Middletown transcript., 1916-11-18
EssoR F0R NOVEMBER /!
FROM MEIlrAsro ROME.
-

FROM n 81 TO ROME.
/ LESSON TExT-Acts 2S:I1zsi
GOLDEN TEXT am not ashamed ot
the gospel; for II is the power OF God un-.
to salvation to everyone that belIeyeth.-
Rom. 1:l6.
Ia this lesson we see somewhat Of
the human side of Paurs eharacteF.
No man appreciated fellowship more
than he. Look up Acts 1913; 1857
Cor. Z :6; Thess.. g Il, q II Tim. 4 :2I.
1. The Sea Journey wv. I1-14l,
Paul left Melita lMaltD probably Feb
ruary, A. D.. so. Ftern there to Syra-
cuse was a distance Of between so and
100 miles. From the island Of Syra-
cuse (now d part of Ita1y1 to Rhegium
was one days SAIL From Rhegium to-.
Puteoli was 180 miles. Puteoli (mOd-
ern PozzuoliJ is. in. the Bay Of, Naples,
eight miles from the modern city Of
Naples. Paul and his. band who had
done so much for the Maltese were
specially honored with many honors.
W 10.l
In these verses we have picture Of
Paul seeking out his brethren wherever
he went, thanking God and taking
courage as they came to meet with
him and converse with him. 1t Is a
picture upon which we ought to ponder
deeply and be grateful that it reveals
to us a side Of Paul little known and
appreciated
u. The Land Journey (vv. IA, 15l.
At Puteoli, Paul and his companions
began their march to 14O miles to the
city of Rome. After march Of 60
miles they reached the famous Appii
Forum, L e., "The market Of Appius."
Here Paul is met by the first dele
cation from the church at Rome, who
were waiting to welcome him and
Luke and escort them to the capital
city. A second delegation met them at
the Three Taverns, or 1.-THE Three
Shops as we would call stores in the
modern sense. These Christians had
come at no small cost, as they had to
walk 46 miles to the Appii Forum and
SO to the Three TavernS, and then
walk the same distance back to the
city. Thus it was that the sight Of
these friends cheered Paul and he
thanked God. We can well imagine
the Joy Of those souls, the communion
enjoyed by those pilgrims as they
journeyed toward the imperial city.
We can see in the letters which Paul
wrote from Rome plain signs of his
longing for sympathetic friends and can
imagine how he must have felt upon
being thus greeted on his journey. We
can also imagine something of the
blessing and inspiration which must
have come to those Christians who met
this famous soldier Of the cross and
had the privilege of escorting him to
the city. It must have inspired them
and given them new courage for the
battle that was being fought in the
great wicked city then under the DOM
ination of the Emperor Nero.
III. In Rome lvv. 1920. Having
entered into the city the centurion Ju-
lius, who had become friend of Paul.
delivered the prisoners to the captain
of the guard. This officer we are told
was a liberal4minded man. one Of the
few good people in the corrupt life Of
the city. Paul was probably first taken
to the forum, which was the center OF
imperial power and magnificence and
near which was the "house of Caesar"
(Phil. 4:22.) Paul was not sent to
prison for it was against the law. to
put a Roman into prison without g.
trial, but he was permitted to dwell
by himself In .shis own hired house,
OF course, there was a soldier who
guarded him. This was the city where
Paul had so long desired to preach the
Gospel. (Rom. :14-16.) AS in other
places, he first turned to the Jews, for
he loved his own people no matter how
much he had suffered at their hands.
He got them together that he might
preach unto them Jesus and sought to
them. He had no charges
to bring against them.
It was not pleasant for him to be
bound with chain. but it was great
privilege and honor to be there In the
cause which had brought him to the
city. He declares unto, them that It
was "for the hope of Israel am
bound with this chain" His whole
teaching and work was for the fulfill-
nent of this promise. (See Acts %
s4:15; 1868.
In Paul's preaching he always em-
,hasized that Messiah was risen
rom the dead as guaranty Of all
'ther resurrections, In his day. as in
his present one, there were those
Who spoke against this. and yet that
esurrection was to conquer the world
md to save it from moral ruin. Those u
resent had had no word out of Judea
". 21.) AT later and public meetf
ng kv. 23) there came unto him. th,k
). into his lodgings. great numbers o
Vhom Paul sounded the Gospel OF the
.ingdom and gave his personal testi-
aony He proved out, of the lax oa
loses and out Of the prophets. com-
aon ground for them all. thattthe Mes
fab had truly come, the prophecies Of
he kingdom Of God had been fulfilled,
nd that Jesus By his life and death
nd teaching had shown the Jews how
erfecfly the latter were fulfilled. This
'aul did from morning till evening,
the same line as in his
peech before Agrippa and in other
laces where he had been testifying.
ii Of his explanations and testimon-
lis centered in Jesus. It was no abb
tract mental theory for an improved
rder Of society but a definite reign Of
definite person, JeSus Of Nazareth.