The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-10
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.

By DAVIS w. CLARK.

By DAVIS w. CLARK.
Some one says acts of apostles are usually fol-
lowed by acts OF the people. Paurs deed
noble. He broke the spell of nervous malady
with which a slave girl was afflicted. His
tives were compassion for the victim, indignation
against the inhuman greed that made gain out
of her epilepsy, and pity for the credulity that
attached Importance to her Sibbering. He was
further melted by the desire to shrive the gospel
from forms of divination then current.
The acts of the people, the other hand, were
ignoble. The owners of the girl were bent
retaliation for their loss. The populace allowed
itself to be used for such a purpose. Racial
prejudice infamed. '"rhey Jews!' We
Romans" was the cry. 1t was Roman policy to
hush up tumult in its very inception. So the
crowd treated to the cruel sight of hagella-
tion with the lictors' elm rods-and the bleeding
victims hurried to the dungeon and the
stocks. This was the instance of shameful treat
n.ent and stripes above measure to which Paul
afterward referred. What test Of sin
whispered, Your vision at Troas was IL
sets His seal on faith like that He shakes to
His servants Even in the excitement incident
to preternatural event. Paul thinks of the
jailer to do He harbors no resentment against
him for his cruelty but assures him his prisoners
are making no effort to escape. The unusual
GhaTacer and 6eaTbg q f his eaptye their
Pnes had beSTd and T now Ne this est act Of un
worldly magnanimity brings him to repentance.
made gentle by grace bathes the bloody weits
p,pon the apostles back He IN turn gives his
The sublime example of endurance of suf-
sion Of the taller the visit Of the praetors TO
the prison all tended to put the gospel in favor
apostolic churches, characterized by joyous faith,
sprang into existence on the scene of the apostles
glorious epistle ten years later.
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
Magistrates rent off clothes: Sentence was,
GO, lictors tear off their garments. scourge
them Many stripes: Roman punishment not
limited to forty stripes one. like that of the
Jews-Riddle.
Inner prison: Place dark without ventilation;
hence foul and MISUNDERSTANDING Bible.
Sang praises The word denotes the paschal
hymns (Psalms cxiii. xviiD sung by Lord
a and His e disG bgpd fbe eT TT their last p Every
Significant that the, most Joyous Of Paurs
Bands ioo9ed Not BY the earhGuake but by
miraculous energy accompanying i'll, F. and
symbol Of spiritual deeliverance they were to
NWaking '' out of sieep Word not found else
where in New Testam 4, has sense of startled
Would have killed himself: If the prisoners
had escaped, he was liable TO the same punish
DO thyseif no harm: Contrast with it the
counsel OF Seneca, IF life pleases you, live; If
not. you have a right to return whence you
we are al mere; tnlS snort vigorous sentence
the swords hilt, and the horrid deed was left
undone.-Arnot
Came trembling: Not for his life or Office but
for his soul, which he felt was in danger of
with ali his house: The faith and JOY were
both common to the jailer and his house: 1t was
necessary that in the pagan world the Christian
family should become the nursery of congrega-
tfonal life.-Besser
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
1. Paul could not receive praise from the af-
ficted girl without appearing to approve the cur
rent superstition. He could sympathize with the
sage who exclaimed, What base thing have
dc ne that such one praises me %
2. Magistrates at Philppi did not act the