The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-11-05

International Lesson for November
z. IsO7-Paul I'm MeIita and Home


that love God.-Rom. s:2s.
THE LESSON.
/. Kindly Reception by the Inhab-'
itants of Malta.-Vs. ]. 2. In our last
lesson we left Paul and his 275 COM
panions in a terrible storm, escaping
from a wreck through waves and rain
to an unknown shore.
/. 'They (R ". WEI knew" from the
natives, or from previous experience
OF the sailors, as soon ) they saw the
place by daylight. That the island
was called Melita," of which malta"
is a shortened form. This is a small
island 60 miles south Of Sicily.
2. "And the barbarous people" Cor.
"barbarians," as in va. So the Greeks
and Romans called other nations than
themselves. especially when speaking
another language. 1t means here moth
ing more than natives" "Shewed us no
little kindness:" mo common kind
ness" would be a more correct trans
lation.
fl. Pauls Credentials.-Vs &c. First.
Paul had gathered a bundle of
sticks. Paul. though the greatest man
then living. was ready TO do the hum
blest duty. He knew the greatness of
serving.
3. There came viper out Of the
heat" from among the fagots already
on the fire. whose increasing heat
awaked il from its torpid state and
hand" as he was laying his bundle on
the fire.
4. 'No doubt this man is a murderer"
Paul was a promi nent prisoner. accused
OF some crime unknown to them. and
they naturally attributed to him the
greatest crime. Whom vengeance"
The God of Justice. Nemesis. the Aven-
escaped from the wreck. but he could
not escape from the sword of Divine
justice.
5. And he shook off the beast into
the fires" With perfect composure.
doubtless arising from the two prom
lses. % that of Christ to His disciples
concerning serpents Mark 16:1s; luke
1o:19). and (2) the promise that he
should preach the Gospel in Rome. and.
therefore. he could not die before he
reached that city.
G. They looked when" (they expect
ed that 'he would have swollen" etc:
This was the usual effect of viper's
bite. making itself apparent in a very
short time. 'Or fallen down dead sud-
denly" Sudden collapse and death
ensue often from the bite of serpents
NO harm come to him." but only by a
miracle. "They changed their minds,
and said that he was a god" because
only Divine power could have preserved
him from harm.
III. Paurs Three Months Mission in
Malta.-Ns. 10. :. I'm the same quar-
ters." in that neighborhood. The ira
dtional place is Citta Vecchia, where
is the country residence of the present
British governor. Were possessions:
He probably lived on more than one es-
tate. as do the English nobility.
Lodged u.s." Entertained at his home,
probably Julius and his prisoners.
s. The father of PLblius lay sick Of
a fever and of a bloody flux:" Literal
~. with fever and dysentery, both
words being used by ST. Luke with pro-
fessional precision. ITO whom Paul
entered in:" The report of his mracu-
lous escape from the bite of the viper
would direct the attention of Pubius
TO Paul as n remarkable man; and Paul
repaid his kindness by restoring his
father 10 health. And prayed" To
obtain the blessings from God. with
the wisdom needed. and to show the
people that all his power came from the
same God whose Gospel he preached.
"And laid his hands on HIM" II 10 re-
markable. that 50 soon after the "tak-
ing up of serpents." we should read Of
Paul having laid his hands on the sick
and they recovered" (see the two in
close connection. Mark 1919. "And
healed him:" St. Luke was n ply
stefan. but his skill was less effectual
than the agency of ST. Paul. who went
into the sick mans chamber. prayed
by his bedside. laid his hands on him
and healed him.
Q. "Others also which had Diseases"
The original is more extensive; all the
rest. Nothing is said of Paul's preach
ing. for that is taken for granted. Paul
could not neglect such golden opportu-
rites of preaching the Gospel.
". The Journey to Rome.--vs. 1916.
10. "Honored us with many honors:"
They paid him every possible attention.
trying to express their respect and graf
itude. "Laded us with such things as
were necessary" not as pay. but out of
kindness and love. We must remember
that they had lost everything by the
wreck. This was entirely different in
principle and effect from receiving hire
for their miraculous cures. which was
forbidden by Christ Matt. 1o:s).
IL. "And after three months:" The
three months residence then would en-
brace November. December and Janu-
airy. Their departure on February 8. the
day when. according TO P;iny. naviga-
ton here opens. 1--WE departed in n ship
Of Alexandria," which mad been wise
enough to stay in the harbor during the
stormy season.
~. "And landing at Syracuse" The
famous city was situated on the east