The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-07-01
The Philippian
Jailer
Sunday School Lesson for July II, 1903
Specially Arranged for This Paper
Specially Arranged for This Paper


Jesus Christ. and thou shalt be saved.
and thy house. Acts 1871.
TIME.-About A. d. so. 81. The same
period as our last lesson.
PLAcE.-At Philippi in Macedonia.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
|. The Story of the Frenzied Girl.
Her Mental and Physical Trouble.
Pauls Faith. Her Deliverence.-Vs.
1918. The missionaries frequently.
went from Lydia's house within the
city to the place of prayer beyond the
walls by the river side. On several
occasions they met in the streets
"a damsel possessed with a
spirit of divination." This girl gave
forth strange utterances and hysteri-
cal cries in her frenzied condition.
which her masters interpreted as they
wished.
"Cried, saying, These men are the
servants of the most high Cod" etc.
She seems to have been impelled to
tell the truth. as some demoniacs were
in Christ's time.
"But Paul, being grieved said to the
spirit" as distinct from its victim. ITO
come out of her." and go away from
her, not to return. "And he came out
the same hour"
ii. The Missionaries Thrust Into
Prison; Their Faith; Their Deliver
ance.-Vs. 1926. The masters, hav-
ing lost their source of gain. like the
makers of silver shrines in Ephesus,
stirred up a mob in the city and
dragged Paul and Silas before the
magistrates. The charge presented
was that of throwing the city into con-
fusion and anarchy by trying to con-
vert the Romans to a new religion.
The clothes of Paul and Silas we're
torn OFF and the men were tiled up TO
the triangles, and beaten with the fog
ging sticks" upon the naked body
(see Cor IL: %; / Thes, 2: p, till
their backs were torn by the merciless
blows. Why did they not escape by
means OF their Roman citizenship, as
they did the next morning? Probably
the clamor OF the mob gave them no
opportunity to be heard, and II they
protested. their protests would be dis
regarded by the excited people. Then.
all mangled and bleeding as they were.
they we're thrust into the inner prison
and their feet placed in the stocks.
Songs in the Night.-25. Paul and
Silas prayed and sang praises
And the prisoners heard them"
This was the beginning of the further
ance of the gospel through the suffer
ing of the missionaries.
&c "And suddenly there was a great
earthquake" This was the Lords
answer to prayer, whether it came by
miracle, or was timed by special provi-
dence. "All the doors were opened.
and every ones bands we're loosed."
Either by the action of the earth
quake. or by the same supernatural
power which produced the earth
quake.
III. The Conversion of the Jailer, De
liverance from Sin and Death. Through
the Faith of the Jailer.-Vs. 27-34.
The keeper would have
killed himself" because by Roman law
he was responsible for the safety OF
the prisoners, and he would avoid by
suicide the disgrace of an execution.
2S Paul cried we are all
here" Thus saving the jailer's life.
for there was no longer a reason for
his committing suicide.
30. Called for light" The Greek
is plural. lights, torches or lamps.
Fell down before Paul and Silas.'
80. Brought them out" Of the in
ner prison. into the open court. or into
his own house. What was the jailer's
motive in asking, what must | do to
be saved?" The motive was con-
seriousness of sin, Of danger. of need,
and of the goodness produced In Paul
and Silas by their religion.
81. Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved"
Saved from sin, from its punishment,
and to holmes and heaven. And thy
house" BY leading his family to the
same faith.
Nv. The Missionaries Released and
Sent on Their Ways. S5-40. The
next morning the magistrate, learning
what had taken place, sent officers to
quietly release Paul and Silas, as the
easiest way to save trouble. But Paul
knew a better way. and stood upon HIS
rights, quite as much for the good OF
the young church as for himself.
"They have beaten us openly. uncon.
demned," without trial, and legal de-
cision that they were guilty according
to Roman law. Being Romans" and
exempt from stripes and torture. Let
them come themselves and fetch US
out"
3S. "They feared, when they heard"
etc. The crime was regarded as trea-
son, and those who committed 1t were
liable TO degradation from Office. con-
fiscation of property, and perhaps
death. AS the result, the magistrates
apologized, and requested them to
leave the city, which they 6:d with
dignity, and for the peace and good
Of the infant Philippian church.
Had they remained. there might arise
useless opposition; while by leaving
Luke with the church las we learn
from the change of pronouns I'VE" to
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