go. These words were brought to Paul and Silas. Here the apostle asserts his citizenship, and demands public acquittal. This was granted, God overruling the incident so that respect would be shown to his servants. At the solicitation of the magistrates, Paul and Silas departed and passed through Amphipolis and Appolonia to Thessalonica, where they remained over three Sabbaths, Paul preaching on that day. Here they were assailed by a mob, and fled to Berea, where they found those who searched the word daily, and not a few believed because of this. The Jews following from Thessalonica stirred up trouble here, and Paul was conducted by his friends to Athens, the great center of Greek culture and worship. Here the apostle remained waiting for Silas and Timothy, from whom he was separated at Berea. While waiting, surrounded by the fearful idolatry, he reasoned with the Jews, and with some of the philosophers of different schools, who desired to learn his doctrine. He was taken to the Areopagus, where he might preach to the public assembly. Here our lesson opens. 2. To the unknown God.—It is said that Athens had 30,000 gods, and lest there should be some other—and the best instincts of their heart told them that there was One greater than all—they erected an altar to the great unknown God. It was against the law, some tell us, to introduce a new religion or new gods, so Paul, with the wisdom which God gave, met them on their own ground. He brought a message from the God whom they worshiped in ignorance, the Creator of heaven and earth. But God created the world through Christ; Paul therefore preached Christ. 3. That they should seek God.—Verse 26 seems to be largely parenthetical, showing the oneness of all men, and that God is no respecter of race or nationality. And he gives to all these, as stated in verse 25, "life and breath and all things," that the goodness of God might lead them to repentance (Rom. 2:4), "that they should seek after God." All that God sends us is to lead us to him. Feel after.—Groping for, as one blind, but, thus groping, if God is earnestly desired, he will be found. God is not far away; we turn from him; our iniquities, held and loved, come between. Isa. 59:1, 2. 4. Your own poets.—Aratus, a poet of Tarsus, 270 B.C., used these words; and so had Cleanthes, a contemporary of Aratus, and a disciple of Zeno, the founder of the Stoics. 5. Being then the offspring of God.—Such was man by creation. How low has he fallen! Paul could not show the contrast more forcibly. Knowing that they must have been created, and that they were worshiping gods of gold, silver, and stone, of man's device, how vivid their low estate must have seemed! The child of God worshiping an image of his own hands! How it should have revealed a true picture of their fallen condition, and brought them to feel their need of Him!