The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-07-07
TnE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Intern stional Lesson for July IA, 1897
Paul and the PhiIippfan Jaiier-
Acts J1,1.-.,1.


80 = ~ THE LESSON.
i. Possessed Damsel Redeemed.-Vs.
1918. The apostles frequently met in
the streets a poor slave girl, owned by
a company of SPECTATORS, who made
no little money out of her as a 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 at 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.
%. The multitude rose up togeth-
err" An excited mob. THE magis-
trates," without investigation or trial,
rent off their clothes:" The clothes
of Paul and Silas. Commanded to beat
them" The word means beat with
rods" The custom was with the
Eomans 10 inflict 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 offeilses. 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 stocls:" An instrument of tor
ture as well as of confinement, con-
sisting of heavy piece of who'd with
holes, into which the feet were placed
in such n manner that they were
stretched widely apart, so as to cause
the sufferer great pain.
III. Songs in the Mighty. 25.
Paul and SilaS prayed, and sang
praises:" Their position was one OF
torture. Sleep was out of the ques-
ton. But they passed the night in
devotions.
". The Wonderful Deliverance.-V.i
&c. "And suddenly there was great
earthquakes" 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. 81. 1.-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 himself" IF the prisoners
had escaped, he was liable to the same
punishment which they were to suf-
fer."-Gloag.
2s. Paul cried with a loud voice."
Les. the jailer should fail to notice IN
time. For we are all here" 1t was
wonder, greater than the earthquake.
that prisoner should care for the well
fare Of Il jailer, who had treated him SO
crue,ly. DO myself no harm" is the
message of the Gospel to man in de-
SPAR.
20, Called for light" The Greek
is plural, lights, torches, or lamps.
Fell down before Paul and Silas:" He
connected the earthquake with their re-
ligiop, Of which he must have heard, as
well as stories of their miraculous
power.
so. "And brought them OUT" From
the inner prison where they were con-
fined, probably into the court of the
prison, "Sirs what must l do to be
saved?' What shall l do to be saved?
is the most important question any
person can ask, for it determines not
only q his happiness, but GU his char
acter; (3) the best use of life here; (4j his
usefulness in the world; 60 his relations
TO God, 60 his redemption from the
guilt a:ad punishment of sin; CD his
eternal destiny, character, and useful
ness in Heaven.
81. "Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ,
and tho1 shalt be saved" Saved from
sin, from its punishment, and to holi-
ness AMI Heaven. And thy house:"
BY leading his family to the same faith.
SO. The same hour of the night"
Not very long after midnight ". 25).
washed their stripes" The first es-
feet of faith in Jesus was a kindlier
disposition, and desire TO help. WAS
baptized, he and all his, straightway:"
AS soon IS they were sure they believed,
they confessed Christ in baptism.
"a. brought them into his house:"
The most comfortable place he could
find for them. 1t OF course was con-
nected with the prison. The jailer knew
this was perfectly safe, since Paul had
refused TO escape when he had the OPP
portunity. ''Set meat (foodD before
them" The two sufferers may have
well needed food, as there is no record
of their having any since their arrest
the day before. The next morning, by
n proper use of their Roman citizenship,
aided, no doubt, by the miraculous
event of tie night, the two missionaries
were set free, and returned 20 the house
of Lydia.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
The apostles could not sleep. but in
stead of murmuring, or despair. they
sang praises. Like Christian and Hope