The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-02-05
ICE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
] essnn in the lnsernaeional series
for February =. 1003-The
Church at Corinth.
TIE LESSON TENT.

Church at C0rtnth.
THE LESSON TENT.
(Acts .S:i-lll
!. After these things Paul departed from
Athens and came TO Corinth:
. And found a certain Jew named Aquila.
born in Pontus. lately come from Italy,
With his wife Priscilla; because that
/ Claudius had commanded all Jews to de-
part from Rome); and come unto them.
j. And because he was of the same craft,
/ he abode with them and wrought; for by
/ their occupation they were tent-makers.
| l. And he reasoned in the synagogue
every Sabbath, ana persuaded the Jews
and the Greeks
.. 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 blaspheme6. he shook his raiment,
and said unto them. Your blood be upon
your own heads; | am clean: from hence
forth l will go unto the Gentiles.
= And he departed thence. and entered
into certain mans house, named Justus,
one that worshiped God, whose house
joined hard TO the synagogue.
\. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the sym
ncogue, believed on the Lord with all his
| house; and many of the Corinthians heay-
/ ing believed, and wer baptized.
| g Then spake the Lord to Paul in the
night by vision. BE not afraid, but speak,
and hold not thy peace:
%. For | am with thee and no man shall
SET on thee to hurt thee: for | have much
people in this city.
| II. And he continued there a year and
six months, teaching the word Of God
| among them.
! GOLDEN TENT.~Othcr fOrndntion
can no man lay than thnt Is laid.
which is Jesus Christi Cor. .; II.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
! Making tents ...................Acts lS:l-i.
/ Testifying for Jesus.........."Acts 1851
Encouraged by vision.......Acts lS:S-ll.
Before the judgment seat.....Acts lS:l2-l7.
/ TIME.-A. d. 81.
| PLACE.-Corinth.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Corinth was city that greatly con
! trasted with Athens. 1t was not intel
| lectual but sensual. and was noted for
! its RIGHTEOUSNESS and corruption. "To
| live as at Corinth" was n phrase that
meant profligate indulgence. Paul
! had accomplished but little at Athens;
now we are to see what he was able
to do in city less cultured and more
wicked.
after these things:" The events
| of last Sundays lesson, which should
! he reviewed. Game TO Corinth:" The
! distance from Athens to Corinth by
water is about 40 miles. and the voyage
! can be made with fair wind in four
| or five hours. "Corinth," says Prof
Bosworth. was great comsercial
! city, midway between Rome and Ephc-
| sus. Its life was characterized 10y IA
| combination of commercial greed -
| perficial but conceited culture, ar1
fragrant sensuality, which made il .
far the most difficult field which Pau,
| 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 oNirg
to certain disturbances said by one Of
the Roman historians to have been
'due to the action of Chrestus, "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-
sionary 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
| &c hut In L. l.
from being burden to anyone, and
preferred to earn his own way. The
rabbnic laws required every jew to
teach his son some trade. "ln the syn
agogue:" As usual Paul began his
work among the Jews.
"Constrained by the word" Ram
say translates this, twas wholly alb
sorbed in preaching" "Jesus
the Christi" Or "the Messiah" Think
how CALLING an assertion that would
be to the Jews who had killed Jesus.
"Basphemed:" Uttered bitter and
abusive language, probably against
Jesus, denouncing Him as an impos-
tor. ''He shook out his raimcnt:" 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 Panl'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