The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-05
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 8.
Lesson Text: "Paul at Philippi,"
Acts xvi, 19-34-Golden Text:
Acts XVII, 31-Commentary.

| hCCS Ntl., lS-so4-"Cluen
Acts XVII, documentary.
10. ''They caught Paul and Silas and drew
them into the market place unto the rulers"
| The previous three verses tell OF the healing
of q woman who had an evil spirit. by means
| OF which she brought gain to her masters.
hl. 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 q sound body is
] something distasteful Let US all the more
| bless the Lord, who healeth our diseases.
90. "These men, being jews do exceed
| ingly trouble our city" It is all right to ruin
| people soul and body, but those who seek
| the welfare OF soul and body are accounted
| troublers. It grieved Sonballat and Tobiah
| exceedingly that man had come to seek the
| welfare of Israel (Neh. H., l0). It griered
| the Jews that Jesus had come to heal the
| sick and raise the dead. And have actually
b seen ministers grieved that man should in
| their town teach people to love the Bible
I more, and thus be saved from sin and folly.
81. "And teach customs which ara 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 S) and loyal citizens II to honor
God is contrary to Roman custom, then Rome
Is not on Gods side.
20. 'And the multitude rose up together
against them" The whole world ieth In the
wicked one Il John ", 10, R. ". Marvel
not II the world hate you (John xv, 1S). II
the world does not hate us, we cannot be very
like our Master, but it was the religious
world that hated Him. .s.. =
%. Sand when they had laid many stripes
upon them they cast them into prison" This
seemed like very poor treatment from the
- ,ho
and help U.s." but Paul understood it, having
been told at the start that he was to suffer
for Jesus's sake (chapter tx, 16) and having
already, on his first tour, had considerable
experience OF it.
"a. "Who having 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 bleeding
backs they find themselves we'll under the
power Of the enemy. Without ttends and
without influence they suffer this shameful
treatment q Thess. H., 2) simply because
they had interfered in the, unlawful gains
Men have been murdered in four own day
for the same cause. The world changes not
rs. "And at midnight Paul and silss
prayed and sang praises unto God, and the
putting In practice the words Of the psalm
iss, 81 will bless the Lord at all times. His
praise shall continually be in my mouth"
(Ps. xxxiv., y. 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 earth
quake, and every ones bonds were loosed."
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
f<ints He came to proclaim liberty to the
captives and the opening OF the prison to
them that srs bound Elsa. Xxi, y.
81. "And the keeper of the prison, awa&-
ening out OF his sleep, would have killed him
selt." 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 q
mercy to awaken such ere it be too late Then
in his blindness, not knowing OF the here
after, the 5ailer would have rushed madly
into it, only to find himself in hopeless de-
spair. Read carefully Luke xvi, %, %; Rev.
xiv, Gil JOB xxxT., IS.
2S. '!But Paul cried with 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 q Thess. ", 15).
He could not rejoice to see the jailer suffer,
nor permit him to injure himself though his
own body must have been full Of pain. If We
endure grief, suffering wronSfully, or II We
do we'll and suffer for 1t and take it patiently.
God is we'll pleased CI Pet. H., 10, 20).
90. ''Then he called for light and sprang
Paul and Silas." How we'll 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? Pauis interest in him andin his well
fare wrought upon him by the Spirit OF God.
80. "And brought them out and said,
he had before heard anything OF Paul's
preaching or had through others received
any light on things eternal 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
soul from death. Read Job xxxiii., 1S, &c.
80, and the context and consider the sorrows
of Jesus to save us.
81. And they said, Believe on the Lord
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 q
finished work. 1t is impossible to add to it
or to improve upon it.
S2 sand 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 ths~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.,, 81 H., 16 Rom. K, Il John l. IL;
john ", II, 12.)
33. ''And he took them the same hour Of
the night and washed their stripes AMI 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., ~.
receiving Christ" makes sinners into chill
dren OF God, and the love OF Christ con-
strains to good works.
81. "And when he had brought them into
his house he set meat before them and re-
ioiced, believing in God with all his house."
In verse Is We saw Lydia's household oil
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 70 en-
dure for Christ's sakeit He will only use you
for the salvation Of souls.-Lesson Helper.
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