The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-12-12
Shorter CatsoAism, Question 25.
QUESTIONS.

was Syracuse w hat was the next point reaehedt
Mesning of fetched a compass p Y. Is. Whom
did they find at Puteoh How did they journey
from there2 Where were they met by the breth-
rem from Rome
V. 10 What was done with the prisoners when
they reached ROme2 What special privilege was
granted Psul2 Who was Emperor at this timer
V. IT, Whom did Paul call tOgetheI2 For what
purpose What statement does he make in regard
to his condition as a prisoner?
V. Is. What does he say of his Roman judges?
V. 10. Who had opposed his discharge? Why
had be appealed unto Cesar
" 20. What does he say about his religious
OpiniOnsP Meaning of hope of Israeli
v. p. What reply did the Jews make to these
statements2 How did they show their cauhonP
Could any accusation have preceded Pau?
V. %. What desire did they express? What
do they call the disciples Of Christ
V. %. What arrangements were made tor his
address, How long did the discussion continue
V. "a. With what result? Where had this been
the case previously? Acts xiv T.
VS. 1921. What warning did the apostle give
them2 Who had used this before Matt. kin {:
Is. From what prophecy is it taken2 Isaiah Vi 4:
9, 10.
v. Is. To whom was salvation now sent? How
would they receive it2
v, 20, What effect had Paul's faithful warning?
V. 80. Where did Paul dwell How long ?
Who came unto him.
V. 81. What did he preach How2 Why was
he unmolested7 Had he earnestly desired this
privilege Rom. /: 1915. Acts xix: 81.
NOTES ON TIE LESSON.
Paul and his company spent the three
winter months in Melits, as navigation at
that season was too dangerous. Early in
March they sailed in an Alexandrisn ship,
and the first point they made was Syracuse,
in Sicily, about eighty miles north of Malta.
It was 3 good place for trade, had an excel
lent harbOr, and a fountain that furnished
an abundant supply of water. From this
port they had to " fetch compass" that is,
stand out to sea in order to I'll their sails,
and so reach Rhegium by circuitous course.
1t was at the southern entrance of the straits
of Messina, and here the vessel had to wait
for favorable south wind which took them
to PuteOli, one hundred and eighty miles dis
tsns in less than two days. At Puteoli,
where the Alexsndrian ships landed their
cargoes of grain, Paul found brethren, :"
for there were many Jews there, some Of
whom had embraced Christianity, and by the
courtesy of the centurion he was allowed to
tarry there seven days. From this point the
journey was made BY land. Delegations of
Christians came to meet him at Appii Forum,
a station of the great Roman road which con-
nected Rome with the Bay of Naples, and
was about forty three miles from Rome
The Three TsVerns was station ten miles
nearer, and here another band of Christian
friends met him, and Paul thanked God
and took courage" He did not suppose his
hardships and conflicts were over, for the
Holy Ghost had witnessed "that in eUery
city bonds and Affections awaited him" but
he felt encouraged to endure these trials, and
fight more brsvely than ever.
V. 10. When they reached the city the
centurion showed him the same consideration
and kindness as upon the route, and permit
ted him to dwell alone, with only soldier to
guard him, and as the soldiers relieved each
other on guard "his bonds became manifest in
all the palace" Phil 1 %. The Emperor
Nero was thus permitting the new faith to be
preached in his household, for the soldiers
who guarded prisoners were from the Eupe-
rOr's bOdy-guard.
V. II. After a rest of three days Paul
assembled the "ehief of the Jews, or the
rulers of the synagogue, that he might ex-
plain to them his position. He wished to
remove any false impressions they might
have had from his being prisoner, and ap-
pealing unto Caesar, and from misrepresenta-
tiOns that might have been sent from Jerusa-
lem. He begins by claiming them as breth-
rem through Abraham that he might win
them to be brothers in Christ. His defence
is about the same as that made before the
Ssuhedrim, before Felix, and before Agrippa.
V. Is. His judges had examined and found
him innocent; he had committed no offence
against the people, nor against the religious
rites Of the nation.
V. 10. The Jews were so bitterly opposed
to him that he had no chance of fair trial
and was constrained to appeal unto Cesar
and not because he had any reVengeful
charges to present against his people.
V. 20. He was in chains simply because
he believed in the Messiah, the hope of Is
rsel as actually come in the person of Jesus
Christ.
V. p. The reply of the Jews was non
cOmmittal. They stated they had received
no letters from Jerusalem, and this was
perhaps true, for the prisoners had reached
Rome fully as soon as was practicable at
that season of the year.
V. p. They express their desire to hear
Paul, but they seem to make an unCalled for
fling in the sarcastic way they speak of the
''sect' as everywhere spoken against.
V. %. They arranged time for hearing
him, and q number came to his lodging, where
he continued the discussion throughout the
day. His subject was Jesus, his life, work,
miracles, death and resurrection. These
prominent events were placed side by side
with the prophecies, and were shown to be
fulfilled in him.
V. "A. The result was the same old story, |
'some believed, and some believed not.
VS.. 1921. Paul did not permit them to |
depart until he held up a prophecy of the