Passaic City record., 1893-07-08
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 8.
Lesson Text: "Paul at Philippi,"
Acts xvi, 19-34-GoIden Text:
Acts xvii, 31-Commentary.

IT, "Ihey caught Paul and S1aS and drew
them into the market place unto the rulers. :"
The previous three verses tell of the healing
of a woman who had an evil spirit. by means
OF which she. brought gain to her masters,
but being healed she was of no more use to
them, and hence their rage against the apos-
ties. What devil we have to contend with,
to whom a sound mind in a sound body is
something distasteful Let US all the more
bless the Lord. who healeth our diseases.
20. "TheSe men. being Jews, do exceed
ingly trouble our city," 1t is all right to ruin
people soul and body, but those who seek
the welfare of soul and body are accounted
troublers. 1t grieved Sanballat and Tobiah
exceedingly that man had come to seek the
welfare of Israel (Neh. H., 10). 1t grieved
the Jews that Jesus had come to heal the
sick and raise the dead. And / have actually
seen ministers grieved that man should in
their town teach people to love the Bible
more. and thus be saved from sin and folly.
81. "And teach customs which are not
lawful for us to receive. neither to observe,
being Romans" They did not know that
the men who were prosecuting were Romans
also (verse Sd and loyal citizens If to honor
God is contrary to Roman custom, then Rome
is not on Gods side.
%. '.And the multitude rose up. together
against them" The whole world lieth in the
wicked one Ct John ", 10. R. ". Marvel
not If the world hate you (John XIV, 1S). If
the world does not hate us, we cannot be very
like our Master, but it was the religious
world that hated Him.
90. "And when they had laid many stripes
upon them they cast them into prison" This
seemed like very poor treatment from the
man of Macedonia who said, "Come over
and help u.s." but Paul understood it, having
been told at the start that he was to suffer
for Jesus's sake (chapter ix., 16) and having
already, on his first tour, had considerable
experience of it.
hnxy y, oh
thrust them into the inner prison and made
their feet fast in the stocks" And it is not
at all likely that he used much tenderness in
handling them. So with torn and bleeding
backs they find themselves well under the
power of the enemy. Without friends and
without influence they suffer this shameful
treatment I Thess. H.. p simply because
they had interfered in the unlawful gains.
Men have been murdered in our own day
for the same cause. The world changes not.
25. ''And at midnight, Paul and Silas
prayed and sang praises unto God, and the
prisoners heard them" Truly they were
putting in practice the words Of the psalm
ist, 81 will bless the Lord at all times His
praise shall continually be in my mouth"
Cps. xXxiy., u. They were filled with the
spirit of Daniel and his companions, who
went cheerfully to the lions den and to the
fiery furnace for the sake of their God.
g. ''And suddenly there was a great earth
Their songs were heard in heaven as we'll as
on earth, and though they had no influence
in the city see the power they had in heaven.
A quaking EARTH open prison doors and all
bonds loosed. Surely this is suggestive of
coming events and reminds US of His death
and resurrection and the accompanying
events of earthquake and resurrection of the
saints. He came to proclaim liberty to the
captives and the opening of the prison to
them that ars bound (Isa. xi., y.
27. "And the keeper of the prison, awak-
ening out OF his sleep, would have killed him
SELF" While the righteous although in great
suffering, were praising God, the ungodly,
though perhaps on the verge of eternal tor
ment, were in health and asleep. What a
mercy to awaken such ere it be too late Then
in his blindness, not knowing of the here
after, the jailer would have rushed madly
into it, only to find himself in hopeless de-
spair. Read carefully Luke xvi, %, % Rev.
xiv, Gil Job xxxvi., Is.
28. 'But Paul cried with a loud voice. say
ing, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here"
Here is good for evil on the part of Paul in
the true spirit of his Master Il Thess. ", 15).
He could not rejoice to see the jailer suffer,
nor permit him to in jure himself, though his
own body must have been full of pain. If we
endure grief. suffering wrongfully, or if we
do we'll and suffer for it and take it patiently,
God is we'll pleased q Pet. H., 10, 20).
20. 'Then he called for light and sprang
in and came trembling and fell down before
Paul and Silas." How well he knew to
whom to go! He had never seen prisoners
like these, nor met with such conduct under
such treatment, and then had not Paul called
out to him that he. should do himself no
harm? Paul's interest in him and in his well
fare wrought upon him by the Spirit of God.
30 "And brought them out and said,
Sirs, what must do to be saved?" Whether
he had before heard anything of Paul's
preaching or had through others received
any light on things eterna! we are not told.
But through combination of marvellous
events he is now powerfully wrought upon
for his souls good and made to see his great
danger. See how much God will do to save
a soul from death. Read job xxxiii., IS, 30,
80, and the context and consider the sorrows
of Jesus to save US.
Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy
house." This is the teaching of all Scripture
as to the work OF salvation. His work is
finished work. 1t is impossible to add to il
or to improve upon it.
80. ''And they spake unto him the word of
the Lord and to all that were in his house."
No doubt they would show from the Scrip
lures that Jesus was the Christ and that the
law cannot give life, but that Christ is the
end of the law for Righteousness to every
one that believeth, and that believing means
receiving, for he that hath the Son hath life.
and he that hath not the Son hath not life
(Gal ill.,, q H., II; ; Rom. K, John j.. ,12 !;
John ", IL, 12.)
33. "And he took them the same hour of
the night and washed their stripes and was
baptized. he and all his, straighway." Here
is public confession of their faith in Christ,
or, perhaps more correctly, formal confess
sion, and also fruits meet for repentance.
Thus faith in Christ, or, as in John l., IL,
receiving Christ" makes sinners into chill
dren of God, and the love of Christ con-
strains to good works.
"a. "And when he had brought them into
his house he set meat before them and re-
joiced, believing in God with all his house."
In verse Is we saw Lydia's household all
saved and now another. Behold the Spirit
of God at work, but do not forget the sore
trials of the agents by whom the Spirit
wrought. How much are you willing to en-
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