Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-07-08
70 SUNDAY schooL-
International Lesson for July II. 1897
Paul and the PhiIfppian JaiIer-
Acts I8.22-:l4.
IArranged from Peloubet's

4 THE SECTION includes chapter 10 from
verse Is TO the end
TIAfE-A D. 3. p years after the found
THE LESSON.
! /. Possessed Damsel Redeemed.-Ns
16-1s. The apostles frequently met in
the streets a poor slave girl, owned by
a company of spectators. who made
no little money out of her as a fortune
teller. She was supposed to be pos
sessed with "the spirit of Python"
Python. in the Greek mythology, was
the serpent which guarded Delphi. The
name Python was subsequently used to
denote prophetic demon, and was also
used of soothsayers who practiced VEN
triloquism, or speaking from the belly.
H. Paul and Silas Arrested.-Ns. 10
%. The owners. angry at their loss,
seized Paul and Silas and dragged them
into the public square, where trials
were held. and charged them, not with
interfering with their gains, which
would have been quickly dismissed, but
with breaking the laws of the Roman
empire
% THE altitude rse up togeth-
err" An excited mob The magis
trates," without investigation or trial,
rent off their clothes;" The clothes
of Paul and Silas. Commanded TO beat
them" The word means beat with
rods The custom was with the
Romans 10 inflict blows with rods upon
the naked body Livy H., -.
"a. Thrust them into the inner pris-
on:" There was the outer and airier
compartment, where people were
herded together to await trial, or in
punishment of trivial otfenses. Then
there was the ''inner prison" gloomy,
oppressive, filthy, in which great or
dangerous criminals were confined, in
chains or otherwise. Their feet fast
in the stocks:" An instrument of tor
ture as wen as of confinement, con-
sisting of a heavy piece of wood with
holes, into which the feet were placed
in such a manner that they were
stretched widely apart so as to cause
the sufferer great pain.
Ill. Songs in the Mighty. 25.
''Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praises:" Their position was one of
torture Sleep was out of the ques-
tion But they passed the night in
devotions.
w. The Wonderful Deliverance.-N.
&C. And suddenly there was a great
earthquake" This was the Lords an
swer to prayer, whether it came by
miracle or was timed by special provi-
dence. "All the doors We're opened, and
everyone's bands were loosed:" Either
by the action Of the earthquake or by
the same supernatural power which
] 1 ! -, l.te
V. The Conversion of The Jailer-
VS.. 27-34 "a. THE keeper x
awaBing out Of his sleep" He prob
= ably slept ia such place that on rising
he could observe at a glance whether
the prison doors were secure. Would
have killed himself" If the prisoners
had escaped, he was liable to the same
7 punishment which they were TO suf-
: fer."-Gloag.
: %. Paul cried with a loud voice"
Lest the jailer should fail TO notice in
time For we are al here:" Ii was
wonder greater than the earthquake,
that q prisoner should care for the vel
fare of a jailer, who had treated him so
cruelty. DO TIL self no harm" is the
message OF the Gospel to man in de
SPAR.
%. Called for a Light" The Greek
is plural, lights, torches, or lamps.
Fell down before Paul and Silas:" He
connected the earthquake with theirre-
ligon, of which be must have heard, as
wen as stories Of their miraculous
power.
80. And brought them out;" From
the inner prison where theS were con-
fin j. probably into the court OF the
pris ora. ''Sirs, what must | 10 TO be
saVed?" What shall ] do to be saved
is the most important question amy
person cam ask for it determines not
only CD his happiness. but ~ his char
aeter; go the bestuse of life here; ca his
usefulness in the world; 60 his relations
10 God; Co his redemption from the
guilt and punishment OF sin; 60 his
eternal destiny, character, and useful
ness in Heaven.
81 Believe on the lord Jes IS Christ,
and thou shalt be saved Saved from
sin, from its punishment, and to holi-
ness and Heaven. ''And thy house,"
BY leading his family to the same faith.
81. The same hour Of The nigbt:"
Not very long after midnight a. 25).
washed their stripes The first ef-
feet Of faith in Jesus was a kiudlier
disposition. and desire 70 help. was
baptized. be and all his straiphtway:"
As soon as they We're sure they believed,
tAey confessed Christ in baptism
"a. brought them into lis house,"
Tile most comfortable place lie could
fad for them. II Of course was con-
nected with the prison. The iaiier knew
this was perfectly safe, since Paul bad
refused to escape when re had the OPP
rortmitE. Set meat food before
tbem:" The two sufferers may base
well needed food as there IS no record
q their having any since their arrest
the day before. The nest morning by
4 proper use of their Roman citizenship
aided no doubt, BY the miraculous