Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-04

view Of the Same.
Lesson for November =.
Golden Text-"We know that all things
work together for good to them that love
God."-Rom. 8: %.
The lesson this week, found In Acts %:
Lie, treats of Paul in Melita and Rome.
In the last lesson we traced Paul from
Caesarea to the shipwreck,. The crew
and passengers OF the ship when they es-
capped to shore and perceived the charac-
ter OF the island where they were, at once
learned that they had been driven to
Melita, or Malta, an island which lies In
mid sea between Sicily and the African
shore.
Explanatory.
The kindness of the "barbarous peo-
pie" was more noteworthy then than 1t
would be now. 1t was by no means COM
mon for shipwrecked people to be hospita-
bly, received. In some countries they were
thought to be legitimate prey.
This viper was a small but poisonous
serpent, found in the countries about the
Mediterranean. The fact that none are
now to be found in Malta is worth moth
Ing as an argument against the accuracy
sence of buffalo from our own Western
plains disproves the stories Of hunters who
shot big game there thirty years ago.
Superstition still holds that any sudden
misfortune of this sort has some porten-
tous significance, pointing to. hidden crime
or some disfavor Of God.
1t Is plainly implied that Pauls escaping
this deadly poison was divine interven-
| a nfal inn, nj ~
not be so spoken Of.
From murderer, In the estimation Of
the crowd, he becomes a god Popular
opinion about public men often varies be-
tween extremes just as great. Great pol
iticians, great preachers, great authors,
great musicians, are seldom rated at their
true value during life. Perhaps we should
learn sooner than we do that the opinions
even Of the wisest men are not worth the
price Of our own lives; and the cries Of
the crowd are mere Sound and fury, sig
nifying nothing"
I'm the same quarters" is of course Sin
the same neighborhood." Publius, the
Roman governor, was probably man Of
considerable wealth and Importance.
These colonial governors. even in small
provinces and districts, lived in much
mented by revenues ground out of the
people.
The disease Of Publius' father is still
common one in Malta, according to trav-
elers.
Good news spreads quickly. In mission
airy countries, when a native is healed by
missionary physician, his reputation
is made, and henceforth there is no leisure
Co.. th<, for &Io T..
crowds from miles around, to receive the
healing touch or medicine.
1t is not thought necessary by Luke to
speak about Paul's preaching, that being
a matter Of course. Paurs would never
neglect such an opportunity as this. Ira
dition says that he founded n Christian
church in Malta.
The three winter months, during which
navigation was unsafe, were November,
December and January. Early in Feb
ruary, then, in the year CT, they set sail
again in another Alexandrian ship, The
Twin Brothers" by name.
Fetched a compass" is rendered in the
revised version made a circuit" 1t prob
ably refers to the lacking along the coast
from Syracuse to Rhcgium, which is on
the narrow strait between Italy and 81
l.
great commercial port Of the Italian coast
at that time. There were many Christians
in Italy at this time-not merely in Rome,
but in the other cities.
After travelling inward from Puteoli a
short distance they reached the Via APP
pia, or Appian Road, great boulevard
that ran from Rome southwark through
the peninsula to Brindisi on the Adriatic
ty miles from Rome on this road, and
Three Taverns was about ten miles far
ther on.
We can only guess the reason for the i
unusual consideration which Paul receiy-
ed. The mere fact that he was Roman
citizen would not account for it. 1t must
have been his distinguished bearing, his
courteous and respectful attitude towards
the military authorities, and the remem-
brance Of his important work in Malta
that induced the captain Of the guerd to
give him measure of comfort.
Teaching Hints.
While 1t may not be n legitimate lie 5son
to draw from this passage, it is most nat
ural to suggest that, though Paul suffer-
ed no harm from the viper, anybody else
would have. We cannot expect to pick
up vipers, even accidentally, without get
ting bitten. 1t Is the pistol that is mot
loaded" that kills all the fool boys that |
play with it. The Christian need expect
no miraculous escape from moral or ply |
steal danger. He should pray "lead us
not into temptation" and then proceed |
to keep a safe distance from the tempter.
This is one more passage that argues |
for medical missions, as do the accounts |
Of the lives Of Christ. The healing Of |
mems bodies often leads to the healing of |
their souls.
Paul had reached the goal of uany
years ambition. He was in Rome. OF |
the great work that he did there, in his |
Imprisonment, we can only partly Judge |
from the brief record which we shall study |
next week, and from the letters which he |
wrote to other churches.
Next Lesson-"Pauls Ministry in |
Rome."--Acts %: 1871.