The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-01-02
Lasssn In the Intersaai2nsi se~ies
ior January =. 1Oo3-IsAal SD
siIas nj PhiliDpi.
THE LESSON TEXT.
lActs is:22-M.)

the Doors were opened, and everyone
bands we're loosed.
p. And the keeper Of the prison awak-
ing out Of his slee p. and seeing the prison
doors open. he drew out his sword. ana
would have killed himself. supposing that
the prisoners had been fled.
-. But Paul cried with a loud voice, say
ing. do thyse.f no harm. for we are al
here.
-. Then he called for light. and sprans
In. and came trembling. and fell down be-
fore Paul and Siias
30. And brought them out. and said. sirs.
what must | Go 10 be saved?
q. And they said Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ. and thou shalt be saved, and
thy house.
81. And they spake unto him the word
of tbs Lord ana to all that were IN his
house
%. And he took them The same hour Of
the night. ana washed Their stripes: and
was baptized he and ali his. straight
way.
a. And when he lad brought them into
his house. he set meat before them, and
rejoiced. believing in God with all his
house.
GOLDEN TExT.-BeIieve on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shast he
uaved.-Acts 1Gs3l.
ANALYSIS OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
Healing an unfortunate. Acts le:l6-ls
Cast into prison. -........-.....A Acts le:ly-z4.
Speaking the worct- Acts ~ se ~
Released from prison ...--.....Acts le.Ss-so
TIME.-Winter of 80 A. ID.
PLAcE.-Philippi
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Paul at Philippe When we left
our study of the beginning of the
Christian church and of missions to
turn back to the Old Testament. Paul
had made one missionary journey
and was i'm the midst of a second.
He and silas. with two younger work
ers, Timothy and Luke. had just
crossed TO Europe and begun work at
Philippi, and here we find them at
the opening of to-day's lesson.
Remember that the missionaries.
now in the midst of Paurs second
Journey, found almost no Jews in
Philipppi. and no synagogue, but
only very simple place of prayer"
down By the river, which may not
have been a building at all. There
was poor deranged slave girl IN
-Phi!ippi. who. because of her strange,
wild uttcrances. had gained great
reputation ms fortune-,eller and
oracle. They said she had Python
spirit" referring to the mythical
Python OF dragon that was supposed
to inspire the Dclphic oracle. Most
High God" and salvation" were both
common pagan expressions. In some
way her poor, darkened mind was
impressed by the earnestness of the
missionaries. and she followed them
about constantly. uttering the cry
spoken of in l6:11 When Paul, an
noyed at her calling. and plying the
girl, ordered the spirit to leave her.
she lost her power completely. and
her owners lost their fees.
Paul and siias. as the most prom
incnt of the missionaries. were ar
rested and taken before the magis-
trates by these men. simply because
they wanted to get even" The
charge made had nothing to do with
their grievance. but appealed U to
prejudice against Jews: t2) to the
| desire for law and order; CD To 10y
| atty to the Roman government.
"Rent their garments OF them"
! Stripped them for the beating. The
/ inner PRISON. A small cell with only
one opening. and that into the outer
prison. Praying and singing
hymns:" The missionaries never al
lowed the suffcrings and sorrows of
the moment To make them forget
| their JOY in the service of Christ
which was infinitely greater than
their sorrow. THE prisoners were
listening:" Picture the whole scene
to ycurself-thc loaths,me prison,
the midnight darkness. the perfect
stiffness. except for the far-away
sound of singing in the inner prison.
and then the strange rumbling in the
earth. the earthquake. the partial
wreckinC Of the prison. the panic Of
the prisoners and the rushing up to
the assistance Of the jailer of men
with lights
"What must I do To be saved" Such
serious things. .'Belicve:" This
meant. in Paul's usage. to take Christ
a. what He claimed to be. and to act
accordingly. that is. TO trust and fol-
low. and love Him always. And thy
house," Paul does not mean that for
the jailer's belief the household shall
be saved. but that belief in Christ Is
the condition of salvation for him
and them alike.
The magistrates may have been in
fuenced by further investigation
Of the trouble of the day before. or
they may have connected the earth.
quake Of the night with their treat
ment Of the two religious teachers.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
How much the Gospel has done for
those who are afflicted In mind as
well as for those afflicted i'm body!
The Gospel helps one to endure
sufferings even with songs.
IL Paul and Silas had mot been cast
into prison, the iailer and his house.
told woHld not have known Christ.
The Gospel SO changes the hearts
or men that cruel jailcrs become kind
and gentle.
Those who pray without seasing
rejoicc evermorc, fer they live in the
sunshine Of Gods favor.