Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-01-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
January Is.
Subject: Paul at Thessalonlca and Berea, Acts
xviii, l.l2-Goldeu Text, Psa.. ll9, los
Memory Verses, 2'4--commentary
on the Days Lesson.


on The Days Lesson.
I. Preaching in Thessalonica (ys. ll-4).
]. "They." Luke changes from we to
"they" which shows that he must have
been left behind. "a synagogue. Inc
Jews must have established themselves
gogue appears to have been the only one
That existed in Northern Macedonia. No
synagogue had been built in Philppl, Am
phipolis, or Apolonia; the Jews VINO
dwet in those cities possessed only
place of prayer (Acts 10: l3). and they
belonged, as it were, to this synagogue IN
Thessalonica. :,
begin with the Jews, and not to turn TO
the Gentiles until the Jews refused thu,
gospel, that their mouths might be stopped
from clamoring against him because ne
preached to the Gentiles. "Three Sabbath
days" This does not imply that Pau,
kept the Jewish Sabbath as sacred
day, but the Jews would assemble on that
day in greater number. Ihis does not IN
dictate the length of Paul's stay in the city;
Reasoned" Here we see his method of
work. In accordance with the Old Iesta'
ment Scriptures Paul discussed with
them concerning the Messiah. First, that
according to the prophecies it was neces,,
sary that the Messiah should suffer and
rise again; secondly, that this One, name.
ly. Jesus, is the Amounted One,
3. Opening and Alleging. irovlng
been this /. He collected the Scriptures
that spoke of the Messiah. 2. He applied
these to Jesus Christ, showing that IN
Him all these Scriptures were tuiiiied,
and that He was the Saviour OF whom
they were in expectation. ;,
q. Unconstitutional persuaded
OF Jews, small minority; of the Gentiles
multitude became Christians; so that
at Thessa lonica there was main y. Gen.
tile church "Consorted." Cast in their
lot with. They clave to Paul and Silass,
and attended them wherever they went.
"Devout Greeks" That is. Gentiles who
were proselytes to the Jewish religion, so
far as to renounce idolatry, and live a
moral life. Chief women" First IN
ranl, and social position; also proseiytes
to the Jewish religion"
H. Paul and Sas accused Tvs, SOY. 5.
(Which believed not" These words are
not in the Greek and should be omitted
here. Envy" Jealousy" malice, Ia.
tired, spite at seeing persons of rank be-
coming Christians, by which the .lcwislh,
influence was weakened. "l.ewd fellows
Vagabonds who hung around the markets.
serving for in moO h as bs .ns pns1 ro.
with tie mob they lad gathered; The
devil still carries out his designs by set
ting souls as well as cities in an mproar.
"Jason." With whom Paul and Si'as
lodged. He may have been one OF PauIs
kinsmen from. lG: 2n, but of this we arc
not certain. The mob intended to SEIZE
Paul and Silas and bring them out, to
abandon them to the passions OF the ex
cited people. :,
bent on carrying their case, and not find
ing Paul and Silas, they seized their host;
with some other Christians. and dragged
them before the magistrates OF the city.
"Word upside down" After having
made the sedition and disturbance the
Jews charged it all on the peaccable and
innocent apostles. They would have 1T
thought that the preachers OF the gospel
were mischief makers, that they .sowcd
dscord, INSTRUCTED commerce and lnvert'
cd all order and regularity.
7, "Hath received" The insinuation
is that by harboring these seditious men
Jason has made himself partaker IN their
sedition. 'Do contrary" etc. There was
as yet no law against Christianity, but the
accusation was meant to declare the lhris-
tians enemies to the established govern
ment, and opposed to Caesars power, in
general, to make DEGREES. There Is an
other king" His followers said. indeed,
Josus 10 n King Int not an earthly king,
"nt , viva, 81 Caesar, nor did His ordi-
" ,ov interiors with the DEGREES of
Tansar for Ha made il a law of His king.
d"f tn "rnndcr nnto Caesar the things that
arn C,csar's',
"TronhIed the pcople." They had
No IN oninion Of the APOSTLES or their doc.
tr 3 ond could NOT soc that there was any
danror =, tba state from them, and were.
th as ~ wil,;no TO overlook them, but
,rbo, thev we're renresented as enemies
W W. Ca,' . the ruIers were Obliged to sup.
uress them. lest thew themselves should
to cb,r rneiI', with treason
q "Secur;tv" Whether by depositing
o,,,, If rmnney ia not mite Gear What
thov All was IN accordance with the Ro.
,ne9 u ua, ""' and ga~e sufficient security
t fnr no Sool condnct If pnul and Si,as.
T ~, ."v d so' Identifies .rcorirrd to pledge
th n.n N.e +hot tho~ wonld NOT ATTEMPT
,oe, narrY ont any Mans Of: treason, and
~ ~, ooriJ dd for The charge was
s snas , nnd ,bnv we ave. NOT inclined to make
;"i tr,,n anu '"e' "''' INV
Is ~ NJ ro,,d;,c tho c|urc, in Berea Tvs.
IA 10Y "a .,Sort ou,yn They did NOT
WI w. d %HnE INF because
20 as oo,' oinar ,hnt amy Further cfforts
!, see,'let .'et ca , ,n", t;n' sITnto Rereo
Mt e,, usels;s AZ ,;as Of Thessa