The Dermott news., 1916-07-20
LESSON FOR JULY 23
PAUL AT CORINTH.
SON TEXT-Acts 1s:l-22.

| PaulS coming 10 tulS Clly utter HIS experiences In Athens is significant when we read I Cor. 2:1. 2. He found home as usual at first among his Jewish countrymen. AQuila and Priscilla were not only fellow Chris tians but fellow craftsmen (v. 3. Paul supported himself. ns Jesus did for 30 years, as carpenter. This gave opportunity to reach the people natu- rally as one of them. At the same time he set them the example of do- ing good q Cor. 10 :3l 1 Cor. 9:6-12; II Thess. 2-9). Paul did not think 1t lack of faith to do manual labor or secular work for his own support be- cause God had called him to preach. In the midst of his labors (v. 3 Silas and Timothy came to him nm Philippi and Berea. The Philipa l had sent him aid and brought new the abundant harvest of faith and love in that church. Paul was weak and sick and dejected in spirit ll Cor. 2:3), probably bodily sickness. He was also in want QI Cor. II O. As l he meditated on the word, 1t had so got hold on him that he could not 1 keep still It overpowerea him with the thought that Jesus was the Christ and thut he must tell 1t out, but the Jews were not willing to receive his testimony. "Thcy opposed them selves and hlasphemed," (v. 0. The good news these helpers brought en- couraVd him in his conflict (v. @.
 II. Paul's Compulslon. (vv. 1-lO. The opposition of the Jews did not prove his testimony to be untrue or that it had been unwisely presented, l but rather it revealed the iniquity of the hearts of the men who were the religious leaders. To their faces Paul could exclaim. II am clean" (v. 0. IL Is great thing for any man to be able to say this. and IL Is the priv ileEe of every believer (Acts 20 :26). Then We can say with Paul: II shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God" (R VI If we do not declare unto men the way of life. thc,t { their blood is upon us (Ezekiel 33:4 S, o). but are We indeed clean of the blood of all In our own homes, in our churches, in our Sunday school classes. in our communities and In the lands beyond the sea? This compul- sion disconnected POul from the false religionists of his day. Prom hence forth will go unto the Gentiles." The advantage of the house of Justus was (a) that the owner was Il prosclyte, not n born Jew. (b) The place was close to the synagogue so that his preaching would he n standing invita- ton to the Jews. and (e) Justus was evidently q Roman citizen, and Paul would gain access through him to ' the more educated people of the city. Moreover he would have greater ad- vantage of the Romans than of the Jews for protection of tlr Christian converts We do not in 1T that he left his lodgings in the hoI q of Aquila and Priscilla nor ceased lis work oe tent making
 Iauls testimony after Athens was based only on the cross q For. 2:l8O and 1t was that which turn$d 'imp,A. sinful souls into pure bridds whom hty conducted to Christ" (SecI Cor. 6;9I ID. This vision kept Paul in the city where he founded one of hIs strongest classes tvv. II. 1S).
 IlI. Paups Contest, tyv. 121O. Gallio. the brother of Scne U, listened to the charges, but threw the accusa- i tons out of court (yv. r. 15). Sir William Ramsey calls thls eCiSion the charter of Christian frce0 pm." Free dom of religious speech N IS granted over the entire Roman crf ire so far as Roman authorities wers concerned, and the door was open Paul to make his way throughout q civilized world. Thus we have furthe evidence that all of Corinth was no match for Christ The Lord had pet ole there who must he called hy Il spoken word, and Paul was the on. to speak the word The Lord only lllows us to be hurt when both we and the 1 work can be helped the eby. He i never really allows us l. be hurt (Rom. S:l3; Isaiah 5i :1D. Christian workers in this land are c nfronting the same Coriuthian evils in every great city: intemperaucc. CT ue, graft. i dishonesty. white slavery, >presslor. If the poor and other wo of L flesh It Is the business O. ever preacher and Christian 10 pray and ,ach and work and live to save men I om these evils and to convert them to right 1 eousness.
 There are also Corinthla evils in i the heart and in order to overcome them We must put on the hole ar nor of God. and be flllet With the Spirit If Christ.
 Summary: At Corinth r worked at his trade. converted his fe nv w
 men. preached to Jews ant ient i founded strong church. n ters to the Thessalonians. la 1 helpers. Silas and Timothy ac i hid from the Philippians, ce