Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-01-01
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
international Lesson Comments for
January 4.
Subject Paul and SiIas at Philippi, Acts xvi
y 34-Golden Text, Acts xvi, 3l-Mem.
ory Verses, 29.32- Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

Wy VSiS~Sp 81 So"hS"sa'y
on the Days Lesson.
/. An evil spirit cast out tvs. 1919.
The missionaries made their home at the
house of Lydia (see v. l5) while they con-
tinued to preach the gospel at Philippi.
They had good success, and in this city the
first Christian church in Europe was found
ed. But their great victories did not come
about without great opposition. There
was in the city a certain damsel who was
fortuue,teler, who brought her masters
great gain. This slave girl followed the
missionaries and cried after them. Paul
was grieved because of this, and'command
ed the evil spirit to come out OF her.
"And he came out the same hour ". lS).
Why was Paul grieved: ]. Because her
presence was troublesome to him. ?: Be
cause it might appear that he was in al.
lance with her. g. Because what she did
was for gain and was base imposition.
4. Because her state was one OF bondage
and deusion. s. Because the system un.
der which she was acting was then holding
large part Of the. pagan world in bondage.
IT, Paul and Silas arrested Tvs. l0.2D.
After the evil spirit had lett the girl she
no longer had power to make money for
her masters by fortune-te telling. This made
her masters angry. and they seized Paul
and Slas and dragged them before the
magistrates into the market place, where
legal business was transacted. The Phil
ippian magistrates were excited against
the missionaries by the accusation that
they had attacked the religion of Rome
Ill. Paul and Silas beaten and i'm
prisoned Tvs. 22-24). -. Multitude rose
up." An excited mob. This was done
without any form of law. The very magis.
trates who were affecting such great zeal
for The law were among the first to disre.
gard it. Rent of their clothes" They
Violently tore the clothes off of Paul and
Sias Beat them The words mean to
cheat with rods" e Cor. II: 25l. The Ro.
man custom was to inlict blows upon the
naked body.
%, MANY stripes.' The Roman pun.
ishment was not limited to forty stripes
save one" like that OF the Jews.
"a. Thrust them." All sore and bleed
ing, "Iuncr prison" The dungeon. a
deem damn, chilly cell. FAR under ground.
openinr only at the ton, without fresh air
or light,
", A great deliverance I've. 25, 26l.
25 PRAYED and sang praises" Their
wounds were undressed: filth and vermn
added TO their pain: their position was one
OF torture. Sleep was ont of the question.
They passed the night in devotons 1t is
n significant fact that the most ioyous of
PauIs en;st,cs ia That written to the
church al Philinni. born out of his cyne.
rience Of suffering.
26, "An earthduakc," Thus did God
answer PRAYER and prove His presence and
nrotect;on, No doubt ali Philippi heard
The sound and felt The force of the earth-
quake. Doors were opened." etc. The
chains were made fast to the wall, and the
shock which burst asunder the bolts of
the doors also released the fastening,
which held the chains in the masonry. A
symbol OF the spiritual deliycrAnce they
were to effect for the heather lisa AZ: y.
V. The TAILOR converted Tvs. 27-34). 81.
"Awaking." The praying and singing did
He evidently slept in full view of the pr.
son doors. "Drew out his sword" The
punishment due to an escaped prisoner,
He decided at once to take his own life
and thus avoid 8 worse fate. He supposed
that all in the prison had escaped
2S. paul cried" Anticipating the Jail.
or's fear for his own safety, Paul raised
his voice to secure attention at once. His
purpose of suicide was great sin. "All
here" Strange for prisoner to be 40.
licitous about his keeper. But Paul was
passionately trying to save men, and the
whole gospel is an appeal to men to do
themseives no harm"
30. "Called for a light" Which could
be carried i'll the hand. This care for his
welfare begat tenderness in the heart of
the keeper. 1t was the arrow of convic.
ton which had reached his soul. "Came
trembling" Not for his life or his office,
but for his soul. which he felt was in dan
ger of eternal loss. A moment before he
was ready to destroy his life to escape the
wrath of man, but now he was eager to
find the way of life.
so. drought them out" "From the
inner prison, where they were confined in
the stocks, into the court of the prison. or
into his own apartments, having no fear
that thew would escapc, but rather con.
vinced that God was ayerruling ali things
for them" "Sirs," "The Greek word i'm.
nlies an aclnowledrement Of great super.
!ority, Those who had heen his prisoners
were now his Inrds =" Is eved "He had
called for a lipht to look for his prisoners.
He now call. for the true liaht top r. 90 forth
out Of his own nrisoo"
81, Believe" etc, The sum of the
whole nospel. the covenant Of grace in a
i, "a :. - 80 80, " % % ~ ~ - ",