The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-09-11
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The iarewelIs were all spoken
There was nothing more left but TO
hasten to Jerusalem. They sailed at
once. There was no pause OF any mo-
ment. At a port named Patara they
changed To ship about TO sail Tor
Phcnicia, and without further delay
headed Tor Tyre. Paufs Tree mission
AIRY work was done His troubles were
not. His scaiarng was not. Back
over those waters he was to be carried
prisoner to face Nero. But many
months were to pass ere all that hap
pened. The first significant thing in
the lesson is in verse four.
THE LESSON.
vs.. 4. Record is made here that
they tarried ior a little in Tyre. That
was "A famous old city. 1t would afford
great pleasure to Paul doubtless TO see
the many historic points about tn
town.
But the thing Luke thought most
worthy OF record is III vs.. 1. And ind
ing disciples" That is the interesting
fact. There were Christians III that
old heather city in the year 50 a. ID.
Keep this in mind, and note as you go
on studying how they found disciples
everywhere they went. The early
Christian, were tremendously earnest.
They told the story oi Jesus in every
city. and whrcver thy told il they made
disciples Seven days One whole
week with Paul Tyre had great
privilege. But those disciples did not
comfort Paul The Spirit oi God made
them know that trouble awaited him,
Paul probably had received some such
spiritual communication. The Spirit
dill not tell these disciples to tell Paul
not To- go, But those Christians in
Tyre could not bear tn have the man
whom incy loved cudangcr himself.
So learning from the Spirit what await
ed Paul they begged him not Ia go up
10 Jerusalem Many have stumbled
over this verse II is not necessary.
Read il in some such way as this. They
said To Paul because OF knowledge
given them by the Spirit that he should
not GO
vs.. : There is II" more pathetic
verse in Paul'S story. Paintings are al
ways more or less sad Men. women,
children walked after and with Paul to
the shore. ont at the cit" lie never
went there again The prayer meeting
by the sea. They all knclt; ! know
not whether On rocky coast or sandy
beach out under the sky they knelt
and poured ont their hearts
vs.. u. Then came the lcavctaking
Sad hearts went back into the city.
One strong heart was aboard the ship
Paul was No craven Ills face was set
T.. l.. l.. 4
ter's face been so set
VI 7Dnwn along the coast the
ship went NJ ptolcmaiS they found
more disciples, What greetings those
must have been. One day they spent
ashore and then la these Christians
the word was farewell. Ptolcmais is
only lew miles north nt the promon-
tory 81 Carmel They were almost
down Ia their own country.
VI & They arrived at Cc>arra in
one day after they left Ptolcmais Luke
doe, not say how they went. 10y ship
or land They could have made the
distance easily either way
They found friend at once We
have heard III him before lie was
the man VIII" preached To- the Ethiopian
and showed him the way To- Christ
The company went Ia hi, house. He
had probably been in Ccsarca inr wears
Hospitality Was large among those
early Christians
Philip was almost equal Ia an apps
tie lie was one ~ the seven called
deac"u> usually What became u the
FIVE beside, him alter Stephen was
dead we Il" not know He was prob
ably the abc>t 81 them all after Ste
phcn.
VI q. P"ilipa family was notable.
Who the mother was Luke did not tell
But the four daughters were gifted
No doubt they took their part with
their father III speaking and teaching
in the tcSarcan church
vs. 10 Til stay in such a home
Paul cuiuycd. They remained many
days The fact could not be kept that
Paul had returned jerusalem was
only sixty miles away \ man came
from the home church To see Paul.
We have heard oi him ere now. Read
Acts II: % He was prophet who
could iortcll future events. His name
was Agabus Paul must have rejoiccd
and dreaded to &c him. He would
suspect that such a prophet would he
forecaSting his future.
vs. IT, He did He lost No time.
He went up To Paul. took his girdlc,
bound his own hands and feet rs
symbol 81 one in letters. and then
spoke. The prophecy wa, explicit.
The words ri the friends at Tyre must
have come back with force. The pro-
phccy was essentially fulfilled The
Jews did not bind Paul The Romans
did, but the Jews caused it, Note the
difference between the words OF Aga
bus and those OF the Christians in
Tyre. They did not say. Thus saith
the Holy Ghost. thou shalt not go"
Agabus did say. Thus saith the Holy
Ghost. thou shalt be a prisoner to the
Romans One message was human
based on spiritual knowledge. The
other was a divine utterance repeated
by human comprehension.
vs.. -, hen came the natural re-
suit NJ Tyre Paul's companions said
nothing But now they and the Chris
tians IN Ccsarea begged Paul not to go
on. hat was human wisdom. Had
he listened history would have been
different They are not the last ones
who have tried To dSsuadc their loved