Earlier text: SPIRITUAL DECLENSIONPAUL BEFORE KING AGRIPPA.
NOTE.—The time of this lesson is two years later than that of last week, and Porcius Festus has taken the place of Felix as governor of Judea. Nero is still emperor of Rome. During these two years Paul has been a prisoner at Cæsarea. Close connection should be made between this and the last lesson, and the chief incidents set forth which lead up to Paul's defense before Agrippa. The lesson section includes chapters 25 and 26. Commit verses 22 and 23. Note the time given Paul for self preparation for the great work which he was to do at Rome. Compare it with the preparation time given to others of God's servants upon whom a great work was placed. 19 "Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the 20 heavenly vision; but declared both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, 21 doing works worthy of repentance. For this cause the Jews 22 seized me in the temple, and assayed to kill me. Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what 23 the prophets and Moses did say should come; how that the Christ must suffer, and how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles. 24 "And as he thus made his defense, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning doth turn thee to 25 madness. But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; 26 but speak forth words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; 27 for this hath not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, believ- 28 est thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. And Agrippa said unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest 29 fain make me a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds. 30 "And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and 31 they that sat with them; and when they had withdrawn, they spake one to another, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy 32 of death or of bonds. And Agrippa said unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar." Golden Text.—"Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 10: 32. (1) What counsel does Paul claim to be following in teaching the Gospel? Verse 19. (2) In what places did he first perform this work? Verse 20. (3) Then to whom did he go? Same verse. (4) What was the burden of his message to them? Same verse. Note 1. (5) How was his message received? Verse 21. (6) What power did Paul recognize in all his work? Verse 22. (7) How completely did he carry out his commission? Same verse. (8) How did he show the hatred of the Jews toward him to be groundless? Same verse. Note 2. (9) What had the prophets foretold in regard to Christ? Verse 23. (10) Through what did he become a light to the inhabitants of earth? Same verse. Note 3. (11) Of what did Festus accuse Paul while he was making his defense? Verse 24. (12) How did Paul reply? Verse 25. (13) Who was able to verify Paul's statements to Festus? Verse 26. (14) How does Paul speak of the manner in which his conversion was accomplished? Same verse. Note 4. (15) What question did he address to king Agrippa? Verse 27. (16) Receiving no answer, what statement did Paul make? Same verse. (17) What remark did Agrippa make to Paul? Verse 28. Note 5. (18) What wish did Paul express in regard to the king's remark? Verse 29. (19) Following this wish of Paul, what did his royal listeners do? Verse 30. (20) What conclusion did they come to in regard to Paul? Verse 31. Note 6. (21) What alone hindered Paul's liberation at once? Verse 32. 1. Repent and turn to God.—This was a duty which the Jews did not care to have pressed home upon them. While many of them may have known to a limited extent the condition of their own hearts, the presence of one who would remind them of that condition in order to have them turn from it, was a source of irritation to them, instead of the blessing which it might have been if they had allowed it to do for them that which God designed it should. He was troubling Israel, according to the verdict of his accusers; but as in the time of king Ahab, it was Israel's course that made the troubling necessary; and such troubling was for Israel's good. It was God's mercy to Israel. The Jews were "God's chosen people," and in their estimation this covered a "multitude of sins." Their attitude was "Who shall presume to urge us to turn to God when we are God's own people already?" Paul's invitation was an intimation that they were not, in their present condition, accepted of God, and this was the occasion for the outburst of hatred on the part of those who were in need of repentance and were too stubborn to yield. 2. Saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did say should come.—Every Jew looked for the Messiah. They were familiar with the promises referring to his coming which the prophets had written hundreds of years before; but selfishness and pride blinded their eyes to the majesty of the manger babe, the carpenter's son, the lowly Nazarene. While reading of the sufferings of the One who should come, they looked for an outward show of majesty and splendor which would pander to their personal pride. They looked for a temporal king; and when Jesus taught them that his kingdom was "not of this world," that is, in its present state, they cast him aside. The salvation of the Gentiles, which Christ preached and which Paul was now continuing to preach, was obnoxious to the Jews, and was another thing which caused the Jews to turn from him as the One who "should come." Paul was now teaching that Jesus was the Christ for whom Israel had so long waited, whom the prophets had foretold, toward whom all the sacrifices from that of Abel pointed for the remission of sins, whose work in heaven was year by year brought to the minds of the Jewish people through the atonement services in the earthly sanctuary. The Jews were not willing to be accused of slaying Him of whom the prophets had written, and were ready to add another murder to their list, hoping thereby to stop the work of the Christians. God's message to-day has the same basis as in Paul's day, the law and the prophets. 3. By the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light.—The Revised Version seems the better rendering of verse 23. This is in accordance with 2 Tim. 1: 10. Christ became the light of this darkened, sin-cursed earth through the manifestation of his power to give life to those who should accept him as their Saviour. He was the one ray of hope shining from the Father's throne. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." John 1: 4. By his resurrection from the dead he brought life and immortality to light. That is, he made immortality accessible to men, possible for them to attain, a condition which they did not have (1 Tim. 6: 16), but must seek for (Rom. 2: 7), must put on (1 Cor. 15: 53, 54). Man finds it alone in Christ Jesus. 4. None of these things is hidden.—King Agrippa was nominally a Jew and was acquainted with the writings of the prophets, and the trials and persecutions of the disciples of Christ and their followers during the early years of Christianity were familiar to him, as he had been for years a ruler in Palestine. Paul had a number of servants with him when on his way to Damascus, officers who were under his direction, and these knew the circumstances of his conversion, having seen the light which smote Paul and heard the voice speaking to him. So both the king and the Jews had opportunity to know the truth of what Paul was relating. 5. Thou wouldst fain make me a Christian.—There seems to be a difference of opinion in regard to the real meaning of the remark made by Agrippa. By the rendering given in the Common Version one would get the idea that Paul had really touched the heart of the king, and he was about persuaded to become a Christian. Many critics consider this a cynical sneer, a sarcasm; and such seems to be the meaning conveyed in the Revised Version. 6. Nothing worthy of death or of bonds.—Paul's address and his explanation of his conduct completely vindicated him in the eyes of his judges. The accusations against him as a brawler, a stirrer up of strife, a "pestilent fellow," had not been proven, but the sincerity of Paul's life and his convictions of duty, in short, his Christian spirit, convinced his judges of his innocence. "From this time a kindly feeling seems to have sprung up in the king's heart towards that strange Nazarene sect. Stier calls attention to the fact of this Agrippa at the outbreak of the great Jewish war, some eight or nine years after the scene at Cæsarea, protecting the Christians, giving them succor, and receiving them kindly into his territory."—Schaff. The Great Day of the Lord
By Milton C. Wilcox
THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD. By M. C. Wilcox. This tract of 40 pages sets forth in brief some of the more important events of the Great Day of God Almighty. It discusses the character of that day, shows when it begins, the coming of the Lord, the events in connection with that coming, the Millennium, the Saints in Judgment, when the Day of the Lord Ends, and the Eternal Home of the Redeemed. Bible Students' Library No. 65. Price, 5 cents. —Plans are being formulated for a religious parliament to be held at Paris during the World’s fair there in 1900. —About forty persons are reported killed by an earth slide in the sulphur mines near Girgenti, Italy, on September 24. —President Barrios, of Guatemala, has offered $100,000 for the heads of the two leaders of the rebellion in that country. —It is reported that nineteen members of a filibustering expedition, which recently landed in Cuba, were slain by the Spanish. —Seventeen men were killed by a cave-in at the San Pedro mine in Mexico, twelve miles from El Paso, Texas, on September 25. —Juan Aparicio, the wealthiest merchant of Guatemala, it is reported has been shot by order of President Barrios. It is thought that this will add fury to the flames of insurrection now raging there. —According to advices recently received from Rio Janeiro, Brazil, an important battle has been fought between the troops and the fanatics, in which the latter were repulsed after great losses on both sides. —The marquis of Salisbury has notified the United States minister at London, that Great Britain will not take part in the sealing conference to be held at Washington, if Russia and Japan are allowed to participate. —The rebellious East Indians have been denied an opportunity to secure assistance from the subjects of the ameer of Afghanistan, and a deputation which was making its way to the ameer has been ordered out of Afghanistan. —Prominent Irish leaders are demanding the immediate assembling of Parliament, in order to take measures to avert the impending famine. In some parts of the island the dreaded famine fever has already broken out. —The sultan is now said to be urging a conference, either at Constantinople or St. Petersburg, with the object of forcing England out of Egypt, and giving that country an autonomous government under the suzerainty of Turkey. —A destructive fire occurred at Manila, Philippines, on September 29, in which many of the government buildings were completely consumed, and many lives were lost in the panic which occurred in connection with the conflagration. —Floods having washed away a railroad bridge near Maddur, India, an engine and five cars loaded with people were precipitated into the river, causing great loss of life. The report places the number killed at 150, with fourteen injured. —After the return of the Canadian premier from a jubilee visit to London, orders were issued for the immediate strengthening of all Canadian defenses, and heavy purchases of field batteries and defense guns will be made in the near future. —The Russian minister at Athens has communicated to the Greek minister of foreign affairs the text of the treaty of peace, stating that it is satisfactory to Turkey, and asking the Greek Government to appoint plenipotentiaries to negotiate with Turkey. —The Mussulmans of Crete have sent an urgent appeal to the ambassadors of the powers and to the sultan asking for relief from their present desperate condition. It is claimed that for months they have been living on public charity, without shelter, and almost naked. —Drunami, the king of Benin, by whose orders the unarmed British expedition under consul Phillips was massacred, has been condemned to be transported to Calabar, a slave settlement of British West Africa. Several of his chiefs were shot, and others will be transported with him. —A special despatch from Managua, Nicaragua, states that President Zelaya and the government troops are returning to Managua, where the latter will be paid off and disbanded. The president’s prompt and aggressive action has brought the revolution to an unexpectedly early close. —An insurrection has broken out in Agram, Hungary. Four thousand rebels, armed with pitchforks and other farming implements, have taken possession of a strong fortification, and are holding their position. The cause of the disturbance is in the loss of certain ancient privileges which these people have enjoyed in the past. —The continued cruelties of the Spaniards in the Philippines are causing daily additions to the ranks of the insurgents. A new governor was recently placed over the district of Luzon. Municipal bodies from several towns in that district went to compliment him, and offer their homage and services. The first to arrive was instantly shot down by the governor’s troops. The others returned to their respective towns, and, with their friends, armed themselves and joined the rebels. Eight hundred Spanish soldiers in one body deserted and joined the rebels on August 19, and reported that others would do so as opportunity offered. The rebels are receiving supplies of arms and ammunition from the United States via Canada and Japan. —Peace has been officially declared in Uruguay by the ratification by Congress of the terms agreed upon between the insurgents and the government. —Rumor persistently reiterates the assertion that the black eye which Emperor William received some weeks ago while on a yachting trip, was not caused by a blow from a rope’s end flying in the wind, but by the fist of a lieutenant whose mother the kaiser insulted. The lieutenant afterward committed suicide. —The headquarters of Hadda Mullah, the East Indian rebel leader, have been completely demolished by the British. Portions of the rebellious armies seem willing to submit to the English on almost any terms, but a council of the tribes in the Tirah country resulted in a decision to resist the advance of the English. —Count Badene, Austria’s premier, fought a duel on September 25 with the leader of the German Nationalist party. The affair was brought about by the Nationalist’s violent denunciation of the premier, and the count was given permission by the emperor to challenge his antagonist. The premier received a wound in the right arm. —General Azcarrage, Spanish premier, with the entire Spanish cabinet, resigned on September 29, and the queen has accepted the resignation. It is reported that Señor Segasta, the Liberal leader, will be chosen by the queen for the new premier, in which case a change will immediately take place in the government’s attitude toward Cuban affairs. —It is again reported that Spain is seeking for support among the powers of Europe, in case of American intervention in Cuba, and if the attitude of the German press is indicative of German national policy, Spain would find a strong ally in the kaiser; but the press of England is quite strong now in favor of the United States putting a stop to the present condition of things in the island. —A report from Warsaw, Russia, states that an extensive plot for the assassination of Czar Nicholas on his recent visit to that city has been unearthed. The road over which he was to have traveled had been mined preparatory to concealing explosives. The success of the plan was only frustrated by an accident to the work. About 130 persons have been arrested, accused of complicity in the plot. —The Achinese pirates have at last been subdued by the Dutch on the island of Sumatra. For many years they have successfully resisted every attempt at subjugation, and at intervals have plied their wicked trade among the merchantmen passing through the Straits of Malacca. The Dutch have reduced their fortifications, killing a large number of their warriors, and driving the remainder into the hills. —A severe storm, lasting for several days prior to September 29, has swept over the four western provinces of Cuba, causing a complete suspension of all military operations. It is reported that in the suburbs of Havana nearly a score of persons have been drowned by a flood. The condition of the poorer classes in the city is distressing. Beef sells at $1.00 per pound, and milk at 50 cents per quart. Vegetables and bread can be obtained in the markets only once a week. It is stated that murders by the police take place daily to save the bad impression of the open executions. The pacificos who have been herded into the city are being rapidly exterminated by starvation, being forbidden to leave a certain locality, or to beg from the more favored inhabitants. —The price of silver has again dropped, and is now within two and one-half cents of the lowest price on record. —Fire swept the water-front of Ironton, Ohio, on September 29, destroying six business blocks. The loss is estimated at $300,000. —Dr. Nansen, the explorer, will leave Norway on October 21 for the United States, where he expects to deliver a course of sixty lectures. —The Navy Department has dispatched another war vessel to the Hawaiian Islands, the gunboat Wheeling, recently completed in San Francisco. —A serious explosion occurred in a coal mine at Marion, Illinois, on September 24, resulting in the death of five men and the wounding of six others. —The latest and most peculiar organization on record is that of the American Brotherhood of Cripples, which has just been established at St. Louis, Mo. —The two train robbers who held up the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company’s train near Portland on September 26 were captured and are now in jail. —A $1,000,000 fire occurred in Washington, D. C., on September 29, destroying the buildings of the Central Traction Company and much adjoining property. —Antonio Apache, a full blooded Apache Indian, is soon to enter Harvard University. He is a grandson of the great chief Cochise, and is well advanced in the different branches of a liberal education. —The United States commissioner of immigration is taking steps to debar all known anarchists from landing at American ports, and those who do succeed in landing will afterward be deported at the expense of the company in whose vessel they arrive. —A destructive avalanche swept down the Chilkoot trail, in Alaska, on September 18, wrecking tents, and carrying away the supplies of many of the miners. One was killed and a number injured. —Lieutenant Peary arrived in Boston on September 26, and reports having completed arrangements with the Eskimos for planting colonies with bases of supplies along the route which he proposes to take in his dash for the North Pole next summer. —A bloody riot took place at Girardville, Pa., on the night of September 26, among two factions of Polanders, in which nine men were fatally injured and twenty-six seriously hurt. The battle was the outcome of a quarrel over the killing of the miners by the deputies at Hazleton. —The situation in the fever stricken districts of the gulf States shows no signs of general improvement, and yet the epidemic is quite well under control in regard to quarantine and disinfection. But few deaths are reported, and it is believed that the plague will soon be stamped out. —The sugar trusts of Hawaii, which have been opposing annexation, have now offered to throw their whole influence in favor of annexation on condition that they be given control of the sugar traffic. Reports from Honolulu state that the government has about decided to meet them half way. —The coroner’s jury which investigated the death of the twenty-three strikers at Latimer, Pennsylvania, characterizes the killing of the unarmed miners as “merciless,” “unnecessary,” “unjustifiable,” and “wanton,” and states that it could have been avoided without serious injury to either person or property. —The special board appointed by the Navy Department to consider the needs of the navy have reported the urgent necessity of five new dry docks, which will cost $5,775,000. Three of these are recommended to be on the Pacific Coast, of sufficient size to accommodate the largest vessels in the fleet. —John Boecker, a farmer of Carrollton, Iowa, chloroformed his wife and six children, on the night of September 26, and shot them all to death. He then turned the weapon on himself, inflicting a fatal wound. No motive for the tragedy has been disclosed; but it is believed that the man had become insane. —During the last day of the labor convention at Chicago, which ended on September 29, fiery speeches were made by many members, and a resolution was introduced by the chairman, the tenor of which was that the workingmen of the country should arm and meet force with force. The speaker said: “Every advance of the human race has been gained with guns, and we must use them.” Others opposed the discussion of the resolution on the ground that they could “never get at the capitalists if we allow them to prepare;” and that they “must catch the capitalists before they are ready.” The resolution was laid on the table because it was considered to be poor policy to discuss it openly. THE SPIRIT OF GOD
By Eld. J. H. Waggoner
ITS OFFICES AND MANIFESTATIONS TO THE END OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA.
THIS is a brief but comprehensive argument on the solemn and important subject of the Spirit of God. Its chapters embrace the following heads: The Holy Spirit of Promise; The Power from on High; Circumcision of the Heart; The Unity of the Faith; The Law and the Testimony; Try the Spirits; The Great Commission; Gifts in the Reformation; In the Present Century; Spirit of Prophecy Restored. These are subjects of vital importance to all and especially to those who are looking for the return of their Lord. 144 pp. Price, 15 cents. Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal. ANGELS, Their Nature and Ministry.
Revised by the late J. H. Waggoner. In two parts. Part Two considers some hints on the Origin, History and Destiny of Satan, as gleaned from the Scriptures. Bible Students' Library No. 83. 140 pages. Paper covers. Price, 20 cents. PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO. Kansas City, Mo. New York City, N. Y Abiding Sabbath and Lord's Day
By Alonzo T. Jones
A pointed review of two prize essays which are, without doubt, the best contributions to the defense of Sunday as the Sabbath. Those desiring to find some $1,000 reasons for keeping the first day of the week will find them in this work. Bible Students' Library No. 2. 173 pages. Paper covers. Price, 20 cents. Address PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO. Kansas City, Mo. OAKLAND, CAL. The Talents
By M. C. Wilcox
THE TALENTS. By M. C. Wilcox. A brief essay on "The Parable of the Talents," showing that the talents represent the various gifts of the Spirit which God bestows as he will upon those who are consecrated to him, with the duties and blessed privileges involved therein. Bible Students' Library. No. 77; 16 pp., price 2 cents. New Teachers' Bible
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