The Montgomery tribune., 1909-11-05
Paul a Prisoner
The Shipwreck

Specially Arranged for This Paper

| the soul of his servants; and none of
| hem that trust In him shall be desolate."
| -Psa. 3422
TIME.-Early in November, A. d. SO or
| 60.
| PLACE.-St. Paus 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 man among men, not, as one
has said, "a long-distance PASTOR" but
| In close touch with humanity.
l. The Manly Authority of a Tested
| Character.-Vs. 1882. "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 Mediter-
ranean. THE shipmen deemed that
| they drew near to some country"
30 "They cast four anchors out of
the STERN Anchorng 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 a
stop to it. 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 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 selfishly 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 sngry deep"
ii. Care for the Physical Comfort
and Health of His Companions-Vs.
1888. while the day was coming"
AS soon as it was light enough to find
food. Continued fasting" took no
regular meals.
"a. 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.
SO. Then were they all of good
| cheer" "The hearty cheerfulness ds
1t too colloquial phrase to say the
'pluck?O Of the apostle had communi
Gated itself, as by kind of electric
| sympathy, to his companions"
III, Paul Doing the Commonest Du
ties to Help his Companions.-Acts
2s:1-6. 1. "They knew" recognized
that the island was called Melita,"
now shortened into Malta"
w. Paul Healing the Sick.--Vs. 7-10
| Publius, the governor of the island
living not far away, entertained the
1
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
| 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.
er.' 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. 80 Paul's aid for the
sick expressed the kindliness of the
| gospel.
Casting Away Cares.