The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-06-04


was prisoner at Caesarea, where he
had been confined for two years He
had appealed his case TO the emperor,
and was waiting to be sent to Rome
for trial. In this lesson the voyage
be gins.
In studying this voyage, remember
ing that he was prisoner, think what
kind Of man Paul must have been
to have gained such Influence on board
the ship. Paul was one Of number
being sent to Rome under guard at
this time. At Myra the convoy OF pris-
oners was transferred 10 one Of the
AIexaudrian grain ships bound for
Rome. The ship encountered head
winds most Of the time.
The Fast" (day Of Atonement) was
late in September or early in October
according to the year. During the
winter, navigation was discontinued
entirely. Note several things in verses
s-12 showing that a meeting was held
TO discuss what was best to do. Paul
WIS en- Important Ipsr. eDd . great
traveller for those days, and washt 3"
ent at the council. "Euraquilo" is
from Euros, the east wind, and Aquilo,
the north wind. Compare our express
sion, a "nOrtheaster" The boat" ".
Is) was the small boat tOwed behind
the ship. For lowered the gear" we
should say shortened SAIL The
Syrtis" was the much dreaded quick
sand along the African coast.
The storm had lasted nearly two
weeks Officers and crew had given
themselves up tor lost and ware io-
ing nothing when Paul came 70 the
rescue, and. calm. clear-hpnded and
confident. succeeded m -aIlring the
men 20 renewed effort. Notice how
Paul seems 20 stand head and shoul-
ders above .ll the rest 0u the ship.
How 10 you account tOr it,
II was now question 81 where 20 -un
the ship aground and in order %
choose a. favorable L place - pos
sible il was necessary to have day
light PaulS vigilance prevented he
iesertjon Of the crew, without whom
il would have been hard t. beach the
ship successfully.
Picture TO yourself the scene On tho
ship in the dusk Of the morning. as
pecially the part Paul played and the
heartrending effect OF his words and
example. Throwing out the wheat: -
The lighter the ship was the closer
could she run u shore before striking
bottom. "Loosing the bands Of the
rudders:" The "rudders' were two
enormous oars worked by hand from
the stern. They had been pulled out
OF the water for fear the waves would
break them. The revised version is
more accurate here than the common.
Note the differe noes, epeclally in verse
90: Where two seas met" This was
probably a bar such as often runs be-
tween two reighboring islands. Ram
say believes that finding this was q
piece Of extraordinary good fortune.
kill the prisoners" II a Roman
soldier could not produce his prisoner
when called for, he forfeited his Life.
Was Paurs influence on this voyage
due simply to his strong personality
and good Judgment, or was it largely
due 70 the fact that he was a man Of
God? What idea of Christianity do
you suppose Paul's shipmates carried
out into the world with them, as .
result of what they saw Of it on the
voyage?
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
In time of danger a Christian has q
source of strength and cheer that 9TH
ers do not have.
In time of danger a Christian will in
tercede for others as well as for HIM
self.
In time of danger Christian will try
70 comfort and encourage others.
In time of danger Christians faith
in God will be most conspicuously
shown.
1t is idle TO predict disaster for the
women's daily paper in Chicago. n
may pe< To be All the style.