The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-07-08
r.iS SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for July %. 1893
Paul at Phiiippi-Acts lG:l0-34.

Christ and thou shalt be saved. Acts 1921
TIME.-A ID. 81, during Paul's second mis-
Uonary journey
PLAcE.-Philippi city Of Macedonia
LESSON NOTES
The Gospel Work Interferes with
Sinful Gains.-Ver. 10. For some time
the missionaries making their home at
Lydias house preached the Gospel in
Philippi. 1.-The almost total absence OF
Jews meant an almost total absence Of
persecution" Peacefully and happily
the work progressed and church was
founded. But frequently they met in
the streets poor slave girl owned by
a company Of spectators, who made no
little money out of her as a fortune
teller. She was supposed to be pos
sesscd with the spirit of Python" the
imagined serpent that guarded the
oracle of Apollo Mt Delphi and inspired
the women, who, in some wild, raving
manner, uttered the oracles Mt that
famous shrine. Gloag says that 1.-The
history plainly implies that she was
possessed with devil" and President
Woolsey, that the spirit. in the man.
ncr Of acting, resembles the demons
of the Gospels" DIR. Lyman Abbott
says "she was q mixture Of fraud,
clairvoyance, insanity and devil" Out
of this woman the demon was cast by
Paul in the name of Jesus Christ. She
was saved from her fearful malady.
But her power to make money for her
masters was gone forever.
10. "IIer masters saw that the hope
of their gains was gone:" The first
heather persecution, like that subse-
quently at Ephcsus Q9:25-27). was set
on foot by covetousness Comp. Tim.
go. l0). Like the Gcrgcsenes Matt.
s:2s-34), they cared nothing that a soul
had been saved in comparison with the
loss Of their gains.
20. "And brought them to the magis-
trates Saying, These men, being jews"
This was ono Of those most common
articles Of b.. men. when the real
reason is hidden under some alleged
reason that arouscs popular prejudice.
No people were regarded by the
Romans with such contempt and hatred
as the Jews. According to Suetonius
the Jews had just been expelled from
Rome by Emperor Claudius, and the
Roman prntors at Philippi would
naturally feel that to expel Jews from
their city, colony Of Rome, would
not be offensive to their government.
81. "And teach customs, which are
not lawful for us to receive" The
complaints against Paul and Silas
were founded on the Roman law
against introducing foreign religions
into territory which the Romans con-
quered for there was general allow
ance to subjects of exercising their own
religious observances where they
lived. and the jews particularly, were
free by treaty to continue the prac-
tees which they had before they were
conquered. But for a Roman citizen
to become Jew in his religion seems
to have been forbidden.
The Apostles in Prison.-o3. Thrust
them into the inner prison. The
dungeon, deep, damp. chilly cell far
underground. opening only at the top,
without fresh air or light, sitting and
pcstilential. Apparently the prison
ers were placed beyond all possible
ways of escape, even by those who
could cast out devils.
25 paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praises" Their wounds were un-
dressed, filth and vermin added Ia
their pain, their position was one OF
torture. Sleep was out OF the ques.
tion. But they passed the night in de-
votions.
26. And suddenly there was great
earthquakes" This was the Lords an
swer to prayer. "All the doors were
opened, and every ones bands were
looscd:" Either by the action of the
earthquake. or by the same supernat-
ural power which produced the earth
quake.
The Conversion of the Jailer.-o7
1.-THE keeper awaking out of HI.
Sleep" He did not hear the songs
but he was awakened by the earth
quake. lie probably slept in such Z
place that on rising he could observe
ut glance whether the prison doors
were secure. st. Paul, out of the dark
could observe him before the jailel
could see farther than the open doors
Drew out his sword !. would have
killed himself" The Roman law trans
IeTTcu W tHc JoiASi sAiS PuAisAAhASHe au'
an escaped prisoner.
os "Cried with loud voice." Raiset
his voice so as to secure attention a
once. "Do myself no harm" His pur
pose of suicide was harmful for hi
body, and sinful for his soul. For W.
are all here" This assurance. which
Paul gives as reason why the jaile
should not kill himself, shows TIN
apostles quickness Of apprehension
and presence of mind. II was. more
over. new thing in the world for I
prisoner to be solicitous about thu
bodily and spiritual welfare Of hi
jailcr.
80. "Sirs, what must I do To b
savcd?" Saved from what? The qucs
ton cannot refer to any fear of punish
ment from the magistrates; for he ha'
now ascertained that the prisoner
were all safe and that he was In n
danger from that source. Besides, ha1
he felt exposed to any such danger, b.
! must have known that Paul and Silo
hail no power to protect him; 1t woul'
have been useless to come to them TO
|. assistan nee. The taller had done n