The Brinkley argus., 1909-11-05
Paul a Prisoner The Shipwreck
Sus1.y l9ehssl Essscs fsr Nov !, is0
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LESSON TEXT.--Acts 27:27-2s:1o Mem cry verses g. TO- GOLDEN TEyT.-'The Lord rcdeemetn the soul ofs his scrvan.s: and none Q. 9, them that trust in him shall be deso'a'e' -Psa. 34:22.
 TfMl;.-Early in November, A. D. 6s or pJ,At,nllst. Paua's bay on the north | ess shore of the Island of Malta. in the Mediterranean sea- l50 miles southwest of the most southeriy point of Italy. cvcacs&ion and Practical Thought. What the storm 37d wreck revealed as to the characte: of Paul. the mis' sionary Hero:
 For nearly seven months we have been studying the character of Paul under great variety Of circum- stances. We have found him con- scientious, consecrated to God, de- voted to the good and the salvation or his fellow men, energetic, wise, scour- ageous. joyful, faithful, persevering, independent, unseliish, courteous, oi strong feelings, but seif-controlled, saintly and true. We have seen him chiefly at his missionary work. In this storm and wreck we see him from another point of view, connected with bodily interests, physical needs, things pertaining to ordinary human life, as man among men, not, as one has said, "a long-distance pastor but in close touch with humanity. I. The Manly Authority of Tested Character.-vs 2T-32. sThe four teenth night (v 27) from the time they left Fair Ravens in Crete, when the storm began. Driven up and down. tossed by the waves and
 borne along" fin Adria,' not the Adriatic sea, but the name then given to the central basin of the Medfter- ranean. "The shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country" 2e They cast four anchors out of the stern" Anchoring from the stern is unusual, but much the best under the circumstances, for it would leave them free to sail to either shore when daylight come. During the dreary waiting, while they wished for the day." the sailors tried to save them. selves at the expense of all the rest by means of the boat, the one visible way of reaching the shore. But Paul, noticing the plan, appealed to the centurion and the soldiers to put q stop to 1t. The sailors had the boat, but the soldiers had the weapons and the power. Paul therefore appealed to tEe soldiers, for he saw clearly that (v. 31) except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved" as had been promised. Those who went in | the boat would doubtless be drowned, and even if they reached the shore, there were none left to manage the ship. especially if the officers of the ship were among those who planned so selfshly for their own safety. The soldiers put an end to the plan by cutting the ropes and setting the boat adrift.
 Nothing was too good for Paul after that, and when at last the ship broke, and the roll call was made on land, every man, soldier, and sailor sang out clf<erilv. Here And when at last Paul got to Rome, Capt. Julius
 and his soldiers did not soon tire of
 telling to wife and child and sweet
 heart how the little preacher had
 saved them from the angry deep" II. Care for the Physical Comfort and Health of His Companions.-Vs 33-3S While the day was coming" As soon as it was light enough to find food Continued fasting" took no regular meals.
 34. T pray you take some meat food: flor your health" safety, they would need to put their bodies in the best condition to give them the strength needed to reach the shore. 35. He began to eat" To lead them on by bis example, he himself
 did what he advised them to do, 36 "Then were they all of good
 cheer" "The hearty eheerfulness fis it too colloquial phrase to say the | 'pluck?') of the apostle had communi= cated itself, as by kind of electric l sympathy, to his companions"
 l H. Paul Doing the Commonest Du. ties to Help his Companions. Acts 2S:1-s l. They knew" recognized,
 that the island vas called Melita," l" I now shortened into Malta"
 | ". Paul Heaiing the Sick.-Vs. 7-10. | Publius, the governor of the island, living not far away, entertained the
 company for three days till they had time to make other arrangements. l The father of the governor lay crit
 ically sick of dysentery Paul prayed
 for him and laid his hands on him.
 and healed him. This gave Paul an
 opportunity to preach the gospel For
 Paul had no credentials that would be
 of use, and as a prisoner suspicion would be cast upon him. So that God
 himself gave him the best credentials
 by bestowing on him miraculous pow.
 CT Paul healed many others; and as
 Christ's works of healing showed his
 kindness and love for men, and re.
 vealed the loving nature of our
 heavenly Father, so Paul's aid for the
 sick expressed the kindliness of the l COSpq1