30. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

31. And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

32. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.

and constant belief that none but God could incline men to become altogether Christians. Barnes. This has been called "a burst of eloquence." It seems almost sacrilege to use the term. It was eloquent simply because it was the natural expression of a heart longing for the salvation of those before him.-P. Were both almost, and altogether. (1) This is the natural rendering if we adopt the translation of our authorized version in ver. 28. (2) If we adopt the Rev. Ver. of ver. 28, then Paul's answer is, "I would that you were persuaded, whether with little trouble or with great difficulty." (3) If Agrippa's words are to be rendered, "Truly, in a short time thou wilt make me a Christian," Paul replies, "I pray God that in a longer or shorter time (sooner or later) he would make you such as I (4) Alford and Prof. Riddle suppose that Paul takes up the words of Agrippa in a sense slightly different from that in which Agrippa used them, to give point to his reply: "I could pray God that both in little and in great measure (i.e., in everything), not only thou," etc. This is, on the whole, the simplest sense, most in accordance with the usages of the Greek. Riddle. Such as I am, except these bonds. The chains he had upon him while he was speaking. "I would not have you like me in my privations, or like me in my sufferings: but I would have you like me in my faith, like me in my hope, and like me in my joy!" Vaughn.

am."

EXCEPT THESE BONDS. I. Paul the prisoner had much more than the brilliant assemblage before him. (1) They had worldly wealth; he had treasures in heaven, spiritual riches. (2) They had honor and applause from men; he had the approval of God. (3) They had luxury and sensual delights; he had joys, and peace, and delights beyond their highest dreams. (4) They had worldly crowns; he had a crown of glory in the heavens. (5) They had hearts of unrest, and consciences ill at ease; he was abiding in perfect peace as a child of God. (6) They had a Roman tyrant for their master, whom they feared; he had the blessed Jesus whom he loved. (7) Their possessions would last but a little time; his forever and ever. II. 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.

V. The Vindication. Vers. 30-32. 30. The king rose up, etc. They arose in the order of their rank. Verily, we need not long remain in uncertainty who at that moment was the greatest in the palace! Even when he returned to his lonely dungeon, he left the field as conqueror.- Van Osterzee.

31. This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. The result of this trial was (1) a complete vindication of Paul before the world. (2) Festus no doubt wrote such a favorable view of the prisoner's case as eventually brought about his acquittal and freedom from his first Roman imprisonment. (3) It certainly procured him kindly treatment after his arrival in the capital (he was allowed to dwell in his own hired house and even to receive large numbers of friends and pupils there, chap. 28: 17-23, 30, 31). (4) From this time a kindly feeling seems to have sprung up in the king's heart towards that strange Nazarene sect which he tells us himself he once almost was persuaded to join. Stier, in his Words of the Apostles, 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 Cesarea, protecting the Christians, giving them succor, and receiving them kindly into his territory. — Schaff.

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32. This man might have been set at liberty. It is well that his appeal to Cæsar prevented this; for, (1) if the apostle had been liberated, he would have been exposed, and probably fallen a victim, to the malice of the Jews. Cook. (2) He could not have gone so easily to Rome, and under such favorable circumstances, and have been enabled to teach for two years there protected by the Roman government. -P. (3) The very circumstances of his arrival as an imperial prisoner, probably from their publicity, assisted him in his work of telling out his Master's message; so all things worked together for the glory of God. — Schaff.

LIBRARY REFERENCES.

Vaughn's Church of the First Days, Lect. 8; Monday Club Sermons for 1877, p. 396; Farrar, chap. 42; Conybeare and Howson; Taylor, chap. 23; Arnot's Church in the House; Sermons by Emmons, vol. 2, on ver. 26; by H. W. Beecher, vol. 2, on ver. 19.

PRACTICAL.

I. Ver. 19. God opens wide the gates of salvation, and presses us to enter; but the decision must be made by us.

2. Those who obey the heavenly vision have entered upon the duties and the joys of the Christian life.

3. Ver. 20. As soon as we know Christ we should seek to lead others to believe on his name.

4. Vers. 20, 23. Paul's teaching, as ours should be, was both practical and doctrinal for the two are joined in eternal wedlock.

5- Ver. 20. The first duty of sinners is to repent.

6. True repentance will be proved by its appropriate fruits.

7. Ver. 23. Christ crucified and risen is the centre of the Gospel.

8. Ver. 24. Christian earnestness and spiritual life often seem to the worldling to be the height of madness.

9. There is no madness so great, no delirium so awful, as to neglect the eternal interest of the soul for the sake of the poor pleasures and honors which this life can give. - Barnes. Ver. 25. A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion. — Bacon.

IO.

II. Ver. 27. There is a faith in the Bible that is dead, and leaves men's hearts unchanged.

12. Ver. 28. There are many who are almost Christians, who imagine that a little more persuasion will bring them into the kingdom, who yet perish just outside the walls of Zion.

13. Christians desire others to be Christians, only better and happier Christians than themselves, like them "save these bonds" of remaining sins and imperfections.

14. Ver. 32. The events which kept Paul a prisoner, were yet overruled to the furtherance of the Gospel, and the work Paul desired to do.

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS.

The STEPS TO THE LESSON are very short. A simple review of the scene, with the place, the speaker, the audience, and the address of Paul as far as presented in the last lesson. We may take for our SUBJECT, - DIFFERENT WAYS OF TREATING GOD'S INVITATIONS TO SERVE HIM.

I. PAUL'S WAYS (vers. 19-23). (1) The way of obedience. He was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. We can emphasize here the fact that while we can do nothing without God; he has done his part, and we cannot be saved unless we do our part. "Thus," says Dr. Wm. M. Taylor, "in a very solemn sense, God has placed our everlasting destiny in our own choice. If we receive life from Christ, it is because we will to come to him; and if we die eternally, it is because we will to die." (2) The way of work for Christ. Paul, immediately after finding Christ himself, began to labor for the salvation of others. Note the range of places where he preached. (3) Paul's teachings, both practical and doctrinal. In many classes it may be well to dwell somewhat on these, -on repentance, and its fruits, and on the suffering and risen Christ, as giving the light our souls need. NOTE persecution for preachiug the truth; dependence of God's help.

II. FESTUS' WAY (vers. 24, 25). He disobeyed because it seemed from his standpoint to be madness to be a Christian. What in Festus' circumstances would lead him to this opinion; his parentage, his education; his worldly riches and honors, his sins and bad habits, etc. But in reality he was mad and Paul was reasonable.

AGRIPPA'S WAY (vers. 26-29). Note that Agrippa had knowledge of religious things, and believed the Bible, and yet he was not a Christian, and rejected Christ. His faith was a dead faith.

Illustration. On the state-house grounds at Columbia, S. C., is an iron tree, an almost perfect imitation of the palmetto. The long, thin leaves of iron, life-like even to the hairlike fibres of the twigs and branches, wave tremulously in every zephyr, and the whole tree, painted artistically, has so close a resemblance to the real tree as to deceive the acutest observer at the distance of five rods. Journal of Chemistry. Contrast this with a living,

growing, fruit-bearing tree.

REASONS why it would be hard for Agrippa to become a Christian. Even if we do not take the authorized version of ver. 28, yet we may speak of the ALMOST CHRISTIAN. One who was trained as Agrippa was in religion, knew the facts about Christ, and accepted the Bible as true, but was not persuaded.

Illustrations. (1) Sailors, after a long voyage, wrecked within sight of home. (2) A ship was sailing along the coast of South America, and was short of water. The crew were almost perishing for want of water to drink. They hailed another ship and begged for water. The reply was, There is fresh water all around you, for you are in the mouth of the Amazon; the surface of the sea there is fresh water. You have been suffering, and might have died of thirst, with water so near that you had only to let down your buckets and draw it up."

NOTE Paul's desire that all should be like him. In what respects he had the advantage of that brilliant audience. Such is the Christian's wish for all, “like me, except these bonds of sin and imperfection."

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS.

SCRIPTURE LESSON. Paul's review of his ministry. - ACTS 20: 17-36.

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GOLDEN TEXT. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. - ACTS 20: 24.

TIME. The lessons of this quarter extend over three years and two months of Paul's life, from May 28, A.D. 57, to Aug., A.D. 60. Paul was 55 to 58 years of age. The Gospel had been preached for 30 years, from the day of Pentecost, May, A.D. 30.

TERRITORY. - The Gospel had been preached in the larger portion of the Roman empire east of Rome. It had a foothold in Europe, Asia, and Africa. There were churches in the leading cities. PERSONS. Paul and his companions, especially Luke, Timothy, and Trophimus, Agabus the prophet, Philip the evangelist, and his daughters, James the apostle, Eutychus the sleepy hearer, Felix, Claudius, Lysias, Festus, and Agrippa.

MISSIONARY JOURNEYS. Paul has now completed his three great missionary journeys. (1) From Antioch through Asia Minor and return, A.D. 48-50, two years. (2) From Antioch through Asia Minor, into Macedonia and Greece, and return through Jerusalem to Antioch, A.D. 51-54, three or four years. (3) From Antioch through Asia Minor, three years in Ephesus, to Macedonia and Greece, and return to Jerusalem, A.D. 54-58, four

years.

THE RETURN OF THE MISSIONARY.—This quarter begins with Paul completing his third missionary journey. He had just been driven from Ephesus, where he had had a most successful ministry of three years. He proceeds through Macedonia to Greece. After three months at Corinth he returns towards Jerusalem, where he arrives in May, A.D. 58.

EVENTS. - These may be called up by the places noted on the return journey, — Eutychus at Troas, the address at Miletus, the warning at Tyre, the prophecy at Cesarea, the mob at Jerusalem, followed by the rescue, addresses, plot, and escape to Cesarea.

PAUL'S REVIEW OF HIS CONVERSION is twice given in this quarter, and may be used for practical instruction. One scholar might tell the story.

PAUL'S REVIEW OF HIS MINISTRY, as related to the elders of Ephesus, The characteristics of Paul, his earnestness, faithfulness, tenderness, hopes, unselfishness. desire for the salvation of men, are all shown here, and give many practical lessons.

LESSONS. Let the scholars suggest (1) the truths that seem to them most clearly taught by these lessons; (2) the duties enforced.