The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-06-29

We may date A. ID. Sd.
The Travellers.
i. ST. Paul. 1870.
g Silas IS: 40.
g. Timothy. 16: 13.
4. St. Luke. IS: 11-"We"
arrested. They were probably less known than
SITS. Paul and Silas, and possibly were less az
gressive.
l. THE ARREST OF Sis. PAUL AND SILAs.
l. Data.
Acts, 10: 1924 The Book of the Acts of
the Apostles is very important document.
Notice we do not say the words, plans, schemes,
resolutions. and the like. of the Apostles, but
the acts. There is a very practical ring in this
title. 1t makes ono think of what Christ said:
II must be about my Fathers business"
g Outline.
l. Accusers. 10. CT. 16.
g. Charge. /. Real. 2. Pretended.
3. Arresters. 10.
q. Place of trial. 10.
8. Court. 49,
6. Witnesses. %.
z. unshment Beating. o.
8. Prison. %.
9. Tailor. %.
10. Lessons.
Remarks on Outline
!. The accusers were the masters or owners
of the damsel. I6. She was seemingly owned
by partnership corporation We might say to-
day slave. 1t may be the company was
formed purpose to make money out of the
exhibitions Of the woman, who was perhaps
shown with othersin some kind of public en-.
tertainment.
Rev j. r. Miller said: Some men owned her
as their slave, and kept her for a show, or in
some way made money out Of her maniacal
manifestations There are men in these days
who gather monstrosites of all kinds, and then
put them on exhibition, thus making money
out of their deformties. This girl may have
been fortune-teiler or one who professed to
understand signs"
9. The charge was that of seditiop. (Vs
20; IT.: The aecusers represented the Apos-
ties as distErbers OF the public peace. 1t is
plain the real cause was diminution of income.
(Ilead St. Matt. 8: % "a; Acts, 10: 25-27; 1
Tim, 6:9, 10.) Civil authority is always very
sensitive about sedition acts. We remember
the enemies Of Christ made very similar
charge against him. Worse yet the disturbers
were jews. Even then that race was despised.
The case was more complicated, too, by the
fact the Apostles were religious innovators.
Cicero, representing Roman law, land Philippi
was under Roman government said No per-
son shall have any separate gods, nor new
ones; nor shall he privately worship any strange
gods, unless they be publicly allowed" And
Servins said: "Great care was taken among the
Athenians and Romans that no one should in-
tToduce any new religion. 1t was on this ac-
count Socrates was condemned, aud Oh this ac-
count the Chaldeans and the Jews were ban
ished from Rome"
Dr. j. K. Kendrick remarks: "No doubt the
charge thus made had some just foundation, as
the Roman law, while it tolerated the presence
Of foreign religions, did not permit propaganda
ism and the making Of converts. II was simply
inevitable that the Gospel should be the inno-
T.
not Cesar, was Pauls supreme master"
3. 1t would seem from the account the ar
rosters were the owners of the girl but the
arrest was not likely by them direct, but
through proper officers secured by them.
a. The gateways of eastern cities served as
market places for general eoncourse and fire.
quently for court proceedings.
5. Every city had rulers, or magistrates,
who tried cases and ordered punishment adj
ministered. Those who inflicted the blows
were called lictors. What was done ". 22)
was not by the rulers in person, but by their
order.
g. 1t does not seem there was any formal
trial. The proceeding itself riotous and
yet we told it was q trial of persons guilty
of disturbing public peace. There was general
disorder So DR.. Kendrick says: THE whole
outrage seems to have been conducted with
hot haste which did not permit Paul to plead
if he had chosen so to do his privileges as
Roman citizen"
We recall the Irregularities, utter contempt
of law, in the trial of Christ. So, too. as to
witnesses in his case.
Z. Punishment. "They were tied in a bent
posture over a pillar. and thus exposed, many
strokes were laid upon them by the cruel and
inhuman lictors. Their bodies were left all
decorated and bleeding at the close OF the in
human torture"
In the matter of whipping the Roman law
had no such restriction as the Jewish. (Deu.,
25:2, 81 2 Cor; IL: 3D. st. Paul was beaten
on seven other occasions. u Cor, IL "a; 25.)
Our Savior told the Apostles to expect such
treatment (St. Mt. 10: H. Our Savior HIM
self was scourged (St Mt, 81 %; Is, 3d. 81
The feet were fastened in stocks. Similar
stocks were at times used to fasten the hands
also. beam cut in two pieces had apertures.
1t shut like the blade of knife. The PERSONS
feet were put into the lower half of the beam
having one-half Of each aperture. Then the
upper part with the other half of each aperture
was shut down on the lower, holding the per- |
son so firmly he could net escape. The aper-
lures were at different distances. Sometimes |
the legs were fastened quite distended, and after
time it became very painful. The prisons |
were built usually in three stories. The lower
most was deeD dungeon, underground, dark, |
and cold and miry. 5(See Jer.. 80: 81 The one
just over this was probably the inner prison
into which these men were cast. 1t WAS very |
filthy, q horrible place for anyone to he in. |
Modern prisons are often bad enough, but they |
comfortable homes compared with those of
that early age"
10. Suggestions:
a. Love of money, il greater than fear for
ones soul.
b. Good persons have often been In prisons,
abused, etc.
c. False evidence 10 possible and many have
been falsely condemned. Recite ninth CON-
mandment
d. Go not with multitude to do evil. Ma
jority not always right. 90.
e. Notice how Jews suffer- terrible case Of
retribution for their treatment of Christ. 90.
]. Corporeal punishment is now quite ex-
tinct in penal institutions.
O. Despise hypocrisy.
h. Suffer for Christs sake.
ii. RELEAsR