The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-17

1NTRODUCTION.-In the morning af-
ter the earthquake the authorities learn
ing what had transpired during the night
| ordered the release of Paul and Silas
But they, on receiving the word, refused
to be dismissed in that manner. They an
nounced their citizenship and claimed
that the whole proceeding of the previous
day had been contrary to Roman law,
and a violation of their rights. They de-
| manded, moreover, that the magistrates
should make amends for their wrong g-do-
ing by appearing in person at the prison
and conducting them in safety and honor
| into the public street. This was done with
all haste and gentleness, thereby remov-
| ing any odium which might have been
| attached to the missionaries through the
| accusations presented. Going forth from
the prison Paul and Silas re-entered the
house Of Lydia, where for some time they
| instructed and comforted the believers
who assembled, among whom probably
were the members of the jailers house.
hold. (Acts xvi, 35-40). And so it ap-
pears that the affective events of last
| weeks lesson resulted in good. I'll Cor.
| vi, d.
| JOURNFsY.-A good beginning having
| been made at Philippi, two families Zone
Jewish and one heathen), and perhaps
score of individuals having been re-
| ceived into the church, Paul and Silas de-
parted for a new field of labor Proceed
| ing westward and crossing the base of
| the Chalcidic peninsula they came to the
beautiful town of Amphipois on the edge
of pain of boundlcss fertility. Although
| Herodotus and Livy had made this place
| famous the apostles hastened through 1t
| to Apollonia, as the name implies, dedi-
tnI 81
| over night and they might have paused to
| visit the tomb of Euripides near by or to
look on the placid waters of Lake Bolbe
but, so earnest were they to be about Their
! Masters business. they delayed not but
proceeded to Thessalonca. (Nerse u.
This city now called Salonica, one hun
dred and fifty miles from Philippi. was 20
| Gated at the head of the Thermaic gulf
The Roman capital of Macedonia, second
in commercial Importance only to Athens
and Corinth, Thessalonica was selected
by the apostles as new center of work
for Christ.
| TEACHlNG.-There was a synagogue of
the Jews in Thessalonica. many of the
Iposterity Of Abraham being attracted
| there to trade. This house of worship
furnished Paul an audience, and he went
after his usual custom on the Sabbath
into the assemblies of the people. Fresh
as he was from peril and pain of his
Philippian experience he might have been
excused from immediate service, but moth
ing dampened his zeal With undmin-
ished force and courage he reasoned out
of the Scriptures (vcrse o. And that he
did for three successive weeks. The sub
stance of his argument was the same as
that of the Lord himself on the way 10
| Emmaus. duke xiv, 2S). 1t involved
two great propositions-that the Christ
foretold in Scripture must die and rise
again, and that Jesus was the Christ.
Verse -. The opening up Of that theme
would employ many passages as proof
texts. Both Paul and his hearers honored
the sacred writings, as the final author
ity in matters of faith, precisely as Jesus