Passaic City record., 1893-07-22
SABBATH SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR
JULY 23.
Lesson Text: ssPauI at Corinth,"
Acts xviii, 1-11-Golden Text:
1Cor. L., 1S-Commentary.

1. "After these things Paul departed from
Athens and came to Corinth. His testi-
mony was not in vain at Athens, Tor some
cIave unto him and believed. See previous
verse. He did not expect that all the seed
would fall on good soil neither are we so
taught. But he did know that Gods word
would accomplish His pleasure and not re-
turn void, and that his labor was not In vain
in the Lord (Isa. w., II Cor xv., oS). HIS
aim was .sby all means to save some Il Cor.
tx. 22). and this he accomplished. Inc
church of Christ is made up of an elect num-
ber out of all nations, given unto Him out OF
this world (Rev. ", 9; Eph. L., 4; John XVII
81. and to this end we, like Paul, should seek
to get the gospel everywhere.
q "And found q certain Jew named
Auuila, born in Pontus, lately come from
Italy with his wife Priscilla (because that
Claudius had commanded all Jews to de-
part from Rome), and came unto them. =
I'VE cannot help remarking that after 1900
wears the Jews are still commanded to de-
part from cities and countries on the face OF
the earth. 1t Is the same sad old story as in
the days of Paul. 1t is the fulfillment OF
words spoken through Moses over 3000y years
ago. See Deut. xviii, 63-66. But IL the
curse has come so literally and SO fully the
blessing shall also come, and ''the days of
their mourning shall be ended" 'for He
that scattered Israel will gather him, and
the time it even now at hand (Isa. lx., 20, Il .
Jer. XXI, 10 Eek. xxxvii., q, 22).
8. "And because he was of the same craft
he abode with them and wrought, for by
their occupation they were tentmakers." !"
While Paul believed and taught that they
who preach the Gospel should live of the
Gospel II Cor tx, 14) he also took pleasure
in working at his trade that he might min
lister to his own necessities and give the
Gospel freely (Acts Xxx, 81 l Cor. iv., II. IL ;
I Thess. H.. 8; III Thess. ill.,, 81. 1t is a
great advantage under some circumstances
to be able to do this now and thus stop the
mouths of those who say of the preacher,
1T is his business he makes good thing of
it." l am glad that had three years ex-
perience of ministering to my necessities by
working seven hours day, that l might
freely give all the rest of my time to dis
tinctively religious work.
f. And he reasoned in the synagogue
every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and
the Creeks He doubtless did as at Thessal-
onica and reasoned out of the Scriptures,
opening and alleging that Christ must needs
have suffered and risen again from the dead,
andthat this Jesus is the Christ (chapter xvii,
2, 81. From his conversion his one story was
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (chap-
ter tx, 20-22).
5. sand when Silas and Timotheus were
come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in
the spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus
is the Christ" The r. v says that he was
constrained by the word" This reminds
us of jeremiah, who, when the word OF the
Lord was made reproach unto him and a
derision daily, said he would not speak any
more in His name, but the word of God was
such fire in his heart that he was constrained
to speak Ger. Xxx, s, 81.
6. "And when they opposed themselves and
blasphemed he shook his raiment and said
unto them, Your blood be upon your own
heads / am clean; from heneeforth L will
90 unto the Gentiles.h 1t was his custom
everywhere to preach the gospel to the Jew
first (Rom l., 16) and then to the Gentle.
Compare their conduct at Antioch in Pisidia
Acts xiii. 45. 46) When any one is duly
warned of danger and refuses to take heed.
his blood is on himself (Ezek. xxxiii., 4, 81.
Those who obey not the gospel shall be pun
ished with everlasting destruction II Thess.
is, 81. AS to shaking ones raiment see
Neh v, Is.
7. ''And he departed thence and entered
into a certain mans house named Justus,
one that worshiped God, whose house joined
hard to the synagogue" When one door Is
shut another is sure to be open, ana some
times, as in this case. next door to the one
closed against US. When the Lord opens
door for US, no power can shut it, and when
a house or city is closed against us or our
message we have only to move on in His
name REV. ill.,. 8, Math. x, 14). 1t is not us
that they ill treat, but Him whose message
we bear luke X, 16).
8. ''And Crispus. the chief ruler Of the
synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his
house. and many of the Corinthians hearing
believed and were baptized" The chie1
ruler cannot always control the other rulers
whether he be president of nation, mayor
of a city or only ruler OF synagogue. but
the time will come when there will be Chief
Ruler to whom all others shall yield perfect
obedience. He will be this same Jesus whom
Paul preached, but He will then be King o.
Kings and Lord Of Lords. All kings will fal
down before Him all nations shall se-vt
Him (Rev. xix, 16 4; Ps. lxxii., ID. 1t was g
splendid victory for the Lord and His servant
to have the chief ruler and his household re
ceve the despised Nazarene as Israels Mes
siah. Many must have been helped by hi:
example to do likewise. Here again, as al
Athens, Paul is privileged to save some anc
help complete the church.
8. Then spake the Lord TO Paul in the
night by vision, Be not afraid, but speaE
and hold not thy peace" He WIS probably
being tempted like jeremiah, to whom WI
have already referred. He says in | Cor. ii.
3, that he was with them in meekness. ant
in fear, and in much trembling. His Maste
had observed this and hence this vision anC
great comfort. Compare Josh. l., 8; Jer. i.
II. What exceeding great comfort there il
in these fear nots'' of our Lord from Gen
xv., /, to Rev. l., IT, but we get no benefi
unless we appropriate them to ourselves. |
we are the Lords and in His service, we ma.
take His promises right to our hearts.
10. ''For am with thee, and no man shall
set on thee to hurt thee, for l have mucl
people in this city," One of the larges
promises in the Bible, if not the very largest
is the II am with you" of Jehovah. See hoV
He gave it to Moses, Joshua, Gideon. Isaiah
jeremiah. Haggai and the apostles (Ex. iii.
12; Josh. l., 5; Judg. vi, 16; Isa. xii, 10
Jer. l., 8. 80; Hag. l., 10; H., 4; Math
xviii, 20).
IL. ''And he continued there year an
six months teaching the word of God amon
them" He did not teach science nor phi
losophy, nor did he lecture upon the grea
men of the day. He did not try to prov
that the books of Moses and the Psalms ha
many authors, and that there must have beel
two Isaiahs, but believing all things writer
in the law and in the prophets Acts xxiv.
14) he taught the Scriptures. He preache