The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-07-09
vAe SUNDAY scHOo.
Hsern aeionaD Lesson for July II. lk07
Paul and the Phtiippian Jsiiee.
"a


and thy house.-Acts i6: g.
THE SECTION includes chapter i6 from
verse 10 TO the end.
TIME:-A. u. 81. % years after the found
THE LESSON.
1. Possessed Damse kedeemed--Ns.
1918. The apostles frequently met in
the streets poor slave girl, owned by
company of spectators, who made
10 little money out of her as fortune
teller. She was supposed to be pos
sessed with "the spirit OF Python"
Python. in the Greek mythology, was
the serpent which guarded Delphi. The
name Python was subsequently used 10
denote prophetic demon, and was also
used OF soothsayers who practiced VEN
triloquism, or speaking from the belly.
III. Paul and Silas Arrested.-Ns. 10
%. The owners, angry ut their loss,
seized Paul and Silas and dragged them
into the public square, where trials
were held, and charged them, not with
interfering with their gains, which
would have been quickly dismissed, but
with breaking the laws of the Roman
empire.
%. 1.-The multitude rose up togeth-
err" An excited mob. The mag;s-
trates." without investigation or trial.
trent Off their clothes:" The clothes
of Paul and Slas. Commanded TO beat
them" The word means beat with
rods The custom was with the
Romans 70 intiict blows with rods upon
the naked body Livy H., 81.
"a. Thrust them into the inner pris-
on:" There was the outer and airier
compartment, where people were
herded together to await trial, or in
punishment of trivial offenses. Then
there was the Inner prison." gloomy,
oppressive, filthy, in which great or
dangerous criminals were confined, in
chains or otherwise. Their feet fast
in the stocl<s:" An instrument of tor
ture as well us of confinement, con-
sisting of heavy piece of wood with
holes, into which the feet were placed
in such manner that they were
stretched widely apart, so as TO cause
the sufferer great pain.
Ill. Songs in the Mighty. IS.
"Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praiscs:" Their position was one OF
0lttD NstS out VI tht Htt~7-
ton. But they passed the night in
deyotions
~. The Wonderful Dcliyerance.-V.
&c. And suddenly there was a great
earthquake:" This was the Lords an
swer to prayer, whether it came by
miracle or was timed by special provi-
dence. "All the doors were opened. and
everyone's bands were loosed:" Either
by the action Of the earthquake or by
the same supernatural power which
produced the earthquake.
v. The Conversion of the Jailer.-
VS.. 27-34. ~. THE keeper
awaking out Of his sleep" He prob
ably slept in such place that on rising
he could observe at glance whether
the prison doors were secure. Would
have killed himseif:" IF the prisoners
had escaped, he was liable to the same
punishment which they were to suf-
fer."-Gloag.
%. paul cried with a loud voice."
Lest the jailer should fail TO notice in
time For we are all here" TWAS
wonder, greater than the earthquake,
that a prisoner should care for the well
fare of jailer. who had treated him so
cruelty. DO myself no harm" is the
message of the Gospel TO man in de-
spair.
20. Called for a Light" The Greek
is plural. lights, torches, or lamps.
Fell down before Paul and Silas:" lie
connected the earthquake with their re-
ligion, of which he must have heard, as
t.ns.
power.
30. "And brought them out:" From
the inner prison where they were con-
fined. probably into the court of the
prison. "Sirs, what must do to be
saved?" What shall do to be saved?
is the most important question any
person can ask. for il determines not
only () his happiness, but t2) his char
ncter; (3) the best use of life here; (4) his
usefulnessin the world; 90 his relations
TO God; (6) his redemption from the
guilt and punishment of sin; (7) his
eternal destiny, character, and useful.
ness in Heaven.
81. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved" Saved from
sin, from its punishment, and to holi-
ness and Heaven. "And thy house,"
by leading his family to the same faith.
30. "The same hour of the night"
Not very long after midnight w. 25).
Washed their stripes" The first ef.
feet of faith in Jesus was kindlier
disposition. and desire to help. 'Was
baptized, he and all his, straightway:"
AS soon ms they were sure they believed,
they confessed Christ in baptism.
"a. Brought them into his housc:"
The most comfortable place he could
find for them. 1t OF course was con-
nccted with the prison. The jailer knew
this was perfectly safe, since Paul had
refused to escape when he had the OPP
portunity. "Set meat (food) before
them" The two sufferers may have
well needed food. ms there is no record
OF their having any since their arrest
the day before. The next morning. by
proper use of their Roman citizenship,
aided. no doubt. by the miraculous