Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-02-27
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
Fly REV. j. o. SHERBURN.

1arcn Nh Panl at Corlnth.-ActS l&l-i.
Paul did not remain long at Athens; il
was not a hopeful place for establishing a
church. The people were full of conceit
OF their own wisdom, and greatly attached
to their idols. 1t was quite natural that
Paul should look to Corinth as his next
field of labor. 1t was the most important
city in the vicinity, and Il place of much
com N ercial note. Its people were of all
races and nationalities; ii may be added,
of all religions. No one. who has thought
of such matters, will fail to see that it
would be easier to introduce new relig
lou among such cosmopolitan popu lation
than in city where nearly all the people
were of one race, and of one religion. In
,ur large towns and cities people of
every race, and color, and belief come to
live together amicably, and IA stranger
among them is never looked upon with
suspicion, or as an enemy. Among such
varied populace vastly larger hearing
can be secured for any new doctrine.
Such IA place was Corinth. 1t had trade
with all the parts of Northern Africa. and
with Asia Minor, also with all Southern
Europe, and the vast regions stretching
northward from the Black sea. 1t is
probab BILE also that Paul knew before his
coming that there was here synagogue
of the Jews. He seems at once to have
fallen into the company of Aquia, and
the reason given is that they were of
the same craft. Often strangers become
speedy friends because II common voca-
lion draws them together. This man
was provincial Jew, born in Asia Minor,
afterward living at Rome, and now
expelled from that city by imperial edict.
We have profane history to show that
the Jews were thus driven from Rome,
and the reason assigned is that they were
constantly engaged in certain riots and
disturbances in the city. 1t may be
doubted whether this was any more than
one of the many false reports that have
become current concerning Jews in all
lands, since they were scattered abroad.
This Aquila, though jew. had lived
broad enough to become cured of the
narrow bigotry of his people in Judea.
Some have even supposed that before this
time he had become a convert to Chris.
tianty; but of this no valid proof appears
The friendship formed with Paul appears
to have been lasting, for during the
remainder of Paul's life several references
are made to him and his wife. Durirg
the first part of Paul's stay at Corinth he
went regularly to the synagogue,and reas'
oned with the Jews and Greeks and per-
shaded them. Both these verbs are nsed
in the imperfect tense to denote continued
or habitual action. In little time Sllas
and Timothy, who had been left at Berea'
;oined Paul at Corinlh. After their
coming. he was greatly pressed in the
snirit. or constrained by the word, as
The new version has it; and urged upon
,be laws the doctrine that Jesus was the
Christ. This was the great point in all
his reasoning with the Jews. His word
nroduced its usual effect upon that class
of mis- hearers. They became angry,
anno,ed themselves, (not argumen's,) and
beoan to blaspheme. This last phrase
doubtlessly implies that they spoke scof
6nolv of Paul's teaching, and contempt
,,onsIv of Christ. Upon this manifesto
,ion OF unthinking opposition TO the truth
paul was stirred, and with an action
SYMBOLIC of casting off the responsibility
of their ruin from himself, he declared
his purpose now to turn to the Gen''les'
Leaving the synagogue he found bospl
tality in a dwelling near by the home oil
Justus.
7, does not clearly appear why the TACT
that the house adjoined the synagogue Is
co particularly mentioned PERHAPS TO
convey the idea that Paul was not driven
from the locality. Tho determined stana
..h;oh The aposlle took had its reward
Tba chief ruler of the synagogue believed
and with him his family and many her
Corinthians. 1t was a great achievement
sprely to secure the first Office oil lhe
.rnaoopue as Christian disciple. Inc /
,Ddirn,ion is that at this point Paul was
,nolired to move on, and preach in some
other place. This would be IN accord
9th his usual plan, for as soon as a com
oany of believers were founded it was MS