The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-11-13
Sabbath School
NOTES BY X. s. HOLMES.
Lesson VII. November ~, 1909.
PAUL. \ PRISONER IN ROME.
(Acts IS: II-3I.)

1t is OF no special interest that Paul
remained III Malta Tor three months.
He could do nothing else until COED
weather and a ship made departure
possible. Ii is perfectly safe to say his
stay was oi value 10 the people, Tor he
told the story oil Jesus over and over.
Paul simply could not keep still lie
was a living illustration oil his own
preccpt. instant III season, ont oil
season.
The main feature OF interest in this
lesson is that Paul reached Rome. 1t
had long been his desire. lie would
have chosen To go as Tree man. Tod
chose TO have him go As a prisoner.
No matter how he went. lie entered
Rome somewhere about the year OF
A. ID. 1t was springtimc. Nero was
emperor There had been many not
able things i'll connection with Roman
history. This incoming OF Paul was
the most notable event OF all, for he
took with him the cruciiicd, risen,
glorilicd Christ. No other man had
done that as Paul did it.
The greatest figure i'll Rome in the
years 62, and 90, and o. a. ID. was not
Nero, was not Seneca. Ncro'S teacher,
but Paul, a Jew, a prisoner, living in
secluSion, and chained much OF the
time TO a Roman soldier. Nero is re-
membcred now only III cXccration. a
few literary people, teachers and schol-
ars know what Seneca said, but the
masses do not know even who he was.
But in three continents the name
Paul" is a household word, and one
OF the nobcst structures IN the me-
tropotan city OF the world bears his
name.
The greatest cathedral in Rome is
called ST. Peters. On Peter as pri-
mate the Roman Catholic Church has
buildcd herself, but she cannot with
historic accuracy point to the hour
when Peter entered Rome. The
Scriptures do not say he was ever
there. But Paul was there, and we
know when he went and how long he
staid Rome would have persisted by
the hands al barbarlauS but ior that
Christ whom Paul carried with him
into the city
Therefore. this lesson is ui the very
highest Importance God was prcpar-
ing spot lar from Jerusalem to be
the center from which Christian III
fluercc was Ia radiatc. Paul himself
did not know the scope Oi this long
imprisonment But we can sec what
il gave him: t. Unrcstraincd uppor-
tunity To- preach Christ in private con.
versatiun, with all who would call
upon him. , Absolute safety from
persecution, by Jewish enemies ).
support As prisoner OF state IN such
degree rs would enable him 10 live in
the most economical way t. Exemp-
ton from the bond, and suifcrings
which were the part % imany prisoners.
The journey from Malta To Rome
was interesting ior one reason only.
From point To- point they found Chris
tlan disciple, II shows how men
were moving everywhere in those times
even though travel Was slow and dlti-
cult II shows how Christians had OBJ
tanned iooihuId almost everywhere.
They were doubtless Gentle Chris
tianS. No doubt many were IN Rome
who had heard Paul IN Nsia and in
Greece Commerce between C"r:uth
and Rome VA, large Paul had ere
this written his great cpiStlc to the
Romans Paul did not plant Chris
tanity there. but he gave the Christ
such presentation then "a, he had
meyer had before
PaulS first work at Rome Was char
actcriStic at him lie sought first to
interest his own people. Jew first,
then Gentle was his law Look ut
Nss. I72r Here Paul states his own
case to the Chief Jew, ui Rome lie
lost no time \itrr three day, he was
above dtu summon the Jews. His
declaration was very simple II was
probably more explicit than this re-
cord, We know that he told the truth.
He made no apology lie wanted la
place himself in right attitude before
his own people. lis only otfcusc Was
belief III the hope al Israel. and that
was, the Messiah should at some time
come with that Paul rested his case.
The answer must have chccrcd him.
NsS. 2i-22. II was an answer To the
point. We have had no letters from
Jerusalem concerning this. We have
heard no charges against thee, We
are anxious To hear what you will ,ay
about this new religion For this We
must say. This sect is everywhere
spoken against
VS., - This is the same old story.
We know what Paul said Many gath
cred oil a set day, and Paul preached
As he had moved Felix and Fcs,us he
moved them MI day long he talked.
He lett no proof uncitcd He based
all his claims OH the Law and the Pro-
phctS. II was not a sermon, but a
conference They questioned He an
Swercd That was the first prcScnta-
don to the Jews OF Rome oi Jesus
Christ rs their Saviour Or al least it
was the first by Paul Ii the Epistc
10 the Romans had been written be
fore this. as is probable, it was writ
ten not to the chief Jews. but to Chris
tians who had gathered into Rome
from many places. and who had iorm-
ed thee hurch in Rome.
VS., - The effect was rs always
Some believed. some doubted.
That was one ni the sad things about
the Gospel Still some doubt, and the
some are . great multitude. II made
Paul's hear, heavy They heard him
speak set one more thing. YOU have
turned from the Gospel Prophecy
said you would Now this Gospel win
be preached Co. the Gcutilcs and they
will hear
VS.. 39-3r Nnl Paul dwelt there in
his ow" lsna .N1 whole years The