The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-10
Sunday School LESSON for July III.
Paul and the Philippiam Jailer.
Acts XVII, 22-23
BY j. e. GILBERT, D. D., IL D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education
Acts XVII, 22-23.

that heroic spirits carried the Gospel into
Pagan Europe.
REJOICING.-"The legs feels nothing
in the stocks" said Tertullian, when tho
soul Is in heaven; though the body is held
fast, the spirit is free" So 1t proved that
night in the prison at Philippi. Paul and
Slas triumphed over all their miseries
(verse 25) At midnight while others slunl-
bered they prayed and sang. The awak-
ened prisoners heard with astonlshment,
perhaps with envy or admiration, the re-
joicing of these Christian ministers. No
such event had occurred before in the
worlds history, when JOY and praise burst
'orth out of agony. John xvi, 20). The
influence upon all in the prAon must have
been most salutary, as when John Wes-
ley in his voyage to Georgia, hearing the
songs of the Moravians during a violent
storm, became convinced that they pos
sessed something of which he was wholly
ignorant. The believers support in the
time of distress psalm XxXvii, 39), is the
chief mark of distinction from other men.
duke xxi, 12-lS.
LIBERATED.-That midnight prayer
and song service, valuable as IL may have
been in sustaining Paul and Sias and in
conveying truth to those wholly ignorant
of divine grace, was preparation or
prelude for what followed God heard
his servants, and came to their relief and
vindicated them. (Verses 26 and 2O.
Suddenly a great earthquake rocked the
foundations of the prison, opening the
doors, releasing the chains from the sta
Piles In the walls and setting all the pris-
oners free. That shock also awoke the
keeper. who, suppos!ng the prisoners had
escaped, was at the point of killing him
self, knowing that his life would answer
for their loss, but Paul cried out and as
sured him that all were safe. Verse 2S.)
How soon by supernatural power was
the scene changed. The bonds were
broken and the innocent were set at lib
| erty, while the officer of the law, the rep
resentatve of Rome, filled with terror,
seeks refuge in death. The minister of
religion, whipped, imprisoned, rejoicing,
| lives to save him at whose hands he had
| suffered. (Matt. ", 49,
| INQUIRY.-"Thee entire combination OF
| circumstances-the earthquake. the shock
| of sudden terror, the revulsion of JOY
which diverted his intention of suicide,
| the serene and calm forgiveness of his
| prisoners-all tended to melt the heart OF
| the jailer." 1t may be that the spirit OF
| God also awakened his conscience. John
| xvi, $50. Immediately his thoughts were
turned toward spiritual affairs. He wss
| changed from an officer of the government
| TO a seeker of salvation. Calling for q
| light, he rushed trembling into the prison
| and fell down reverently before Paul and
| Silas, oversees 20 to S0 asking, "What
must ! do to be saved?" Uuke Ill, TO-.
II was the same inquiry that was raised
at Pentecost (Acts II, so, the same thai
burst forth from Pauls lips when he wai
| arrested on the way to Damascus. (Act:
tx, 81 The question showed that even tn
pagans Notwithstanding their darkness
and corruption. CRomsns l, 2S). were sus
ceptible TO religious impressions. In al
lands and ages the soul in its better moods