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STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

—INTERNATIONAL S.S. LESSONS—

SUGGESTIVE THOUGHTS DESIGNED TO ASSIST THOSE OF OUR READERS WHO ATTEND BIBLE CLASSES WHERE THESE LESSONS ARE USED; THAT THEY MAY BE ENABLED TO LEAD OTHERS INTO THE FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL. PUBLISHED IN ADVANCE, AT THE REQUEST OF FOREIGN READERS.

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PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA

III. QUAR., LESSON IX., AUG. 27, ACTS 26:19-32

Golden Text—”Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”—1 Cor. 1:24

For two years Paul remained a prisoner in Caesarea, during which time Porcius Festus was appointed in the place of Felix, as governor of Judea. As a judge, he evidently desired to do right, and also to conciliate the people and maintain peace.

As soon as Festus was installed in office, he was besieged by leading Jews, to send Paul to Jerusalem for trial, their intention being to murder him on the way. (Acts 25:1-3.) But Festus preferred to have the man tried before him, and told them they might come down to Caesarea and prefer their charges against him. This they did, but their false accusations were all refuted by Paul, who was permitted to answer for himself. Then Festus, anxious to conciliate the Jews, answered Paul, and proposed that, since the accusations pertained principally to the Jewish religion, he go up to Jerusalem to be tried. But Paul was on his guard, and having in his hand, as a Roman citizen, the power of averting the danger of the governor’s compliance with the desire of the Jews, viz., the right of appeal to Caesar, he refused to be tried at Jerusalem, saying, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest: for if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.” (Acts 25:4-11.) The case was therefore postponed for a hearing at Caesar’s judgment-seat, and Paul was to be sent to Rome

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under military protection.—Acts 25:12; 27:1.

Before the prisoner had been dispatched to Rome, Herod Agrippa, king of the country east of the upper Jordan, came to pay his respects to the new governor of Judea, and on hearing from him of the peculiar case of the Christian prisoner, against whom the

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Jews were so incensed, but against whom Festus was unable to formulate any charge to present before the court of Caesar, Agrippa consented to have Paul brought before him, that they might determine what charges to make against him.—Acts 25:25-27.

Accordingly, at a set time, Paul was permitted to speak for himself before the assembled royalty. (Acts 26:1-29.) With the respect and decorum due to the civil powers, Paul began his address; but he seemed to forget that his life trembled in the balance, while he used the opportunity to preach Christ. The address was full of logic, eloquence and pathos. He recounted the circumstances of his conversation, declared his zeal for the cause of Christ, showed this to be the cause of the opposition from the Jews, and attributed his protection thus far, and his liberty to preach the gospel in Caesarea for the past two years, to divine interposition and providence. So mightily did he show forth the truth and with such vehement eloquence, that with a loud voice Festus cried out, “Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad.”—Verse 24.

The Apostle’s reply was a clinching exhortation which almost persuaded even Agrippa to become a Christian; but how hardly the rich enter into the kingdom! During the two years in Caesarea Paul had witnessed to both small and great, but as usual with more effect among the small—the poor and middle classes.

His preaching was from the text book of the prophets, and was shown to be in harmony with all their teaching, so that those who truly believed the prophets must of necessity accept the fulfilment of their predictions in Christ. The force of this truth is seen in Agrippa’s reply to his searching question—”King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”—for to believe the prophets is to believe in Christianity. The Lord’s prophecy and promise of Matt. 10:18-20 was strikingly fulfilled to Paul.

As we read this account, the burning eloquence of this Christian orator seems almost to fall on our ears, and we seem to see the light of a countenance radiant with heavenly enthusiasm as the Apostle exclaims, “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.”—Verse 29.

The conclusion of the examination was that no true charges could be made against the Apostle; and had he not appealed to Caesar he might have been immediately released. But nevertheless it was well that he had appealed to Caesar; for had he been released, he would again have been at the mercy of the Jews. During the two years of his detention in Caesarea he had enjoyed the greatest liberty to preach the gospel, all the while under the protection of the government as an imperial prisoner. And now he was to be conveyed under the same protection to Rome, to enjoy similar privileges for the truth. Thus all things worked for good in the furtherance of the gospel.

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— August 15, 1893 —