The true northerner., 1897-07-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for July IL, 1897
Paul mt Thessalonica and Berea-
Anes -

Acts 17u-12.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.l
GOLDEN TEXT.-They received tho
Word with all readiness OF mind, and
searched the Scriptures daily.-Acts II: IL.
THE SECTION includes Acts IL: 1-14.
and the light thrown on the Thessalonians
by Paul's two epistles TO them, especial
iy 1 Thessalonians i: 1-9; 2: S-l4; g. 5-l0:
49. 10; Thessalonians /: Q. 4; p: /. 2:
and Philippians a. 10. 1G
TIME:-A. D. so. probably the summer
LESSON COMMENT.
/. Founding of the Church in Thessa-
lonica.-Vs. IA. After the strange
events at Philippi, the three poor
wandering missionaries, Silas, Tim
othy and Paul." went along the great
Roman road toward the southwest
1. "They:" Note the change in the
pronouns, which shows that Luke was
left at Philippi Passed through Am
phipolis:" About 80 miles nearly west
from Philippi. And Apollonia: Thir-
ty miles southwest of Amphipoiis, and
81 from Thessalonica. "Thessalonica:
From very early times this city was
famed as a commercial center.
?. "And Paul, as his manner" His
regular custom was to begin his work
first among the Jews, to attend their
synagogues on the Sabbath and to
speak to them about Christ.
3. "Opening:" Unfolding the Scrip
ture truths, pointing out TO them the
things they had not noticed, or appli-
cation of which they had not under
stood. "And alleging" Not assert
ing" as the WORD means, in modern
English, but setting forth" arguments,
reasons, as the word "allege" means in
older English, as the Greek word, so
translated, means. Paul not only ex-
planned the Scriptures, but set forth the
arguments that proved that Christ"
the Messiah they were looking for,
must needs have suffered" He is so
pictured in the Scriptures. And anyone
claiming to be the Messiah, who did not
suffer as foretold in Isaiah SO, could
not be the true Messiah. The absence
OF this mark would prove him an inn
postor. And risen again from the
dead" The missionaries preached a
living Christ, exalted at the right hand
of God, and who was the rightful king
of all the earth, living, present
Saviour and Lord. "And that this Jesus,
whom L preach unto you, is Christi"
Having shown them from the Scrip
lures a true description of the promised
Messiah, they show that Jesus was the
one described.
4. "And some of them" the Jews,
"believed:" or were persuaded by Paurs
reasoning. "Consorted with Paul and
Silas:" Cast in their lot with Paul and
Silas; not only accepted theoretically
their interpretations of prophecy, but
practically adopted the Christian life
with all the dangers which such n
course entailed. And of the devout
Greeks great multitude:" This i'm
plies that after the three Sabbaths in
the synagogue, Paul labored for some
time among the Gentiles.
ii. Paul Expelled from Thessalonica.
VS.. $40. 5. The jews" as body,
moved with envy" Jealousy at their
own decline and the growth of Chris
tianity. "Lewd:" in it's older sense of
vile, worthless fellows of the baser
sort:" Market loungers or loafers
around the market places, natural
lounging place of the lazy and worth
less rabble, ready for any excitement.
"Set all the city on an uproar:" Made
such disturbance as affected the whole
city. ASSAULTED the house of Jason:"
Without doubt, the host of Paul and
Silas, a Thessalonian and a Christian
convert. Bring them out to the peo-
ple:" So that the excited mob might
infict summary vengeance on them.
Z. "These all do contrary to the de-
crees of Caesar:" Forbidding rebellion
and treason, which decree was broken,
they said, because they proclaimed IAN
other king, one jesus" 1t was very
easy to misapprehend the Christian
teaching about Christ as king, of
whose kingdom the apostles were her
aids. Jesus Himself had been misUn-
derstood and His words perverted. We
can scarcely now realize the suspicious
which must have been reused against
the early preachers of Christianity by
the very language they used.
S. ''They troubled the people and the
rulers:" They could find no good
charge against these people, who were
by far the best citizens, and yet there
was danger, If they took no notice OF the
charge, that they themselves would be
charged with treason, and the freedom
of their city taken away.
0. "Taken security" bail. Jason and
others pledged their persons, or de-
posted n sum of money that would be
forfeited, if the missionaries remained
in Thessalonica. 1t is thought that this
is one reason why Paul did not return
there, as he greatly desired to do, de
sire expressed in his letters written
few months later Il Thes. 2:17, is;
3:10).
III. Founding Of the Church in Berea.
VS.. 1912. 10. Unto Berea:" A city
GO miles southwest of Thessalonica.
IL. These, Jews, "were more noble;"
in character, in all that makes true no.
bility. This nobility expressed itself
Q) "in that they received the word with
all readiness of mind:" Their minds
were open to all truth from every
source. (2) "And searched the Scrip
tures:" They did not take things by
hearsay, but sought the truth for them