The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-25

i
a. Written in much part as diary en- route.
5. The Book completed CD A. D.
6. Dedicated to Theophius.
z. 1ntended for readers IN general.
8. Begins with account of the Ascension.
9. Ends with report of ST. Paul in prison at
Rome.
10. Covers reigns of Tiberius, Caligala, Claud
ius Nero.
H. The great central figure is st. Paul.
II Rejected by Marcionites and Mancheans.
ID Has more various readings than any other
New Testament book.
IA. Many interpretations.
15 Covers from A. d. "a to 65-31 years.
Notes on Outline Above.
l. st. Luke also wrote the Gospel named from
him.
2 There are i've historical books Of tho New
Testament The first four also named Cos
pcls. They are all FIVE largely biographical.
3. Marcionites figured in third century and
the Manichaeans in the fourth. They enter
tanned notions which were not supported in
the Book of the Acts, aud hence, rather than
give up such beliefs, they repudiated the
Book
a. 1t is generally stated that the book was
probably written GO or 81 A. d. We may, per.
haps. say it was then finished. Much Of it is
descriptive, and most likely st. Luke would
keep his record of travel and events after he
author got data from other sources than per-
sonal observation.
ST. PHILIP AND THE EUNUcH.
Data.
Acts, s :2s-4O
Time
We may date A. D. 81.
Places.
st. Philip was preaching at Samaria, north of
Jerusalem. We recall his experience there with
Simon the S0rcerer. The Evangelist was very
successful, and it would seem he could be lily
spared from his work there. He may have
returned to Samara. The Romans knew that
city by the name of Sehaste. 1t was the capt.
tai Of the Province Samaria. 1t was greatly
improved by Hcrod the Great. When st.
Philip left jerusalem it was very natural to go
to Samaria; a great city a splendid field for
evangelical work. E
The method in Apostolic times was itinerant.
Preachers started work ATT points, and went on
carrying the good newsieyery where.
Gasa.
The word GAIA means the fortified. 1t was
one of FIVE confederate cities of the Philistines.
Ii is the furt,est town in the southwest Of
Palestine. Alexander the Great besiegcd it for
five months aud lay it,ir ruins. 1t was given to
the tribe of Judah bot 1t Was subdued for only
a little while. remaiufiea Philistine city even
through the daysof Samuel. Saul. David. Sol
onion mastered il. Itwasa troublesome possess
sion. and was reganeH by the Philistines. It
was also named AzzaH Now it is held by the
Mahometans with population OF 10000 The
climate is nearly tropical! many wells of pure
water, some palm tees, a few orchards, a
splendid olive grove IN the vicinity. Modern
name is Gkazzeh. Duthgithe wars of the Mac.
c;,hees GAIA was itbpdrtant military posi-
ton. 1t is thought Gazas was the capital of
the Phiistines. The most interesting event
associated with GAIA is the account Of st.
Philip and the Eunuch. Toward tho south"
% :26) refers to direction as to Jerusalem.
The verse says, which is DESERT 1t is sup
posed the words refer not to the city but to
the highway. Some hold are to understand
the city as desolate. So Olshausep. 1t is said
there were two routes leading south from Jeru-
salem, one known as the deserty way. The
purpose Of tho Angel was to IN form st. Philip
OH which road to travel az to overtake the
eunuch. We do not know at what point in the
highway the incident of this lesson is located.
The eunuch chose the moro qniet road, so as
to allow of his reading and meditation. he
was travelling leisure!y. as giving much time
to thought. Hence Philip could the more
easily overtake the chariot.
Ethiopia.
The Hebrews called it Cush. The popula-
ton was Hamtic. Gen. 1915 1t occu-
pied the territory south of Egypt. Sometimes
it and Egypt had the same rules. The Sa-
beams were of the Ethiopian stock Sometime
before Christ there sprung up dynasty OF
females. The official name was Candace. The
name Candace is not that of any person. and in
dicates simply dynasty OF queens. The King
dom of Meroe correspondent with that Of Ethi-
opia. Eze., %: 10. Candace succeeded in
sisting even the Roman attacks The name
Candace is used like that of Pharoah, Ptolemy,
King, and President-the name OF every queen
of that dynasty. In its largest sense, Ethiopia
included northern Abyssinia, Kordofan, Nubia,
SEMINAR 1t is also called Ethiopia. Israeli
ties had commercial relations with that region.
The country is quite mountainous.
Asotts.
The word means stronghold 1t is also
named Ashdod. The Phlistines had five con-
fedcrate cities Azotus was one of them. We
see from Josh. Is Al, that it was assigned to
the tribe of Judah, but history shows it was
never incorporated in the territory OF said
tribe. This was because it was not subdued.
1t was 80 miles below the southern boundary
of the tribe of Judah, three miles from the
Mediterranean, about midway OF Joppa and
GAIA. 1t is now village OF no consequence,
named Esand. In early days 1T was an ini-
portant city. as lying on tho highway leading
from Palestine to Egypt.
Cesarea.
I. On the Mediterranean coast of Palestine.
9. On highway from Tyre to Egypt
3. Midway of Joppa and Dora.
a. Distant from Jerusalem 20 miles.
5. Formerly Strabo's Tower.
g. Built by Herod the Great.
Z. Residence of Herodian Kings.
g. Residence of Festus and Felix.
8. Residence of St.sPhiIip the Deacon.
10. Modern name, KaisGatyeh.
IL. A desolation neour days.
st. Philip tie Evangelist.
]. One of seven deatons. Acts, 65; 21s.
9. Fled from Jerus$ lemft to Samaria. s:5.
8. Dealt with Simon tile Sorcerer. 1924
d. Helped the Ethiopian eunueh. s &c 40.
5. Preached from Ashdod to Cesarea.