Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-06-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson In the IntsxnasiOaaI Series
for June rs, 1sO2-PauI Crosses
In Europe.
THE LESSON TEXT.


(Acts 16s6-15.)
s Now when they had gone throughoue
Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and
were forbidden OF the Holy Ghost to preach
4. After they were come to AIysia. they
assayed to 80 into Bithynia: bat the Spirit
suffered them not.
g. And vision appeared to Paul in the
/ night; There stood man of Macedonia. and
prayed him, saying. Come over into Mace
10 And after he had seen the vision. inn
/ mediately we endeavored to go into Mace
| donna, assuredfy gathering that the Lord
had called US for to preach the gospel unto
II. Therefore Ioosing from Troas, we
came with a straight course to Samothra-
| ella, and the next day to Neapolis;
| L. And from thence to Phiippi, which
| Is the chief city of that part of Macedonia.
and colony: and we were in that city
13 And on the Sabbath we went out OF
| the city by river side, where prayer was
| wont to be made; and we sat down and
spake unto the women which resorted
"A Ard a certain woman named Lydia.
| q seller of purple, of the city of Thyat tra,
which worshiped God, heard US: whose
heart the Lord opened, that she attended
unto the things which were spoken of
Paul.
| household, she besOught us, saying: If ye
| have judged me to be faithful to the Lord,
come into my house and abide there. And
| she constrained us.
| witness unto all men.-ActS 22;15.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURAL SECTION;
The diSagreement.,..... ACTS lo;So-41
| PauPs vision.................... 15:6-12
! Conversion of Lydia..............Acts 16:1S-1s
| Tme.-A. D. 50-54.
Place.-Antioch. Lystra, Troas and
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The Macedonian CALM vision
Paul saw a Macedonian and heard
him saying, Come over and help u.s.
The man represented all those who
| lived in that heather country, few
of whom realized their great need.
His appeal was enforced by the COM
mand of the Saviour, $50 We there
fore, and make disciples of all the
nations" Matt. 2s:19). That was
call of heathenism to Christianity
a call which now is as strenuous and
as obligatory as when Paul heard it.
The Disagreement.-The second
missionary journey was first planned
as visit to those who had entered
| the Christian life as result of the
former journey. The contention be-
| tween Paul and Barnabas was unfor-
tunate, and probably both men were
at fault. Yet the disagreement real
Iy gave two capable leaders the OPP
portunity to work independently, in
stead of together.-Silas was the man
who came as messenger from the
church in Jerusalem. His choice for
that errand proved that he had a
good deal of influence among the dis
ciples.
Paul's New Helper.-Timothy had
been instructed as Jew q Tim.
1:5; S:15), but could not be circum-
cised as Jew because his father was
a Gentle. But Paul now made him
Jewish proselyte as well as a Chris
tian teacher. Timothy was probably
quite young at this time-not over 20
years old. By giving to the churches
the decision of the elders at Jeru-
salem, they gave them confidence and
courage and stirred them to zeal in
trying to win Gentiles.
Paurs Vision.-When Paul reached
Derbe, he wanted to go on, and so
travelled northward, probably doub-
| ling back and forth under the pro-
hibition against going into Asia.
This Asia was the western end of
Asia Minor, the wealthiest and most
populous part of the district. Paul
| spent great deal of time there aft
erwards. The direction indicated by
verses z, was northwest. Troas
Troa was the point from which trav-
elers usually set out for Europe. The
vision which came to Paul was right
ly regarded as divine direction to
go into Europe. The change from
they" ". 81 to eve" ". 1O) indicates
that Luke joined Paul at Troas. The
company thus had at least four mem
bers-Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke.
| Very likely there were others also.
Sought" indicates the necessity of
waiting until some vessel headed for
Europe should appear. Samothrace
is an island midway of the course to
Neapolis, in whose harbor small yes
sells passed the night. Neapolis was
a small seaport tributary to Philip
pi, and the missionaries passed ON at
once to the larger city. Colonies of
Rome had the same standing in the
empire as the Italian cities, and most
of their landholders were Roman
citizens.
Conversion of Lydia.-No Jews
were met in Philippi and no syna-
gogue was found there. But even a
few Jews might assemble to pray on
the Sabbath, without a synagogue.
Probably most of the women found
were proselytes rather than native
born Jewesses. The expression zone
that worshiped God" indicates that
Lydia was converted Greek. She
had learned the Jewish doctrine in
Thyatira. Her action and the men,
ton of her household indicate that
she had some property, and she may
have been rich. She was probably a
widow. Her invitation was very cor
dial, expressing the feeling that its
acceptance would be an honor and
an undeserved favor.