Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-07-07
i'HE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON II, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JULY 9.

Text of the Lesson, Acts xvi. I9-34-Mem-
DRY Verses. 1921 - Golden Text, Acts
xvi, 31-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns,
10. They caught Paul and Silas and drew
them into the market place unto the rul-
ers." 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 apostles. What devil we have
to contend with, to whom sound mind in
a sound body is something distastefull 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 ac-
counted troublers 1t grieved Sanballat
and Tobiah exceedingly that man had
come to seek the welfare of Israel (Neh. ii,
l0) 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 peo-
Pile 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 they were prosecuting were Ro-
mans also (verse 81 and loyal citizens II
to honor God is contrary to Roman custom,
then Rome is not on Gods side
g. And the multitude rose up together
against them" The whole world lieth in
the wicked one Il John v, 10, r. W. Mar
vel not If the world hate you John XIV, lS).
II the world does not hate us, we cannot be
very like our Master, but it was the reli-
gious world that hated Him.
o. And when they had laid many
stripes upon them they cast them into
prison." This seemed like very poor treat
ment from the man of Macedonia who said
Come over and help us" but Paul under
stood it, having been told at the start that
he was to suffer for Jesus sake tchapter tx,
l6) and having already on his first tour had
considerable experience Of it.
"a WHO, baving received such charge,
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 bleed
ing backs they find themselves we'll under
the power of the enemy Without friends
and without influence they suffer this
shameful treatment Il Thess. ii, y simply be-
cause 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
let. Ttx-ill . a n,.I LEI,
praise shall continually be in my mouth
/ FPS. xxxiv, ~ 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.
26 And suddenly there was great
earthquake, and every ones bonds were
! loosed." Their songs were heard in heaven
as well rs on earth, and though they had nc
influence in the city see the power they
had in heaven. A quaking earth, open pris
on doors and ill 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 pro
claim liberty to the captives and the open
ing of the prison to them that are bound
lisa Xxi, ~
81 And the keeper of the prison, awak-
ening out of his sleep, would have killed
himself" While the righteous, although
in great suffering, were praising God, the
ungodly. though perhaps on the verge Of
eternal torment, were in health and asleep
What mercy to awaken such ere it bt
too latel Then in his blindness not know
ing of the hereafter, the jailer would have
rushed madly into it, only to find himself
in hopeless despair. Read carefully Luke
XVI, %, %; Rev. xiv. Oil; Job xxxvi, 10.
%. But Paul cried with loud voice
saying, Do myself no harm, for we are al
here" Here is good for evil on the part o.
Paul in the true spirit of his Master q
Thess. v. 49, He could not rejoice to Sc,
the jailer suffer, nor permit him to injurt
himself, though his own body must have
been full of pain. If we endure grief, suf
fering wrongfully, or II we do well anC
suffer for 1t and take it patiently, God Il
we'll pleased q Pet. ii, 10, 2O)
90 Then he called for a light anc
sprang in and came trembling and fel
down before Paul and Silas." How wei
he knew to whom to gol He had neve
seen prisoners like these, nor met With spcl
conduct under such treatment, and theI
had not Paul called out to him that h
should do himself no harmi Paul's interes
him by the Spirit of God.
80 And brought them out and said
Sirs, what must do to be saved'" Wheth
err he had before heard anything of Paul
preaching or had through others received
! any light on things eternal we are not told
But through combination of marvelou
events he is now powerfully wrought upol
for his SOULS good and made to see his grea
: danger See how much God will do to saw
soul from death. Read Job xxxiii, Is, &c
80, and the context and consider the sorrow
of Jesus to save us.
81. And they said, Believe on the LORI
Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved an,
thy house" This is the teaching of all Scrip
ture as to the work of salvation. His worl
is IA finished work. 1t is impossible to add t.
1t or to improve upon it.
SO. And they spake unto him the wor
Of the Lord and to all that were in hi
house" No doubt they would show iron
the Scriptures that Jesus was the Chris
and that the law cannot give life, but tina
Christ is the end of the law for righteous
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