The Globe-republican., 1893-09-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

international Lesson for September 10,
1S03-Paul at Eome-Acts 28:2O-3I.
Especially Arranged from Peioubet's Notes.1
GOLDEN TEXT an no; ashamed OF the
Gospel of Christ-Ror,- liza
TnE-Paul arrived at Rome about the first
OF March. A. d. 81. He remained there pris-
Oner for two years, till March. A. d. e.
PLAcE-Rome, the capital city Of the enpire,
anc chief city OF the world.
PAUL aged ff,y-nine.
RULERS-Nero emperor OF the Roman EN-.
pire eighth and ninth years., Festus, gov.
ernor Of Jucea till his death, November % 6l
Seneca and Burrhus, the leading and the bes,
statesmen OF Nero's reign. Early in A D. C.
Burrhus died. and Seneca retired from public
life.
THE SECTION OF HISTORY covers ss:iGsl.
with such notices Of Paul as are found in the
Epistles, especially 2 Tim 4:6-S
LESSON NOTES.
It is not clear whether the Roman
centurion and his company of prison.
ers took the land route round the
Pomptine marshes. or availed them
selves of the canal which cut directly
through the morass, and which has
been made familiar to every classical
schoOlboy by Horace humorous de-
scription of the journey to Brundusium
The Christians who came to meet Paul
do not seem to have known which
of the two routes might be chosen:
for they met him at Appii
Forum (the market of Appius). the
place at which the road and the canal
came together. In the city Paul was
permitted to dwell in his own hired
house, supported. no doubt. by the
Christians of Rome. where he could
meet Christians and preach the Gospel
Paul received this privilege probably
from the favorable report that was
sent from Festus and Asrippa. and the
centurion Julius would certainly use
what influence he possessed on his be-
half. The custom was that the pris-
oner should be chained by one hand to
the soldier while he was on guard.
Paul Encouraged. When Paul was
met and greeted by the Christians of
Rome, The thanked God and took cour-
age" He felt as Stanley did when he
emerged from the great Central Afri-
can forests into the open sunlight
l. He entered Rome. not so much as a
criminal as an apostle with hosts of
friends. ,. Human sympathy warmed
his heart. 3. He found the church. for
which he had longed and prayed. safe
and prosperous. and sound in the faith
4. He '"ould have the needed aid for
preaching the Gospel 1T Rome. 5. The
great anxieties ard dangers of the
journey were passed. 6. He would be
refreshed after his long labors.
Paufs First Interview with the
Jews. As soon as possible after he was
settled in his lodgings, Paul sent for
the leading Jews, as distinct from the
to meet him at his home.
since he could not go to them
Reasons for This Interview. % Paul
was naturally anxious to justify himself
before them. and thus to remove any
which might hinder the re-
ception of the Gospel. (2) He thought
that reports prejudicial to him might
have been sent and circulated among
them by the Jews of Judea. (S) Be
sides, the fact that he was prisoner
might cause the Roman Jews to re-
gard him with suspicion. a. He also
acted upon his principle of preaching
the Gospel to the jew first. and then
to the Gentle rom. 1:16). 90 He
hoped that some of his countrvmen
would yield to the truth and become
Christians.
Advantages of Paul's Position at
Rome. ~ He was safe from all
the intrigues and plots of the
Jews. He could not have been bet
ter guarded. (2) He was brought into
notice. Every one could
hear of the famous prisoner, and learn
the story of his past labOrs. and of his
Journey to Rome. The Gospel at Rome
was thus "a city set upon hill" 81
He could preach the Gospel with per-
feet freedom to all who came. He could
converse with individuals or preach to
(f) The soldier chained to
him was relieved at stated intervals,
20 that large number of soldiers
would come under his influence. They
would hear all he said to others; he
would converse also with them per
onally. and they would be won by the
weetness of his spirit. his patience,
and love. Tradition SAYS
= ACdtCSt StilcSludH. SCUccd,
vas among the converts to christianity
~ the preaching of Paul. 1t is quite
possible, according 10 Prof Lumby,
hat the Gospel was introduced into
england by some of those Roman
oldiers who heard Paul preach the
Gospel in prison.
Paul's Subsequent History. Hints in
he Epistles and traditions supply all
hat is known or conjectured respect
ng this last stage of the apostles min
stry. 1t is supposed that on being
liberated writers do not agree as to
he precise ORDER he visited again
'arts of Asia Minor and Greece: went
o Crete and founded, or more prob
bly, strengthened, the churches there;
made his long contemplated journey
o Spain; wrote his first Epistle to
Timothy and his Epistle to Titus;
fter several years of effective labor
vas apprehended again as leader OF
he Christian sect; was brought sec
nd time as prisoner of Christ to
Tome: was tried there and condemned
o suffer death. His Roman citizenship
xempted him from the ignominy of