The Tupelo journal., 1903-02-06
HI SUNDAY SCHOOL.
14ess in the International Series
for February 3, 1D03-The
Church at Corfnth.
THE LESSON TEXT.

born in Pontus, lately come from Italy,
with his wife Priscilla; tbecaus that
Claudius had commanded all Jews to de-
part from Romeo; and come unto them.
3. And because he was OF the same craft,
he abode with them and wrought; for by
their occupation they We're tent-makers.
A. And he reasoned in the
every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews
and the Greeks.
8. And when Silas and Timotheus were
come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed
in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that
Jesus was Christ.
G.. And when they opposed themselves,
and blasphemed, he shook his raiment,
and said unto them, Your blood be upon
your own heads; l am clean: from hence
forth l will go unto the Gentiles.
Z. And he departed thence, and entered
into a certain mans house, named Justus,
one that worshlped God, whose house
joined hard to the synagogue.
8. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the syn
agogue, believed on the Lord with all his
house; and many of the Corinthians hear
ing believed, and wer baptized.
9. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the
night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak,
and hold not thy peace:
10. For | am with thee, and no man shall
set on thee to hurt thee: for ! have much
people in this city.
IL And he continued there a year and
six months, teaching the word of God
among them.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid,
which il .JeSu us Christi Cor. 3: II.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
Making tents ...................Acts 1S:1-4.
Testifying for Jesus...........ActS 1897.
Encouraged by a vision.......Acts 1851.
Before the judgment seat......Acts 1S:12-17.
TIME.-A. d. 81.
PLACE.-Corinth.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Corinth was a city that greatly con-
trasted with Athens. 1t was not intel
lectual but sensual, and was noted for
it's RIGHTEOUSNESS and corruption. ITO
live as at Corinth" was a phrase that
meant profigate indulgence. Paul
had accomplished but little at Athens;
now we are to see what he was able
to do in a city less cultured and more
wicked.
after these things:'' The events
of last Sundays lesson, which should
be reviewed. Game to Corinth:" The
distance from Athens to Corinth by
water is about 40 miles, and the voyage
can be made with a fair wind in four
or five hours. "Corinth," says Prof.
Bosworth, twas a great commercial
city, midway between Rome and Ephe-
sus. Its life was characterized by a
combination of commercial greed, SUI
perfcial but conceited culture, and
fragrant sensuality, which made it by
far the most difficult field which Paul
had yet entered" "Aquila
lately come from Italy," 1t is possible
that Aquila and his wife were believers
before Paul knew them. The edict
that had banished the Jews, and with
them Aquila and Priscilla, was owing
to certain disturbances said by one of
the Roman historians to have been
''due TO the action of Chr~estus,'-a
common form of Christus, Christ
whom the historian. in his ignorance
of Christianity, supposed to be the
living leader of the 'Chrestians.' "Of
the same trade" Both men were tent
makers. During most of Paul's mis-
s~ionary life he worked for his living.
He stoutly maintained that it would
have been perfectly right for him to
receive his living from those whom he
was spending his life, but he shrank
from being a burden to anyone, and
preferred to earn his own way. The
rabbinic laws required every Jew to
teach his son some trade. "In the syn
agogue:" AS usual Paul began his
work among the Jews.
Constrained by the word" Ram
say translates this. was wholly alb
sorbed in preaching" Jesus
the Christi" Or 1.-THE Messiah" Think
be to the Jews who had killed Jesus.
"Blasphemed:" Uttered bitter and
abusive language, probably against
Jesus, ~denouncing Him as an impos-
tor. Gle shook out his raiment:" The
act was symbolical of shaking off all
responsibility for them. 1t was the
breaking off of all friendly relations
and Paul's declaration of war. THE
house . . Joined hard to the syna-
gogue:" Hardly a conciliatory move
on Paul's part.
The opposition to Paul and his work
was especially bitter here, partly be-
cause of his success in winning such
prominent men as Crispus, and he had
need enough of the encouragement
that God sent him.
This is one of the few occasions in
Paul's life when his implacable enc
mics, the Jews. were beaten at their
own game. Gallio's contempt for
the Jews and their religion
is evident. This incident must
have encouraged Paul greatly, as
showing the proconsul's policy of non
interference. Sosthenes had been ap.
pointed to take Crispus' place as a ruler
of the synagogue, and was doubtless
spokesman for the Jews before Gallo
Encouraged by the action of the pro.
consul, the crowd, probably of the
Greeks who were hanging around the
court room-all the Greeks hated the
Jews-pounced upon the angry Jew
and thrashed him soundly, in all prob.
ability to the secret qualification OF
the proconsul. The attack of the Jews
had ended in a most humiliating de
feat.
Spear Points.
The man who thinks leads the crowd
Men will not be kept from the love Of