The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-11-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for November
Z, 1SO7-Paul In Melita and Rome


z, 1SO7-PauI In MeIita anu rome
Acts 2S,1-10.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's' Notes.l
GOLDEN TExT.-We know that all
things work together for good to them
| that love God.-Rom. S:2S.
THE LESSON.
l. Kindly Reception by the Inhab-
itants of Malta.-Vs. /, 2. In our last
lesson we left Paul aud his 275 COM
panions in terrible storm, escaping
from wreck through waves and rain
| to an unknown shore.
/. "They Or. ", we) knew" from the
| natives, or from previous experience
of the sailors, as soon as they saw the
place by daylight. THAT the island
was called Melita," of which malta"
is a shortened form. This is a small
island 60 miles south of Sicily.
2. "And the barbarous people" (or,
"barbarians," as in va. So the Greeks
and Romans called other nations than
themselves. especially when speaking
| another language. 1t means here moth
| ing more than natives" "Shewed us no
| little kindness:" mo common kind
| ness" would be a more correct trans
| lation.
II. Pauls Credentials.-Vs. 3-6. First.
Paul had gathered bundle of
sticks. Paul, though the greatest man
then living, was ready to do the hum
blest duty. He knew the greatness of
| serving.
3. "There came a viper out of the
heat" from among the fagots already
on the fire. whose increasing heat
awaked it from it's torpid state and
| drove it forth. "And fastened on his
hand" as he was laying his bundle on
| the fire.
4. "Nodoubt this man is murderer: :"
Paul was prominent prisoner. accused
| of some crime unknown to them. and
they naturally attributed to him the
| greatest crime. ''Whom vengeance"
The God of Justice. Nemesis. the Aven-
ger. suffereth not to live. Paul had
| escaped from the wreck. but he could
not escape from the sword of Divine
| justice.
S. "And he shook off the beast into
the fire." With perfect composure.
doubtless arising from the two prom
ises, (1) that of Christ to His disciples
concerning serpents Mark 1918; Luke
10:19), and (2) the promise that he
should preach the Gospel in Rome. and,
therefore, he could not die before he
reached that city.
6. 'They looked when" (they expect
ed that) "he would have swollen" etc.:
This was the usual effect of n viper's
bite. making itself apparent in very
short time. "Or fallen down dead sud-
denly:" Sudden collapse and death
ensue often from the bite of serpents.
mo harm come to him." but only by a
miracle. ''They changed their minds,
and said that he was god," because
only Divine power could have preserved
him from harm.
III. Paul's Three Months Mission in
Malta.-Vs. 10. Z. "In the same quar-
ters," in that neighborhood. The ira
ditional place is Citta Vecchia, where
is the country residence of the present
British governor. "Were possessions:
He probably lived on more than one es-
tate, as do the English nobility.
Lodged U.S." Entertained at his home,
probably Julius and his prisoners.
8. 1.-THE father of Publius lay sick of
fever and of bloody fux:" Literal
ly, with fever and dysentery, both
words being used by ST. Luke with pro-
fessional precision. ITO whom Paul
entered in:" The report of his miracu-
lous escape from the bite of the viper
would direct the attention of Publius
to Paul as a remarkable man; and Paul
b Sc L: -
father to health. "And prayed" To
obtain the blessings from God. with
the wisdom needed. and to show the
people that all his power came from the
same God whose Gospel he preached.
sand laid his hands on him:" 1t is re-
markable, that SO soon after the "tak-
ing up of serpents," we should read of
Paul having "laid his hands on the sick
and they recovered" (see the two in
close connection. Mark 16:1s). Sand
healed him:" st. Luke was a ply
sician. but his skill was less effectual
than the agency of St. Paul. who went
into the sick mans chamber. prayed
by his bedside. laid his hands on him
and healed him.
9. "Others also which had diseases"
The original is more extensive; all the
rest. Nothing is said of Paul's preach
ing. for that is taken for granted. Paul
could not neglect such golden opportu-
Eities Of preaching the Gospei.
Nv. The Journey to Rome.-vs. 1916.
10. "Honored us with many honors:"
They paid him every possible attention.
trying to express their respect and graf
itude. "Laded us with such things as
were necessary" not as pay, but out Of
kindness and love. We must remember
that they had lost everything by the
wreck. This was entirely different in
principle and effect from receiving hire
for their miraculous cures. which was
forbidden by Christ (Afatt. 1O:s).