LESSON TEACHINGS, WITH QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. 17. On what ground did Saul as a strict Pharisee strive to win the favor of God, and how successful was he in attaining the standard which he set for himself (Phil. 3:6)? How successful was he in attaining true righteousness (Phil. 3:7-9)? What is true of even the best of men regarding sin (Rom. 3: 10-12)?

18. Is it possible to attain righteousness by obedience to the law (Rom. 3: 19, 20)? What is the divine way of salvation (Rom. 3:21-26; Phil. 3:9)? In the light of these truths, what is the real condition of those who expect to be saved by their righteous living?

19. Did Jesus really appear to Saul (Acts 9:5, 6; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15: 8, comp. Gal. 1:15, 16a)? From what, and to what, was Saul converted? In what respects was his conversion different from that of men now, and in what respect was it essentially the same? What is conversion?

20. What is one reason why Saul, the blasphemer, and persecutor, obtained mercy (1 Tim. 1:13, 14)? Under what circumstances does ignorance palliate wrongdoing?

21. What other reason does Paul give for God's mercy toward him (1 Tim. 1:15, 16; memorize vs. 15)? What encouragement does this give to all sinners? By what alone is God's mercy limited?

TOPICS FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION AND THOUGHT.

1. Paul's Roman citizenship. 2. Tentmaking as a trade in Tarsus. 3. Jewish schools at Jerusalem. 4. The ten years in Saul's life preceding his conversion: where were they probably spent? 5. A fuller study of Saul's religious experiences before his conversion. 6. The city of Damas7. The variations in the three leading accounts of Saul's conversion. 8. The conversion of Saul as an evidence of the truth of Christianity.

cus.

Lesson 9. SAUL'S PREPARATION FOR HIS FUTURE WORK. His Experiences in Damascus, Arabia, Judea, Syria, and Cilicia.

Acts 9: 196-30; 22:17-21; 2 Cor. 11: 32, 33; Gal. 1:166-24.

A.D. 35-42.

Note 14. The material from which to construct the history of the seven years following Saul's conversion is very fragmentary. A possible combination is as follows: (1) After his conversion Saul preached only "certain days" in Damascus (Acts 9: 196-22), and then (2) retired to Arabia to meditate on the new truth revealed to him at his conversion, and on its relation to the Old Testament faith. Here he spent a large

part of the three years that elapsed between his conversion and his next visit to Jerusalem. (3) Returning from Arabia to Damascus (Gal. 1:17), he preached with such power that the Jews plotted to kill him; but aided by the brethren he escaped (Acts 9: 23-25; 2 Cor. 11:32, 33). (4) From Damascus he fled to Jerusalem, where the church had perhaps heard of his conversion three years before (Gal. 1: 23), but, having had no further news of him, naturally regarded him with suspicion (Acts 9:26). Fortunately Barnabas, a fellow-Hellenist, was able to vouch for him (Acts 9:27). He stayed in Jerusalem fifteen days, entertained by the noble-hearted Peter (Gal. 1 : 18), and preaching to the Hellenists in and around the city (Acts 9: 28, 29). Although aware that the Jews in Jerusalem were plotting against his life, he was reluctant to go elsewhere until commanded by the Lord to do so (Acts 22: 17-21). (5) The disciples then escorted him to Cæsarea, whence he set sail for his native Tarsus (Acts 9:30).

(6) The next four years seem to have been spent chiefly in Syria and Cilicia (Gal. 1: 21), during which time he probably established the Gentile churches afterwards visited and confirmed by him (Acts 15:23, 41).

GOLDEN TEXT: "And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles." (Acts 22: 21.)

SCRIPTURE, to be read in school or class: Acts 9: 196-30.

REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

1. What were the characteristics of Part II of the history of the apostolic church as given in these lessons? 2. Why had the Jewish authorities engaged in no general persecution of the church prior to the death of Stephen? 3. What was there in Stephen's preaching which aroused their enmity? 4. What mission took Saul from Jerusalem to Damascus? 5. What occurred to him as he was approaching the latter city? 6. What took place after he had remained in Damascus three days? 7. In what respects was he then a changed man? 8. What is the title of this lesson? its topics? its Golden Text?

THE LESSON OUTLINE, WITH WRITTEN-ANSWER QUESTIONS.

1. Saul's Experiences in Damascus, and his Retirement into Arabia. Acts 9: 196-25; Gal. 1:166–18; 2 Cor. 11:32, 33.

1. What did Saul do immediately after his conversion? (Acts 9: 20, 22.)

2. What was its effect on those who heard him? (vs. 21.)

3. Describe his movements after staying " certain days" in Damascus. (Gal. 1:166, 17.)

4. How long probably did he remain in Arabia? (Gal. 1:18; see Remark 7 (1), App.)

5. What was the result of Saul's second visit to Damascus ? 23, 24.)

(Acts 9:

6. How did he escape from his enemies? (vs. 25; 2 Cor. 11:32, 33.)

2. Saul's First Visit to Jerusalem after his Conversion, and his Work in Syria and Cilicia. Acts 9: 26-30; 22: 17-21; Gal. I: 18-24. 7. After Saul's flight from Damascus, how was he received by the church in Jerusalem? (Acts 9: 26.)

8. How was his true character made known? (vs. 27.)

9. With whom did he stay, and how long? (Gal. 1: 18.)

10. Whom else of the apostles did he see? (vs. 19.)

Nine.

The History of The Apostolic Church.

II. What did Saul do in and around Jerusalem? (Acts 9:28, 29.)

33

12. When the Jews in Jerusalem plotted to kill him, what divine communication did he receive? (Acts 22:17–21.)

13. What course was then pursued regarding him? (Acts 9:30.)

14. Where did he spend the next few years? (Gal. 1:21.)

15. What hint as to his work during this period is given in the Acts? (Acts 15:23, 41; see Note 14 (6).)

LESSON TEACHINGS, WITH QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. 16. What conception of Christ, implied in the earlier preaching of the apostles, was clearly asserted by Saul at Damascus (comp. Acts 2: 32, 33, 36; 3:26; 5: 30 with 9: 20)? How was this truth made known to Saul (Gal. 1:15, 16)? What is the relation of this truth to Christianity? 17. How did Saul at once prove the genuineness of his conversion (Acts 9:20, 22)? What is often among the earliest evidences of conversion?

18. What were probably the reasons for Saul's protracted withdrawal into the solitudes of Arabia (see Remark 7 (2))? Why does a call into the Christian ministry to-day include a call to secure the best possible preparation?

19. How does this truth affect the preaching of Christ by laymen? How can Christ be effectively preached by every Christian?

20. What facts in connection with Saul's stay in Jerusalem suggest that he was not dependent on the other apostles for instruction? Whence did he himself claim to have received his gospel (Gal. 1:1)?

TOPICS FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION AND THOUGHT.

1. The possible influence of Stephen's disputations upon those of Saul after his conversion. 2. Reasons for holding that Acts 9 : 26–30 and Gal. I: 18, 19 refer to the same visit, and not to two distinct visits to Jerusalem. 3. Saul's reception at Jerusalem, and its probable immediate effect upon him. 4. The visit of Saul to Peter. 5. Saul's work in Syria and Cilicia.

Lesson 10. THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS. The Vision of Peter, and the First

Gentile Converts.

Acts 9:31-11: 18. About A.D. 40.

Note 15.- During the rest from persecution which occurred after the conversion of Saul the church grew rapidly. Up to this time it had confined itself to Jerusalem (see Note 10). Stephen, and perhaps some others, had indeed perceived that the gospel properly understood is designed for all men; but the great body of the church, including the apostles themselves, did not fully understand this. They thought that Gentiles must become Jews before they could be saved.

The time had now come when the Jewish prejudices against the Gentiles must be broken down. A revelation to this end came to Peter at Joppa. It showed him that God did not recognize the Jewish distinction between clean and unclean men; and it prepared him to go to Cæsarea to preach the gospel in the house of the Gentile, Cornelius. Even while he was speaking, the salvation of Gentiles without the intervention of Judaism was divinely approved by the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household. Through this revelation to Peter and its results in Cæsarea, these deeply rooted national prejudices of the Jewish believers were silenced in Jerusalem for a time, although not removed.

GOLDEN TEXT: "God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10: 34.)

SCRIPTURE, to be read in school or class: Acts 11:1-18.

REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

1. How does Part II of the history of the apostolic church as given in these lessons differ from Part I? 2. To what place outside of Judea was the gospel first carried? 3. How far was it eventually carried by those who fled from Jerusalem? 4. In what public way was the reality of Saul's conversion first shown in Damascus? 5. Where did he go from Damascus? 6. What befell him on his return to that city? 7. Describe his movements from the time he again left Damascus until he arrived in