Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-11-03
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 5.
sHlPwREcKED AT MELlTA (Maita)
-T-Acts 27:3s-2S:1o.

the soul of his servants and none OF |
them that take refuge in him shall be |
condemned.-Ps. 3:22.
Paul was at Malta three months, |
from the last of November to the last |
of February, A. D. 80. A bay on the
north shore is still called ST. Paul's
bay. Much help on this lesson can be
secured by reading Mr.. James Smiths
hook on the Voyage and Shipwreck of
ST. Paul" Sir William Ramsey's. ''St.
Paul. the Traveller" and Everyday
Men" by Robert Elliott Thompson.
|. Paul safely ashore t27 :3S-44). As
the day dawned the ship was lightened
for third time to enable them TO ap-
proach nearer to the shore. This time
the main cargo of wheat was thrown
out, heretofore having been saved as
long as possible The sailors were IA
miliar with Malta, but not with this
part where the ship now lay. DiscOv
ering small creek, they perceived 8
certain bay with beach upon which
they might run the ship. and hold 1t
without its going to pieces before they
could land. It would have been i'm
possible to escape if they ran upon the
rocks in a heavy sea. The words
"taken up anchor" ". 40) indicates
that the sailors had cast them over.
board. but attached to the ship. Now
they cut the cables and permitted
themselves not to be anchored but to
blow with the storm that they might
land upon the beach. Approaching the
inlet. where the waters nf the bay
met that of the sea, "where the two
seas met" the vessel would not an
swer to its helm. The ship probably
drew about IS feet Of water. and the
bottom stuck in the clinging mud and
clay, and the forepart began to break
away from the rear. due to the vio-
lence of the waves. Here Paul had his
most narrow escape ". 42). Not
alone was he on the point of losing
his life by the sea. but the sword hung
over his head. not that of lawful ex-
cutioner. but of a selfish murderer.
Before it was danger from the sail
ors; now it is the soldiers but tire
centurion proved true. and all of the
prisoners were saved for Paul'S sake.
It would be interesting speculation ss
to how many of those sared realized
that they were not for Paul's sake. hut
for the sake of his Savior, and how
many of them were duly grateful. On
this second stage of the journey, after
having left Caesarea with the larger
ship, there were probably 2T6 persons.
by Gods guaranty was "there shall
he no loss of any mans life" and his
word is sure. Thus it was that by va
1ious means, some perhaps good swim
mers, others on hits of board. al
safely reached the shore. Contrary
winds are the experience of life
Fierce storms frequently come ,upor
us like the hurricane.
Sometimes il is necessary to lighter
the ship of life. and frequently we ART
wrecked but it is possible for every
one to reach a safe home in port
Through the merits of Christ, our cap
tain, and the guidance of the Bible a
our chart, we may receive our Fa
ther's welcome.
II. PauPs continued service (2S Il
1O). This island is today and ha
been since 1900 under British rule. l
was then governed by the Romans
~ Comfort (vv. l, q. The tern
barbarian" does not. indicate rudenes
or uncivilized people. but merely tbs
of non-Greek birth. These people kfE
died q fire because of the cold and O
the rain. They received everyone
prisoners and soldiers like brothers
and, in the persons of Paul and Luke
they certainly entertained angels uns
wares. (Heb. 13 :2). (2) Co-operatio
". 81 The fire would need continus
replenishing Again Paul's energy
conspicuous. Though the greatest G
men then living, he was ready to
the humblest duty. Whether counse
ing about difficulty or comforting ur
der dangers he was ready to reliev
distress at all times, and thus held u
the banner of the cross and proved hi
Christian spirit Paul was willing t
do the smallest duty with the highes
motive, and turned the most commo
responsibility into an opportunity I
serve God. (3) Contest (vv. 4-6).
AS Paul gathered the roots and pJ
them upon the fire there came out
viper. prob$bly benumbed by the coli
which fastened itself upon his hant
There are now no venomOus serpent
in Malta, but this is no reason to b,
+ho@ IN %ba Y-lfo 10 Il,
sparsely inhabited. this common Fl
ropean serpent, known as the viper. {
possibly the Egyptian asp, may NJ
have been here. 1t was natural fl
superstitiOus nations to expect ths
; this was the vengeance of 60
brought upon Paul because no dout
he was murderer. Having escape
I. from the wreck, Paul could not oscar
from the sword of divine justice. an
the goddess of justice, Nemesis, IL
avenger, suffered him not to Hv
With perfect composure, doubtle,
: arising from Gods promises that Chrf
had made to his servants mark II
1S; Luke 10 ;19), and also the prOmis,
% that he should preach the gospel
Rome Paul shook the viper from h
wrist They then changed their mind
> thinking that he must be god (st
Acts 14:S-19). These things wei
I Pauls credentials so that the peop
would be more likely to listen to h
: preaching of the gospel, and ready
u receive it. az Conquest (vv 7-10). Fl
. three months Paul lived in this islam
days not of idleness. as we see fro
, these verses. Publius the governo
:. was the chief man of this island ar
Paul ministered tot the needs of h
father. Prayer is a great source
healing, but Paul also laid his han,
on him, indicating that the healfl
came through Paul.
No reference is made to Paul
4 preaching, though, of course, that
taken for granted.
His words and deeds went aloI
with his preaching.
They honored him with many no
lI