The National tribune., 1897-07-08
THE SUNDAY-ScH00L.
international Lesson Appointed
for July IS, 1897.
By REV. :. 8. LEMON. pH.D.

oils, ApoIonia, Thessalonica. The three 1850 |
c:ates of st. Paul were Sts. Sias, Timothy, and |
Luke.
We may suppose st. Paul and suite passed |
through Amphipolis and Apolionia without |
stopping and continued on to Thessalonica, be- |
cause there was synsgog In the two cities
first mon toned. Then We notice ST. Paul tried
in special to give the FIRST opportunity of saliva
ton to his own people, the Jews The fact Oh
there being q synagog At Thessalonica shows
St. Paups race. We remember Christ directed
that the Gospel should first be preached to the
Jews. st. Mt, 1875, 6; Acts. IL: 49, 46; TO-,
l:16.
Amphipolis eolonized B. c. 437 by Athenisns,
was built by Cimon, an Athenian General The
Athenians banished Thucydides because, by
hardness, he suffered the city TO be surrendered
to the Lacedemonians, b. G. 424. Brasidas and
Cieon were killed there in the Pelopon nesian
war. The place was known in early times as
the Nine Roads" or Ways. as being central
and therefore an important point. it was, In
fact, an island in the StryDon River. The
river flowed on both sides of it. Hence the
Amphipolis. amphi being the Greek proposition
for " on both sides" it was the principal city
of the part of Macedonia in which 1t was
situated. In the middle ages it was named
Chrysopols. 1t was about 80 miles southwest
of Philippi, three miles from the Essan Sea
1t is now named Empoli
ApoIlonia is in Macedonia, 25 miles south
west of Amphipolis, named from Apollo; ruins
now called PolIins, once celebrated for trade.
Macedonia was divided BY the Romans into
four provinces. Thessalonica was the capital
Of the second, as Phlippi was OF the first prov
ince. 1t was named from Thessalonica, daugh-
ter of Philip and wife Of Cassapder. 1t - rs
miles from Apolonis. st. Paul was there for
three weeks. I7:2. The present population
is 10000. 1t is now named saloniki, and sa-
O. Me
known IS the "Orthodox City" Aristarchus
and secundus were of said city. Acts, 10 ~;
GOA
The data for this 10 found in Acts, II: IA;
| the time was A. d. SO; the place the synagog.
V. 1. It seems there was no synagog at Fhii-
| ippi. A place out of doors WAS used By the few
| Jews of that city. IS: IL. Such place OF
prayer was called . proseucha. Il il thought
that the only synagog in Maeedonis was the
one at Thessalonica. The synaRog came into
existence along with the Captivity. Away
from the Temple. occasion originated for other
meeting places devoted to the cultivation OF
the Jewish religion. Wherever Jews settled
in large numbers they carried the synagog with
them. In large places there were several syna-
gogs.
| Let Us glance at the meaning of some Of the
| words and phrases. As his manner was. w. e
| According to his custom, st. Paul made 1t
rule to 60 TO the synagog for worship. Another
habit of his was TO offer salvation first OF all to
| his own countrymen. Acts, $3.50; 1875. IA.
| Jews were they who gathered into synsgogs.
Three Sabbath days. v. 2. Three Satur-
days.
Scriptures. W.. Old Testament. Verse 8
suggests to Us the portions of Scripture ak
planned. We may suppose, 9. g., lsa 5o: 1t
was customary to read certain portion OF the
Old Testament each day. 1t may be ne ex-
planned the particular paragraph appointed to
be read that day. But one can find Christ in
almost any few verses grouped together in any
part OF the Bible Of the Jews.
Opening va. Explaining.
Alleging. V.3. Having shown the mean
ing of a paragraph, he enforced the doctrine
taught by reasons assigned.
Must needs. va. In order to be consistent
with the prophecies which are found in the
Old Testament and admitted to be recorded
there in reference to the Messiah. st. Luke.
24:26, 81. II Christ had not suffered he would
have failed to meet requirement. laid down
in the Scriptures.
Argument. We may suppose Sc. Paul showed
that the Messiah was to come from the tribe OF
Judah from the line of David at specified
time DAN. 9 :24-27); to be born in Bethlehem ;
to have certain characteristics; to be worker
of miracles etc. The real Messiah was obliged
to meet these conditions The life OF Jesus
correspondent to the prophecies.
Consorted. VA. Cast in their lot with that
of st. Paul and bis associates.
Some. va A few Jews believed. See In
contrast the many unbelieving Jews of V. 5.
Devout. " T. Greeks who had become
prosslytes to the Hebrew faith who had re-
nounced idolatry who had adopted the morals
of the Jewish religion. We are to suppose they
had been circumcissd. The church at Thessa-
Ionica was made up largely Of the GENTLE els-
ment.
Chief women. VA See 10: so. "Chisf"
used In sense Of honorable; as In 81. Mark,
10: 50, and Acts, II: r. Women of influence,
women connected with families of rank. The
reference is to social position. We understand
matrons, wives widows. They were probably
| proselytes to Judaism. Christianity is for all
classes. rich as we'll ss poor. We notice bow
much part women took in the early spread oil
Christianity. Some understand "Chief," which
means honorable (noble), as referring to the
mind, the religious nature, the superior quail.
ties of heart and disposition.
Christians should form the habit OF regular
attendance at church, specially on Sundays
We.
We should be diligeut students of the Bible
w. CT. VS.. 10, IL st. John, s.: 80; Ro., Is
4; 2 IT,, 3: Is, l6.
A correct understanding of the Holy Scrip
lures would prevent much of dispute and much
disquiet of mind. V.3.
The preachers subjects must be Christ and
Him crucfed rs condition OF mans salvation
and the doctrine OF the resurrection as stimu
) LIANT in all Christian toll and SORROW.
Even yet women come to the help of the
Church. form most of its membership, believe
the Gospel, consort with those who toll FOL
Christ.
Verses and describe the work of the Sun
! | n y-cPhnnI taacher