Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-07-15
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL
international Lesson for July Is. 1897
Paul nj Thessalonica and Berea-
i 81

sEaFcISu the scriptures UdllN.-ACtS Il: IL.
THE SECTION includes Acts Il; LILA.
and the light thrown on the Thessalonians
by Pauls two epistles TO them especial
" 1 TheSsalonians ]: T-S: .. S-I4: s: $40;
!: 9, 10; Thessalonians /: 8, 4 81. ?;
ard Philippians /: Is 16
TIME.-A. d. 50. probably the summer
LESSON COMMENT.
/. Founding OF the Church in Thessa-
lonica--Vs. IA After the strange
events at Philippi, the three poor
wandering missionaries. Silas, Tim
othy and Paul" went along the great
Roman road toward the southwest.
l. They" Note the change in the
pronouns, which shows that Luke was
left at Philippi. Passed through Am
phipolis:" About 80 miles nearly west
from Philippi. And Apollonia:" Thir-
~ miles southwest 81 Amphipo!is, and
81 from Thessalonica "Thessalonica:
From very early times this city was
famed as q commercial center.
2. And Paul, as his manner:" His
regular custom was to begin his work
first among the Jews, TO attend their
synagogGes on the Sabbath and to
speak to them about Christ.
3. "Opening:" Unfolding the Scrip
ture truths, pointing out TO them the
things they had not noticed, or apph-
cation of which they had not under
stood. And alleging" Not assert
ing" as the word means, in modern
English, but setting forth" arguments,
reasons, as the word .'allege" means in
older English, as the Greek word, so
translated, means. Paul not only ex-
planned the Scriptures, but set forth the
arguments that proved that Christ"
the Messiah they We're looking for,
must needs have suffered" He is SO
pictured in the Scriptures And anyone
claiming to be the Messiah, who did not
suffer as foretold in Isaiah SO, could
not be the true Messiah. The absence
of this mark would prove him an inn
poster. And risen again from the
dead" The missionaries preached
living Christ, exalted at the right hand
of God, and who was the rightful king
of all the earth, a living, present
Saviour and Lord. And that this J esus,
whom / preach unto you, is Christi:
Having shown them from the Scrip
lures true description of the promised
Messiah. they show that Jesus was the
one described.
4. And some OF them" the Jews.
"belieyed:" or were persuaded by Paurs
reasoning. "Consorted with Paul and
Silas:" Cast in their lot with Paul and
Silas; not only accepted theoretically
their interpretations of prophecy, but
practically adopted the Christian life
with all the dangers which such a
course entailed. And of the devout
Greeks a great multitude:" This i'm
plies that after the three Sabbaths in
the synagogue, Paul labored foI some
time among the Gentiles.
II. Paul Expelled from Thessalonica.
VS.. $40 5. The jews" as a body,
moved with envy" Jealousy at their
own decline and the growth of Chris
tianity. "Lewd:" in its older sense of
vile. worthless fellows of the baser
sort; Market loungers or loafers
around the market places, a natural
lounging place of the lazy AMI worth
less rabble ready for any excitement.
set all the city on am uproar;" Made
such disturbance as affected the whole
city. ASSAULTED the house Of JASON"
! Without doubt, the host of Paul and
/ Silas, a Thessalonian and a Christian
convert. "Bring them out to the peo-
ple:" So that the excited mob might
ufict summary vengeance on them.
7. These all do contrary TO the de-
crecs OF Caesar" Forbidding rebellion
and treason. which decree was broken,
they said, because they proclaimed am
other king, one Jesus" 1t was very
easy to misapprehend the Christian
teaching about Christ as n king. of
whose kingdom the apostles We're her
aids. Jesus Himself had been misl:n-
derstood and His words perverted. We
! can scarcely now realize the suspicious
which must have been reused against
/ the early preachers of Christianity by
the very language they used.
g THEY troubled the people and the
rulers They could find no good
| charge against these people, who were
10y far the best citizens, and yet there
was danger. if they took no notice OF the
charge that they themselves would be
charged with treason, and the freedom
of their city taken away.
Q. Taken security" bail. Jason and
others pledged their persons, or de-
posted a sum of money that would be
forfeited, if the missionaries rem aimed
in Thessalonica. 1t is thought that this
is one reason why Paul did not return
there. as he greatly desired to do, de-
sire expressed in his letters written a
few months later q Thes. 2:17, IS;
3:10).
III. Founding of the Church in Berea.
VS. 10-12 10. Unto Berea:" A city
60 miles southwest of Thessalonica.
II. These Jews, were more noble:'
In character, in all that makes true no
bility. This nobility expressed itself
G) "in that they received the word with
all readiness of mind" Their mil ds
were open to all truth from every
source. ~ And searched the Scrip
turcs:" They did not take things by
hearsay, but sought the truth for them
selves. Because they received the truth