Arizona republican., 1916-07-22
International Sunday School Lesson
 For July g
PAUL AT CORlNTH

Lesson Text.-Ac. IS: 1-22. Commit vs. 9, 10. CD After these things Paul depart ed from Athens, and came to Cornth; (2) And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla: (because that Claudius had command ed all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. (3) And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. (4) II And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath. and persuaded the Jews and Greeks. (5) And when Sias and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. (6) And when they opposed themselves, and blas- phemed, he shook his rament, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from | henceforth l will go unto the Gen ! tiles. CD And he departed thence | ! and entered into q certain mans i house, named Justus, one that wor- l shipped God whose house joined hard | to the synagogue. @ And Crispus, | the chief ruler of the synagogue, be- | lieved on the Lord with all his house: stIu liidIN Ol lH4 1OTlDlnldnS near ing, believed, and were baptized (9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by Q vision Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace (l0) For l am With thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for l have much people in this city. CID And he continued there a year anu six months. teaching the word of God among them.
 Tirne.--A. D. 52. Place.-Corinth.
 Exposition-i. Paul Conducting a Revival in Synagogue at Corinth, Is. Aquila and his wife Priscilla became very important members of the church of Christ (see v 26; Rom l6: ?, 4; 1 Cor 16: 19 Tim I: 19 It vas apparently, an insignificant matter that brought Paul into con- tact with them-"he was of the same trade" But God uses things just like this fer the promotion of His kingdom It would be well if We would make more of them for the same purpose. Are you merchant Make q point of getting hold of mer- chants for Christ Arc you a black ! smith? Cultivate the backsmiths. An unrigEteous edict of Claudius had driven Aquila and Priscilla out of a bitter thing. but God turned it to Rome. It doubtless seemed to them their good. to no less a good than their eternal salvation (cf Ps. 76: 10l There are men today who think it wrong, "a lack of faith to do manu- al labor or any secular work for their own support or that of their families because God has called" them tC preach If there was ever a mar about whose call to rreach there could be no possible doubt, it is this man Paul and vet he wrought witt his hands tcf. Ch. 20: 34. 25). He got right down to honest toll, and set wholesome example for the churcl and for us q Cor 2 6-12: Thes 3: 8. 9: ] Thes. ?. 9) We need manl Pauls today men so on fire with thu gospel and love for souls that thcy will not wait for some one tO prom ise them support before they vii preach, hut. if need be support them selves. Paul preached too. while h. worked To an audience of two; small audience but how those quie meetings counted for eternity. Prob ably he got pretty tired during tn week. but every Sabbath found hin at his post. Note a very expressly statement in the R. ". Paul wa constrained by the word" Paul ha meditated upon the Word of God un til it had so gotten hold of him tha he could not keep still (cf. Jer. 70 9: Ac 4 20l. It impelled him on. showed him and overpowered hir with the thought that Jesus was tn Christ, and he must tell it out. Bu the Jews were not willing to receiv Paul's testimony. They oppose themselves and hlasphemed." Th most faithful testimony will often | received in that way. That does nc prove it untrue, or that it has bee unwisely put. It simply shows th thOroughgoing badness of the heart of even religious men. But Pauls tes timony was not in vain, after all
 large and singularly gifted church gre up in Corinth. Paul. in the face all their opposition and rejection could say, I am clean" It is
 great thing for any man to be ab to say that. We con only say ths we are clean from the blood men" (Ac. 20: 26). when we can sa as Paul does in the next verse. "Fc I shrank not from declaring unto yo the whole counsel of God" (R. F).
 We do not warn men, if We do nc declare unto them the way of Tiff then their blood is upon us (Ez c3
 s. 9. But are We indeed clean frol the blood of all in our homes in ol churches. in our Sunday school class es, in our community, in the lan( beyond the sea?
 IT. Paul Conducting Revival i the Home of Justus in Cornth, 1-1 Paurs labors bore abundant frui Even the ruler of the synagogue r' ceived the truth and with him h whole house. Many others believe also and openly confessed their fait in baptism The order Of expeTien' as given in s is suggestive: hear believed, were baptized. But st there was opposition. Indeed the oI position doubtless increased wi Paurs success Then spalIe the Lol to Paul in the night" That is ju like the Lord. Paul had had a pret fard time of it in Corinthl and was
 have a still harder time, and Il Lord appears and comforts him al strengthens him for the coming trif The Lord often spoke to Paul in tn way tch. p: IS; 23: Il; 27: 23-25 So He is ready to speak to us, b we do not need visions, as Paul di for we have the written Word. " can carry the voice of God around
 our vest pocket ard have Him spe; to us whensoever we will. Listen
 the Lords message. 'Re not afraid that is one of Gods favorite mes ages God wants no frightened SC diers. There was to be opposite but Paul must throw fear to t
 winds, and speak right out the who message of God. The Lord gave Pa an a!l-sufficient reason for not bel
 afraid: ''For I am with Thee"
 course, then, Paul couldn't be afra
 All Corinth was no match for Cnri
 It is no use telling a man not to
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