The Brinkley argus., 1909-10-15
Paul a Prisoner Before Felix
Sunday School Lesson for Oct. IT, 1909 Speciality Arranged for This Paper

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 LESSON TExT.-Acts 2f Memory verses 25 26
 GOLDEN TEXT. .-"Hcren do exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offensc toward God. and toward men. Acts 24:l6.
 TIME.-Spring of A. D. s7 or 5S and the two succeeding years.
 PLhCE.-Cesarea on the Mediterranean, the Roman capital of Judea.
 Suggestion and Practical Thought.
 Closing Scenes in Saint Paul's Life.
 1. The Journey Toward Rome by Sea from Malta.-Vs. 11-14. In our last lesson we saw Paul and his com panions ministerinS to the sick in Malta, and receiving many honors from the grateful inhabitants. They had lost everything in the wreck, anl were in need of many things. Early in the spring they embarked in another ship from Egypt, named the Dioscuri. or The Twin Brothers or Caster and Pollux who were tie twin brothers.
 The First Landing was made at Sy. racuse, the capital of Sicily, 80 tc 100 miles sail from Malta. Here they remained three days. From Sy- racuse they made a wide circuit, which required frequent tacking or alteration of the ships course on ac- count of head winds, and "by good seamanship "were able to work up to Rhegium.
 The Third Landing was at PuteoH, the seaport of Rome, though 150 miles away.
 Here they remained seven days.
 II. The Journey by Land, and the Reception by the Roman Christians Vs. 15-22. First. From Puteoli they marched 33 miles before they reached the famous Appian Way. the great military road from Rome to southern Italy.
 Fifty-seyen miles farther along this road they came to Appii Forum, i.e, the Market of Arpius.
 Here the first delegation of Roman Christians met Paul and welcomed him to the city.
 Second. Three Taverns. (V. 15) And The three taverns,' thirteen miles beyond Appi Forum, on the Ap- plan Way, and 30 miles from Rome Here second delegation met Paul and his companions.
 Whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage" The words imply that Paul had been depressed in spirit
 Paul Encouraged When Paul was met and greeted by the Christians oe Rome, his heart was lifted out of it's depression.
 Reception at Rome. Paul was de- livered to the authorities at Rome, but (v. 16) he twas suffered (permit- ted) to dwell by himself' fin his own hired house. with soldier that kept him."
 III. Pauls Life and Work at Rome -Vs. 23-31. First Paui's Work Through the Soldiers. The soldiers which guarded Paul were from the imperial guard" the flower of the Roman army.
 Second. His Work Among the Jews By mutual arrangement on an appointed daytime Jews came to his lodging, ard Paul expounded the gos- pei of the kingdom, (v. 23) "persuad ing them concerning Jesus" out of the Scriptures acknowledged by all as true.
 26. Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand They should hear the words with the outward or gans of hearing, but they would not understand the real meaning and pow CT of the words. And seeing ye shall see, and not perceive"
 27. Their eyes have they closed" They themselves refused to hear and see, because they were unwilling to make the change in their lives which would be required. And should be converted" should turn round, and go back again." as God was anxious they should. And I should heal them" of their sin and dullness and disobedience. They did not wish to be healed.
 Third His Work Among the Gen tiles. 30 For two whole years" Paul received all who came to This own hired house.
 31. Preaching the kingdom of God, ," it's truths revealed, it's motives, it's righteousness, its usefulness, it's hopes, it's immortal life, all of which come through the Lord Jesus Christ the everlasting Saviour, the Son of God and the Son of Man
 Fourth. Work; Epistles to the Churches. Four epistles, those to Philemon, Ephesians, Colossisns, and the Philippians were probably writ ten during this captivity: Titus and Timothy after his release, and Tim othy during his second imprisonment, not long before his martyrdom.
 After several years of effective la bor, Paul was again apprehended, and brought second time as a prisoner to Rome. Tradition places his impris- onment in the dungeon of the Manner tine prison. This was the Bastila of the old world" Here Jugurtha. the African king who warred against Rome, starved to death (B. C. 104).
 The Acts were probably completed at this time.
 ". The Closing Years of Paurs Life. The Acts closes with the two years of Paui's imprisonment But it is generally believed that his death was several YearS later EuSehius the