The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-08-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for August 9, 1885
Paul at Miletus-Acts 2O:22-35.


TINE. Sunday, April %, A. D, IS Paul ar
rived at Miletus on Thursday, April 20. Al |
from Miletus TO Ephesus was about forty-fivt |
miles by the ways OF travel, If Paul sent for thu
elders on Thursday afternoon they might vel |
arrive by Sundsy.-Lewin, Fast Sacri.
PLAcE-Miletus, then a celebrated city OF |
Asia Minor, some thirty miles south OF Ephesus, |
at the mouth OF the river Meauder. 1t was the |
capital of Iona, and the birthplace of q number |
Of celebrated ren II was beginning 10 decline
in Paul's time and is now ruin 1t was then,
with its four harbors, famous for its commerce
and riches The coast line has changed not
little since Paul was there.
RULERs-Nero, emperor OF Rome, aged TWEEN.
ty-one, fourth year of his reign. Felix was gov.
ernor of Judea. The Passover was March 20;
Pentecost May Is; Tabernacles, September q.
PAUL aged ffty-six, toward the close OF his
third great missionary journey
THE SECTION OF HISTORY includes the whole
of chapter 20.
LESSON NOTES.
Ten Months in Europe. - Chap. 20,
vers. Is. May, A. ID. 81, to March, So.
Paul driven away from Ephesus by the
mob in May, 81, went to Macedonia,
and, from April to November, revisited
the churches he had founded there five
or six years before. And he would
preach the Gospel in those portions he
had not hitherto visited Rom. 1910.
The second epistle to the Corinthians
was written during this tour in Ma
cedonia late in AID. 81 e Cor. 9. 2-4).
From Macedonia Paul turned south.
ward toward Greece, arriving at Corinth
November 81, AID. 81 Newin), remain
ing there three months till February
81, ID. IS. 1t was four years since he
left Corinth after a stay there of year
half. The epistle to the Galatians
was written at this time, AID. So, from
Corinth, The epistle to the Romans
was also written at Corinth during this
visit. A collection was taken up in
various churches on this tour rom IS:
25) for Paul to carry to the poor disci-
pies at Jerusalem, according to his
promise seven years before (Acts Is;
Gal. 2:1O).
The Journey from Corinth to Miletus.
Chap. 20, vers. 4-15. After three
months at Corinth, Paul started on his
journey to Jerusalem, hoping to reach
there by Pentecost (ver 15), May II, SO.
The dates of the various stages of this
journey are calculated by Levin in his
Fast Sacri as follows:
| February % to March 81, A. d. So.
journey by land from Corinth to Phil
ippi.
March 26 or27, arrival at Philippi.
Sunday, March 26, from sunset, to
sunset on Monday, April 3, the eight
days of the feast of the Passover
Tuesday, April 4, A. D. 5S, Paul leaves
Philippi for Troas
Saturday, April s, arrives at Troas.
Sunday, April 8, to Monday, April II,
remains at Troas.
Sunday, April 16, breaches at Troas.
| Monday, April II, leaves Troas and
goes to Mitylene.
Tuesday, April IS, to Chios.
Wednesday, April 10, to Samos.
Thursday, April 20, to Miletus.
Sunday, April 30, Paul breaches at
Miletus to the elders of Ephesus
Luke joins Paul at Philippi, where
he has been for six years, and hence
forth continues with Paul to the end of
the history in Acts (see change of per-
sons in the narrative at vers 5. 81.
AT Troas Paul breaches and holds a
conference with the disciples nearly
all night. During the long service the
young man Eutychus is overcome with
sleep and falls out of the upper win.
dow. But Paul restores him to life.
| Conference with the elders of Eph
esus at Miletus on Sunday, April 90, S.
There was brief delay of the ship al
{ Miletus, so that Paul was able to have
, a much-desired conference with the
Ephesian church, from which he hat
, been driven away year before. The
time for the sailing of the ship was un
certain, so that Paul, instead of going
to Ephesus himself, sent for the lead
ers of that church to meet him at Mile
tus. Then followed one of the mos
, touching and perfect addresses eve
spoken. He began with review of hi
three years among them.
, Summary: U He spoke the who'll
truth boldly; (2) he rebuked whel
q needful; (5) he taught in public; (4) h,
. labored personally with individuals
! (5l he embraced every opportunity; e
. he sought all classes aud conditions; G.
. he spoke from experience: (S) h
preached repentance and faith.
, PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. l. We know not what is before us
= but we commit our whole future t.
. Gods wise and loving care.
2. There are many things better thai
:, life. To keep the faith, to complet
:, our work, to fulfill our mission, are ia
= more important than to live long.
. 8. Blessed are they who so live ant
y so teach that they are pure from tn
: blood of souls.
4. Neglect of duty, of warning, o
. teaching, tempting others to sin, set
!, ting bad example, are ways of be
. coming guilty for the loss of Others
= souls.
:, 5. Spiritual power over others de
u ponds on what we are ourselves. There
4 4 fore let us first take heed to ourselves
ID that we may be able to teach and car
!. for others.
i 6. The teacher is to his class what
l. shepherd is to his flock. He must feed
a watch over, defend, train and lead i
= the right ways.
y Z. Gods church is very precious t
!. Him. it has cost Him so much.
u S. Warnings should always be give
y with tenderness. Harsh condemnatio
e is contrary to the Gospel, and ineffe'
tive.