The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 23, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 37.

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON II.—SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1897.

PAUL A PRISONER AT JERUSALEM.

NOTE.—This is an important lesson, and much hinges upon it. The whole section should be carefully studied, including Acts 21:18 to 23:11. It is the story of Paul's fifth visit to Jerusalem. It would be well also for each teacher to draw a map of the temple and its courts, showing the parts which were forbidden to the Gentiles, the different gates, and the place where Paul was rescued. It had now been twenty-one years since Paul's conversion. His last report was rendered to the church eight years previous to this occasion. Much work had been accomplished during these eight years. During this time two of his long missionary journeys had been made; he had visited the churches which he had previously established in Asia Minor; had opened up the work in Europe, establishing churches at Philippi, Corinth, and Thessalonica, as well as at Ephesus, in Asia Minor; he had been the instrument of many conversions, had wrought many miracles, and had carried contributions to the poor of Jerusalem.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 22:17-30.

17 "And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, and 18 saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of thee testimony 19 concerning me. And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on 20 me; and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the gar21 ments of them that slew him. And he said unto me, Depart; for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.

22 "And they gave him audience unto this word: and they lifted up their voice and said, Away with such a fellow from the 23 earth: for it is not fit that he should live. And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air, 24 the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him. 25 And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? And when the cen26 turion heard it, he went to the chief captain, and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman. 27 And the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea. And the chief captain 28 answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And 29 Paul said, But I am a Roman born. Then they which were about to examine him straightway departed from him; and the chief captain also was afraid, when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30 "But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty, wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down, and set him before them."

Golden Text.—"If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed." 1 Peter 4:16.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) After Paul's conversion at Damascus, to what place did he return? Verse 17. (2) To what place did he resort for worship? Same verse. (3) What occurred to him while at prayer? Same verse. (4) While in this condition what message did Paul receive? Verse 18. (5) What reason did the giver of this message state for Paul's departure? Same verse. (6) Who was the messenger? Verse 19. (7) What did Paul say that the people knew concerning him? Same verse. (8) What does Paul call Stephen? Verse 20. (9) What confession does Paul make to the Lord in regard to Stephen's martyrdom? Same verse. Note 1. (10) But what command did the Lord give him? Verse 21. (11) Where did the Lord tell Paul that he would send him? Same verse. (12) What occurred when Paul had proceeded thus far in his narrative? Verse 22. Note 2. (13) What did they say of Paul? Same verse. (14) How did they manifest their hatred of him and the work in which he was engaged? Verse 23. (15) In consequence of the uproar, what did the captain command to be done with Paul? Verse 24. (16) Why did he wish Paul examined? Same verse. Note 3. (17) What preparation was made toward carrying out the captain's command? Verse 25. (18) What question did Paul ask of the centurion? Same verse. (19) On hearing this question, what did the centurion do? Verse 26. (20) What caution did he give to the captain? Same verse. Note 4. (21) What question did the captain ask of him? Verse 27. (22) How did Paul answer? Same verse. (23) How did the captain say that he had attained Roman citizenship? Verse 28. (24) What did Paul reply? Same verse. Note 5. (25) What did those do who were preparing to examine Paul? Verse 29. (26) What effect did the knowledge of Paul's citizenship have upon the captain? Same verse. (27) On the following day what did the captain do with Paul?

NOTES.

1. I also was standing by.—It would seem that Paul was here speaking of his persecutions of the Christians to show a reason why he should remain at Jerusalem to undo the wrong which he had done to the disciples of the Lord. It would also seem that Paul was setting forth to the Lord his own unfitness to bear the Lord's message, inasmuch as he had consented to the death of one of the Lord's own messengers. But the command was imperative. The Lord knew for what Paul was best fitted, where he could accomplish the most good, and Paul obeyed that command.

2. Gave him audience unto this word.—That is, they listened to him until he had spoken thus far, and then their pent-up feelings burst forth anew, and their fury knew no bounds. Almost the very same expression is used by the mob here as was heard just before Christ was turned over to the infuriated mob. When men attempt to defend religion or religious customs by passion, deeds of violence, or the "arm of the law," just such wickedness is manifest as is here portrayed. Christ taught a nobler way; such deeds are not of him.

3. That he might know.—The captain was not a Roman by birth. He was one of many who purchased their citizenship and had, of course, been educated in some foreign tongue. So he did not understand the Hebrew language, the language in which Paul was making his defense, and of course knew nothing of the reason for such an uproar.

4. Take heed what thou doest.—There was power in the question which Paul asked of the centurion, because of the power of the Roman law, and its wonderful influence was manifest in an instant. The centurion knew that no one would dare to claim the protection of Roman citizenship if it did not belong to him, for it would mean certain death. "How often," says Cicero, "has this exclamation, I am a Roman citizen, brought aid and safety even among barbarians in the remotest parts of the earth." It was contrary to the Roman law for a Roman to be scourged under any circumstances, or to be tried by torture, or indeed to be subjected to any punishment without proper trial.

5. I am a Roman born.—Paul was born of Jewish parents at Tarsus in Cilicia. He traced his lineage to the tribe of Benjamin, and belonged to the sect of Pharisees. Being born in Cilicia, a Roman colony, Paul inherited the rights of a Roman citizen, and it was this fact which led finally to his preaching the Gospel in Rome itself.