The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-03
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.


Acts xvi, 22-34-January 4, 19o3-Paui
and siIas at Philippi.
The Philippian magistrates had never neaTd
that maxim, Better that ten guilty men should
escape than one innocent be punished" The
scandal Of a tumult must be avoided The
sight of blood will appease the mob. Pauls
and Silas's garments are rudely torn from their
backs They are thrown violently to the GROUND
face downward. Then the tough elm-rods OF the
lictors descend with sickening SOUND drawing
blood at every blow The Jewish law merei-
fully provided that not more than forty blows
should be given. but the Roman left 1t 10 the
caprice of the magistrates. So Paul speaks oil
having received on this occasion stripes above
measure" Years afterward Paul remembers
and mentions how he "shamefully ueate1
at Philippi."
A moment after this dsgraceful scourging
Paul and Silas found themselves thrust into the
reekng filth and midnight gloom of an Orientai
dungeon in the hideous company OF thieves ana
murderers down their backs. corrugated by
the welts which the rods had raised, their feet
spread wide apart and fastened In the relentless
stocks
Do not imagine the old tempter was near to
whisper i'm Paurs ear: "Ah, Paul, that vision
of yours at Troas certainly all an illusion.
What opening is there here for the gospeif
one convert, and that woman hne OPEN
ing this!' What reply does the apostle make!
Listen. On the still air of midnight there rises
sound rever heard before In that prison. Its
walls have often echoed to curse and rioaid
song and signing of the captive. But never be-
fore 10 such a sound as this: And at midnight
Paul and siIas prayed. and sang praises. and
the prisoners heard them"
To the prayer of the apostle the Lord sent an
immediate and glorious response. The earth
quake the answer Of heaven to the worship
of the dungeon. Most earthquakes are destruc-
live and deadly; this not. The prison doors
and the prisoners chains fell to the earth-that
was ALL
What admirable se,f-posscssion Paul showed:
| what forgiving spirit! lie heard the ciang OF
the keepers sword as he whipped 1t from its
scabbard to take his life. supposing that
| the prisoners had aed. Paul cried with loud
voice: do myself no harm, for we are all
| here" Such unearthly magnanimity as that
put the finishing touches to the keepers sense Of
| conviction.
| From the lips of the penitent jailer drops the
| most important question ever asked: What
must do to be saved?" The response is the
whole gospel in epitome: Believe on the Lord
| Jesus Christ. and thou shalt be saved
There, at the prison fountain. by the light OF
faring torches. is a double washing. The rough
4
the bloody welts upon the apostles back-and
| he In turn, from the same fountain, gives the
| taller the outward and visible sign of the inward
and spiritual grace.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
| Christianity, its entrance to Europe. was
antasonized by a species of spiritsm- The
young woman OF the narrative was possessed by
| a spirit of Python" Reference is to the
| Pythian oracle at Delphi.
The young woman. probably mentally unsound.
was a cheap imitation of the oracle. saving peo-
| pie the expense OF \ journey there. She was a
gilt-edge investment for the syndicate which
| owned her. Persons paid well for consulting her
| in affairs Of love and business.
She had, Of course. heard OF the apostle and his
| preaching: had heard him called a servant of
God, and that the burden OF his message was
| salvation SO she followed the disciples daily
with her rhythmic declaration.
| When the propretors of the Pythoness saw
that further gains were gone they were in a
rage against Paul. Roman law allowed accusers
TO act as arresting officers. The masters of the
| demon possessed girl were unceremonious in use
| of their right.
If it had been said that Paul had stolen a pig
it would have oeen easy to formulate charge.
| but even Roman law did not recognize any prop
erty right in devils.
Those men were not to be denied the
sweets of revenge by such a circumstance. how
ever. To trump a charge was easy. Appeal to
racial prejudice was next in order. They
| Jewsi' us Romans
Paul could not receive praise from the af-
nicted girl without appearing to approve the
| current superstition. He could sympathize with
| the sage who exclaimed, What base thing have
done that such one praises me?"
The copsola;ory and persuasive power of Chris
| tan song is well illustrated. Sing on. You will
| he comforted. and prisoners of grief and
sin will hear you.
| The instantaneousness OF the jsiler's CONVEX
| sion is worthy of note one moment he was
| brutal the next compass ionate.
Christianity rs the religion of the family. 1t Is
| Lydia and her house. Cornelius and his-the
| TALLER and "all his straightway."
There is no finer comment on the passage
| .'All things work together for good TO them tina,
love God" than this PhilIppian incident.
The Phiiippian dungeon was the Catacombs in
miniature.
He washed their stripes. The jaer began the
Christian life we'll 1t is life OF service foi
others.
Do thyself no harm. Religion is the best means
Of keeping people from harming themselves.
Believe on the Lord Jesus. and thou shalt bs
saved" Pour Scripture into the inquirer. 1t Il
the entrance of Gods Word that gives light.
History. either sacred or profane. does not con-
tain more remarkable instance Of good out OF
eyil' than the imprisonment OF Paul in Rome
Not only did IL give him opportunity TO preach
In the central city of the world. whence his mes
sage would go out 10 all the provinces. but Il
gave him respite from travel and time for pen
work Most Of the Epistes were written by the
shaekled hand OF the captive. In the quiet o
the prison ce,l--or OF the ''hred house''-chris
tian doctrine was cast in its ultimate form
apostolic precept and exhortation found nttinl
phrase.
deed Of Christian generosity had It's plsn