Morgan County republican., 1909-11-04
Paul a Prisoner
The Shipwreck
Ssniay Sehssl Lesson fes New. Z, 100.
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-Acts 27:27-2S:1O. Mem
ory verses. 3. 10.
GOLDEN TEXT-"The Lord redeemeth
the soul OF his servants: and none OF
them that trust In him shall be desolato."
-Psa. 34:22.
TIME.-Early in November, A. d. 50 or
90
PLACE.-st. Pauls bay on the north
east shore Of the Island OF Malta. in the
Mediterranean sea, $50 miles southwest
Of the most southerly point Of Italy.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
What the storm and wreck revealed
as to the character 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 of
his fellow men, energetic, wise, cour-
ageous, joyful, faithful, persevering,
independent, unselfish, courteous, Of
strong feelings, but self.controlled,
sanity 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 a 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. 27-32. THE four.
teenth night" ". 27) from the time
they left Fair Havens in Crete, when
the storm began. Driven up and
down." tossed by the waves and
borne along "in Adria," not the
Adriatic sea, but the name then given
to the central basin of the Medter.
ranean. THE shipmen deemed that
they drew near to some country"
20. "They cast four anchors out of
the stern" Anchoring from the stern
is unusual, but much the best under
the circumstances, for 1t 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,
4 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 the soldiers, for he saw clearly that
". 3D 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 II 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 cheerily, 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 Comprehensive,
1888. "While the day was coming"
AS soon as 1t was light enough to find
food. Continued fasting" took no
regular meals.
81. II pray you take some meat"
food; "for 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 his example. he himself
did what he advised them to do.
36. "Then were they all OF good
cheer" "The hearty cheerfulness us
1t too colloquial phrase to say the
'pluck?D Of the apostle had communi.
Gated itself. as by kind of electric
sympathy. to his companions"
ILL., Paul Doing the Commonest Du.
ties to Help his Companions-Acts
2S:1.6. 1. They knew" recognized,
shat the island was called Melita,"
now shortened into Malta"
Nv. Paul Healing the Sick.-Vs. ITO.
Publius, the governor of the island.
living not far away. entertained the
company for three days till they had
time to make other arrangements.
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