Fifth Sunday in Lent.

The Scripture lesson to-day is the latter part of Paul's address before King Agrippa. He tells how he performed the duty which was assigned to him by the Lord.

hands. Why did the Jews arrest him? He had simply borne testimony to the things which the prophets taught !

23. Christ should suffer; the promised Christ, or Messiah. He now enumerates what the prophets foretold concerning the Messiah. (1) He would be a suffering Savior; (2) He would rise from the dead; "He should not see corruption;" (3) He would give light unto the (Jewish) people, and to the Gentiles. ("The Gentiles shall come to thy light." A light to lighten the Gentiles.")

This is but an outline of Paul's address. He was very earnest in telling his story.

V. 19. I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. "He yielded his will, and gave himself up to the truth and to the love and service of Jesus Christ. He was convinced that his former life was wrong, and the new life right; that the Gospel was the Divine fulfillment of the hopes of the Jews and the promises of God to them; and that it was the true means of benefiting his fellow men." "This is one of the grand points of instruction and personal 24-25. Festus said with a loud voice application in Paul's whole career.-interrupting him. Thou art beside He began on the instant, where he was, to obey. He sought on the instant, and ever afterward to know and to do the Lord's will. Day by day he had gone on as directed." Obedience is the evidence and proof of all genuine con

version.

This is the great lesson for all to learn, teachers and scholars. When God commands, we must obey. The more prompt and cheerful our obedience, the better.

V. 20. Showed first unto them of Damascus. He began declaring how he had seen and heard Christ. It was not regular preaching. (1) He then went into retirement for three years in Arabia, perhaps to Horeb and Sinai, where Moses spent so many years in solitude. (2) Afterwards he returned to Damascus, where he preached openly. (3) Then having been let down from the wall in a basket, and having thus escaped from his pursuers, he went with courage and boldness to Jerusalem; from Jerusalem he went on his three missionary journeys to the Gentiles.

The subjects of his preaching are clearly stated: they should repent, and turn to God, and do such works as would prove the genuineness of their conversion. He demanded the same of Jews and of Gentiles.

21-22. The Jews went about to kill me; after his return from his last journey, two years before. But God helped him, providentially delivered him from their

A RUDE INTERRUPTION.

thyself-a frenzied enthusiast. And then he tried to account for his frenzy by saying: Much learning hath made thee mad! This was an insulting remark; but Paul answered so gently and calmly as at once to refute the charge: speak forth the words of truth and soberness. Doubtless Festus felt rebuked and ashamed of himself.

AN APPEAL TO THE KING.

26-27. The king knoweth. Paul turned to Agrippa, whose learning and training as a professed Jew would enable him to understand the truth. These things are not hidden from him; he knows the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, and how Jesus fulfilled them.

Not done in a corner-but in Jerusalem, and were well known throughout Judea. Believest thou? Here was a challenge to the conscience of the king, Agrippa believed with the head, but not from the heart; his was a dead, not a living faith.

28. Agrippa said. He did not answer the question, but changed the subject.

Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. There are three leading interpretations of this remark: (1) Chrysostom, Luther, Beza, Grotius, Bengel, Ewald, Stier, and others, understand it as in the received version: Almost persuaded! So also Schaff in his Popular Commentary.'

2.

30. The king rose up, &c., going out

Olshausen, Meyer, Lechler, dungeon. "He left the field as conAlford and others render the clause queror." thus: With little (labor, or few words) persuadest thou me to be a Christian! in the order of their worldly rank, from Do you think to persuade me with such the greatest to the lowest. But, no; reasonings as these? the greatest of all lingered-the Apostle himself!

3. Calvin, Neander, De Wette, Lange, Conybeare and others render the clause "In a little time thou persuadest me." (a) If thou go on speaking, thou wilt soon persuade me; or, (b), in irony: Thinkest thou to persuade me in a little time?

Nothing worthy of death—not even of bonds; he is entirely innocent.

32. Might be set at liberty; such was the decision of this lower court; but Paul had appealed the case to Cæsar the highest tribunal in the then civiWas Agrippa's language sincere con- lized world. It was well he had done viction, or bitter irony, or courtly jest? so: (1) he was escorted safely to What did he mean? Was he nearly Rome, where he had long wished to go convinced of the truth of Christianity? and preach the gospel: (2) He was or was he ironical? Was it the sneer of kept out of the hands of his bittera cynic? With little (effort) would Jewish enemies. God had yet a great you persuade me? work for Paul, in the very capital of the world.

Whichever way we understand his words, it is plain what interpretation Paul put upon them. He treated them as earnest words, and prayed earnestly for the conversion of the worldlyminded king. I would to God thou wert altogether such as I am! To win that perishing soul Paul made a last brave attempt (V. 29). That earnest, loving appeal never surely would have been made to one who could dismiss with cruel, scornful sarcasm such a defence as had been spoken that day by the prisoner Paul in the Cesarean judgment hall."-Schaff.

Such as I am, except these bonds-or chains. "I would not have you like me in my privations and sufferings, but like me in my faith, like me in my hope, and like me in my joy."

SUNDAY-SCHOOL SPECTACLES.

A Superintendent who was remarkable for his happy manner of illustrating the lessons in his closing talks, explained the secret of it by saying that he went through the week with his Sunday-school spectacles on. His meaning was, that he filled his mind with the succeeding lesson early in the week, and was on the look-out from day to day for such things as would illustrate the points he desired to make. And it is wonderful how rich is the field of daily life with suitable and apt illustrations, if only one has something clear in the mind to illustrate, and eyes to see with. A seed planted draws to itself nourishment from soil, air and rain, and grows to vigorous planthood. But if there be no seed sown, the nourishment from these sources remains latent. Let a superintendent put the lesson in his mind on Monday as a seed, and he will be surprised to find how, from numerous and unsuspected sources, during the week, there come to him facts, hints, similes, comparisons, and in short all that he needs for an effective closing address. The difficulty with many superintendents is that they defer The Apostle's vindication was complete seed planting until Saturday night, or and unquestioned. It was a scene never even Sunday; or, to come back to the to be effaced from the memory of that original figure, they neglect to wear audience. The distinguished auditors their Sunday-school spectacles during went away to their haunts of pleasure the week.-Sunday School Superintenand sin; but Paul went to his lonely dent.

Except these bonds. "Like Paul we wish all men to have the blessings of our religion, save these bonds: (1) The bonds of ignorance; (2) The bonds of imperfection; (3) The bonds of our old nature; (4) The bonds of error and mistakes.'

After this earnest sermon of Paul nothing was said by his hearers. Like the accusers of the sinful woman, they went out one by one, under the accusations of their own consciences.

LESSON XIII.

PALM SUNDAY.

March 29th, 1885.

PAUL'S VOYAGE. (Acts 27: 1-2, 14-26).
(Scripture given in Revised Version, instead of received version.

1 And when it was determined, that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia, one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

19 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

20 But after long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

21 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

22 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose 1 am, and whom I

serve,

23 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cesar: and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

24 Wherefore, sirs, be, of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told of me. 25 Howbeit, we must be cast upon a certain island.

GOLDEN TEXT:—I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me. V. 25.

NOTES.

(Instead of a Review we take to-day the first lesson of next quarter, and will have a lesson in its place, suitable for Easter).

Paul had appealed unto Cesar; and he was therefore sent to Rome at the first opportunity, under a guard. Verse 1. Italy-a peninsula in the south of Europe. Julius-the Julian family was a famous one in Roman history. Augustan band a cohort of soldiers, bearing the title of the Emperor. 2. Adramyttium-a seaport of Mysia. Aristarchus-a fellow-worker with Paul. See Acts 19: 29. 20: 4.15. Eu-ra-qui-lo-a hurricane

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from the north eastward. 16. Cauda-or Clauda, a small island. Secure the boat-get it up on deck. 17-20. Syrtis-or quicksands where Aeneas was shipwrecked, according to Virgil. Note the four stages; (1). Undergirding the ship; (2) lowering the top-gear; (3) lightening the ship of her cargo: (4). all hope gone. 21. Crete-an island mid way between Syria and Italy, 140 miles long, 5 to 30 miles wide. 24. Before Cesar-Nero, monster without parallel," and a great persecutor of Christians. 26. Cast upon an island— shipwrecked.

QUESTIONS.

What was the subject of the last lesson? What rulers vindicated Paul? Why was he not set at liberty? Where did he wish to be tried?

Verse 1. To what country was Paul to be sent? Where is it? What is its capital? How was the journey to be made? Who took charge of him? Tell what you know of him and his band?

2. In what vessel did they embark? Where was it about to sail? Who are meant by "we?" Who else was with them? What do you know of him? Read vs. 3-13, and tell to what other vessel they were transferred.

14-16. What arose? Describe its course. Did it affect the ship? What did the sailors do? Where did they seek refuge? What did they "secure?" How?

17-19. Mention the first thing they did to

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save the ship? What is meant by Syrtis? Who had been shipwrecked there? Mention the second thing they did to save the vessel. The third

20. What effect did the darkness have!

21. Who addressed the disheartened crew! Repeat his words. What advice had he given? Was it heeded?

22. What exhortation did he give? Of what did he assure them? What of the ship?

23-24. What reason had he for his comfort? Whom did he confess before them all? What message had been given him? Before whom was he to stand? Tell about Nero. Whose lives were to be saved? For whose sake?

25-26. What exhortation does he repeat? Whose words did he trust? What did he foretell?

REVIEW QUESTIONS.

What Sunday is this? What is the subject of our lesson? Why was Paul sent to Italy? Who took charge of him? What befel the vessel and her crew? How did they try to save the ship? Were their efforts suc

cessful? Who did not lose hope? Why? How did he encourage the others? Repeat his short sermon in the storm. What disaster was to befal them? Is Christ with us in all storms?

CATECHISM.

Quest Why is Christ called the only begotten Son of God, since we are also the children of God? Ans. Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God; but we are children adopted of God, by grace, for His sake.

strong character in Paul. It is to be hoped that he learned to believe in the God whom Paul served.

The Augustan band, or cohort, which consists of six centuries, or 600 men. This band was composed of Italian soldiers. The emperors assumed the title of Augustus; and these troops assumed the same honorable title out of respect for the ruler; perhaps they were a part of the imperial body-guard.

"It was late in August, and very near the close of the season for navigation, when Paul, with a number of other prisoners in charge of the Centurion Julius, embarked for Rome. He had been for two years in confinement at Cesarea, his imprisonment had doubtless told on his none too vigorous frame, and the prospect of a voyage with nearly three hundred souls in a Mediterranean mer- (V. 2.) A ship of Adramyttium-a chant vessel was not inviting. He was seaport of Mysia, opposite Lesbos, on indeed comforted bythe companionship of the western coast of Asia Minor. The Luke and Aristarchus, but the Roman ship was probably a coasting vessel custom, which required a prisoner to be which touched at various points. Its chained to his guard, would aggravate course was in the direction of Italy. his discomfort. They expected to find another vessel at "In this narrative we contemplate some port, and would then take passage those sublime aspects of nature which in it for Italy.

are revealed by a storm at sea. Wind Aristarchus was from Thessalonica, a and wave assert their power, and mock city of Macedonia. Like Luke, he acthe best nautical skill, and reduce to companied Paul to Rome. They shared helplessness the representatives of his trials and ministered to his wants. Roman authority. But our attention Luke was the "beloved physician." is drawn to these only in their relation Vs. 3-13. are omitted from the to Paul. The apostle is grander than lesson. From them we learn that at the storm. Character asserts itself Myra they left the ship of Adramyttium, above military authority and seamanship."

and took passage in a grain ship of Egypt, (Alexandria) bound for Rome. Late in the season they reached Fair Havens, in Crete. Against Paul's advice they started again on their voyage, in the hope of reaching a safe harbor for the winter, that of Phenice, or Phenix, forty miles to the northwest, on the same island. The wind was favorable, and the weather pleasant, but (V. 1.) It was determined that we soon after starting they encountered the should sail. The time and manner of terrible storm described in the remainthe journey to Rome is here told. It der of the lesson. had been settled that he was to go sometime; the day has now arrived; and that by sea, although the season for navigation had almost closed.

This lesson contains much besides the geography, and navigation and a shipwreck. These things are merely incidents. We are to learn how God rules · in the storms of life, and also how we are to conduct ourselves on our voyage. In this lesson there is comfort, and help, and instruction for all of us.

We should sail-that is, Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus.

Certain other prisoners-a motley crew of law-breakers and criminals "Paul was thus also numbered with the transgressors."

Delivered unto Julius, a centurion. The Julian family, like the Cornelian, (Acts, 10: 1.) was an illustrious one in Italy. Julius learned to respect, admire, and take advice from his prisoner, and he became a friend of the Apostle. He felt the magnetism and power of a

14-19. A tempestuous wind--typhouic, or whirlwindish, now called Levanter by sailors.

Be

The ship was caught-seized hold of by the gale, and turned out of its course, and run to the southwest. hind the island of Cauda they were somewhat protected, and at once tried to haul up the boat on the deck of the ship. It had been towed along, so that it might be ready to row into any harbor along their course. It now became necessary to secure it, or it might be torn loose and be lost.

Undergirding the ship--putting strong cables under the keel and round the hull, to make fast the deck.

Be of good cheer-the words of the Master in the storm on the Sea of is in the storm." Galilee. One man in that dejected company was brave and calm. There shall be no loss of life-such is his firm