The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-07-10
The Philippian
Jailer

sp.el.Ily Arranged tor mi. Pager

Suggestion and Practical Thought.
l. The Story of the Frenzied Girl.
Her Mental and Physical Trouble.
Paurs Faith. Her Deliverence.--vs.
1913. The missionaries frequently
went from Lydia's house within the
city to the place of prayer beyond the
walls by the river side. On several
occasions they met in the streets
"a damsel possessed with
spirit of divination." This girl gave
forth strange utterances and nysteri-
cal cries in her frenzied condition.
which her masters interpreted as they
wished.
"Cried, saying, These men are the
servants of the most high God" etc.
She seems to have been impelled to
tell the truth, as some demoniacs were
in Christ's time.
"But Paul, being grieved said to the
spirit as distinct from its victim. ITO
come out of her." and go away from
her, not to return. And he came out
the same hour"
IL. The Missionaries Thrust Into
Prison; Their Faith; Their Deliver
ance.-vs. 1926. The masters, hav-
ing lost their source Of gain. like the
makers of silver shrines in Ephesus.
stirred up mob in the city and
dragged Paul and Silas before the
magistrates. The charge presented
was that of throwing the city into con-
fusion and anarchy by trying to con-
| vert the Romans to a new religion.
The clothes of Paul and Silas were
torn on and the men we're tiled up to
the triangles. and beaten with the fiog-
| cling sticks" upon the naked body
| (see 2 Cor. IL: rs; Thes. 2: p. till
their backs were torn by the merciless
blows. Why did they not escape by
| means of their Roman citizenship. az
they did the next morning? Probably
the clamor of the mob gave them no
| opportunity to be heard, and II they
protested, their protests would be dis
regarded by the excited people. Then.
all mangled and bleeding as they were.
they were thrust into the inner prison
and their feet placed in the stocks.
Songs in the Nights. Paul and
Silas prayed and sang praises
"And the prisoners heard them"
This was the beginning of the further
ance of the gospel through the suffer
ing of the missionaries.
&c. And suddenly there was great
earthquake" This was the Lords
answer to prayer, whether it came by
miracle, or was timed by special provi-
dence. "All the doors were opened,
and every ones bands were loosed. ("
Either by the action of the earth
quake, or by the same supernatural
power which produced the earth
quake.
III. The Conversion of the Jailer, De-
liverance from Sin and Death. Through
the Faith of the Jailer.-Vs. 1884.
1.-The keeper would have
killed himself because by Roman law
ne was responsible for the safety Of
the prisoners, and he would avoid by
suicide the disgrace of an execution.
%. Paul cried we are all
here" Thus saving the jailer's life
for there was no longer reason for
his committing suicide.
20. Called for light" The Greek
is plural, lights. torches or lamps
Fell down before Paul and Silas.'
30. Brought them out" of the In
ner prison, into the open court, or int
: his own house. What was the jailer'f
motive in asking. What must do Il
be saved?" The motive was q con
sciousness of sin, of danger, of need
: and OF the goodness produced In Pau
and Silas by their religion.
, 81. believe on the Lord Jesui
: Christ, and thou shalt be saved
D Saved from sin. from its punishment
a and to holmes and heaven. And tn.
I house." BY leading his family to tn
q same faith.
r Nv. The Missionaries Released AM
q Sent on Their Ways. 35-40. Tn
b next morning the magistrate, learning
s what had taken place, sent officers :
. quietly release Paul and Silas, as th
O easiest way to save trouble. But Par
q knew better way, and stood upon hi
Q rights. quite as much for the good Q
the young church as for himself
They have beaten us openly, uncol
. demned,'' without trial. and legal d.
. cision that they were guilty accordin
2 to Roman law. Being Romans" an
= exempt from stripes and torture. 'L<
: them come themselves and fetch U
out"
% 3S. "They feared, when they heard
etc. The crime was regarded as tre'
,r son, and those who committed 1t wer
10 liable to degradation from office, col
70 fiscation of property, and perhaT
e death. AS the result, the magistrate
is apologized. and requested them
'e leave the city, which they did VII
dignity, and for the peace and goc
a of the infant Philippian church
OF | 4ad thar ronnainaa there might arr.