Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-08-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
International Lesson for August 20.
1s97-saul Opposed ut Ephesus-Acts
19s21-34.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.]
GOLDEN TExr:-Take heed; and be-
THE SECTION includes the remainder
Of the second missionary journey, the re-
turn home, and most of the third journey
(Acts 1918 to 20:3). Pauls account OF
Ephesian life acts 2o:1s-a5. and the
Epistle to the Ephesians.
TIME.-The third missionary journey
extended over nearly four years. from A. d.
"a to So. The account in the lesson text
belongs in A. D. 81.
THE LESSON.
I. Completion of the Second Mis-
sionary Journey.-After Paul had been
a year and a half in Corinth CLesson w..
he set sail for Syria, intending to reach
Jerusalem in time for the great feast,
perhaps Passover, in the spring of A. d.
81. This visit at Jerusalem, the fourth
made by Paul, must have been very
brief, as it is passed over very lightly
in the account. In short time Paul
went to Antioch, the starting point of
his missionary tours.
II. A Three Years Sojourn at Ephe-
sus.-Ephesus was not only the capital
of the province, but was the city of the
greatest Importance in all Asia Minor,
a splendid city, and the principal en-
porium of trade in the east. The ex-
cellent tent makers. Aquila and Pris-
ella, exiled from Rome, whom Paul
found at Corinth, and with whom he
made his home there, went with him
from Corinth to Ephesus, and all three
labored there in the Gospel, Paul for a
| brief time only, but the others remain
| ing in that city while Paul continued
his journey. Then came a powerful
addition to their force, in the person Of
the eloquent Jew, Apollos (whom many
think was the author of the book of
Hebrews). Paul, on his third mission
airy journey, returned to Ephesus, as
he had promised 1s:21). Here he found
a company of about dozen men, be-
levers on Christ, but baptized only
with Johns baptism of repentance.
They had not even heard of the marvel
Gus gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the
power which came from His baptism.
They were now baptized into the name
of Jesus. Paul laid his hands upon
them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
as did the disciples at Pentecost. prob
ably with visible tongues of fire.
For three months Paul preached in
the Jewish synagogue. Driven thence,
he preached for two years in the lee
ture-room of professor named Tyran-
nus. He was either a convert, and al
lowed Paul to use his lecture-room, or
Paul hired it of him. All this time
Paul preached through his daily labors,
as tentmaker from house to house, and
by his unselfish conduct (Acts 2O:2O,
31-35). During this time Ephesus was
a center of evangelization for the whole
province of Asia. Paul had with him a
number of helpers, as Timothy, Eras-
tus. Titus, etc." Churches arose in
three cities of the Lycus valley-Lao-
dicea, Colossal and Hierapolis, though
Paul himself did not go there. All the
seven churches of Asia, mentioned in
the Revelation, were probably founded
during this period.
"a. silver shrines for DIANA" Small
models of the temple of Diana, contain
ing an image of the goddess. They were
purchased by pilgrims to the temple,
just as rosaries and images of the Vir-
gin are bought by Pilgrims to Lourdes,
or bronze models of Trajan's column or
OF the Colonne Vendome by tourists to
Rome or Paris. brought no small
gain" The traffic was large and
lucrative, and many of the people
were interested in it directly or indi-
rectly.
Is. "Workmen of like occupation
Not only the guild of silversmiths, but
those who did other parts of the work,
who made similar shrines of other del
ties, or who traded in these wares.
26. paul hath turned away
much people:' This is significant as
showing how great progress the Gospel
had made, and as a confession of the
weakness of idols.
%. ''Great is DIANA" Rather, the
common formula of devotion and
prayer, ".Great Diana"
20. "Gaius and Aristarchus:" The
mob of Ephesus made for the house Of
Aquila, with whom Paul was lodging.
They missed their prey. Flushed with
one accord into the theater:" The
Colosseum, capable of seating $4,000
people.
30. when Paul would have entered: -
Paul was unwilling to allow his friends
to suffer in his stead. He probably
hoped to be able to influence the mob
and quell the riot by his appeal. 'The
disciples suffered" permitted "him
not:" They knew the Ephesian mobs
too well.
81. Certain of the chief of Asia: "
The Asiarchs, or high priests of Asia.
were heads of the imperial, political-re-
llglous organization of the province
(which were his friends:" They were
either Christians, or open-minded men.
who had observed the character Of
Iaul, and of those who became dis
ciples through him.
80. drew Alexander out:" Perh,ns
alexander the coppersmith who a.