Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-11-02
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 5.
sHIPWREcKED AT MELITA (MaIta)


the soul of his servants; and nonS OF
them that take refuge in him shall be
CONFERENCE.-The. 3:22.
Paul was at Malta three months,
from the last of November to the last
of February, A. d. 50. A bay on the
north shore is still called st. Paups
bay. Much help on this lesson can be
secured by reading Mr.. James Smiths
book 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 CT :38-44). AS
the day dawned the ship was lightened
for third time to enable them to APP
proach nearer to the shore. THIN time
the main cargo of wheat was Known
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 a
certain bay with beach upon which
they might run the ship, and hold It
without its going to pieces before they
could land. 1t 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 ovedG
board but attached to the ship. Now
they cut the cables and permitted
themselves not to be anchored but to
,%1 Tiki
land upon the beach. Approaching the
inlet, where the waters of the bay
met that Of the sea, where the twO'
seas met" the vessel would not an
swer to its helm. The ship proba
drew about Is feet of water, and Vhe
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 CT selfish murderer.
Before it was danger from the sail
ors; now 1t is the soldiers, but the
centurion proved true, and all of the
prisoners were saved for Pauls sake,
1t would be interesting speculation as k
to how many of those saved realized4
that they were not for Paul's sake, but Z
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 276 persohsd
by Gods guaranty was "there shall
be no loss of any mans life," and his
word is sure.
II. PauI's continued service (28:1-
10Y. This island is today and has
been since 1900 under British rule It
was then governed by the Romans
~ Comfort wv. 1, p. The term
barbarian" does not indicate rudeness
or uncivilized people, but merely those
of non-Greek birth. These people kim
died a fire because of the cold and OF
the rain. They received everyone,
prisoners and soldiers like brothers,
and, in the persons of Paul and Luke,
they certainly entertained angels UNI
wares. (Heb. 1922. (2) Co-operatiAh
". 81: The fire would need continual
replenishing Again Paul's energy is
conspicuous. Though the greatest Of
men then living, he was ready to do
the humblest duty. Whether counsel
ing about difficulty or comforting I'M
der dangers he was ready to relieyek
distress at all times, and thus held NJ
no hnn ~ tIa
Christian spirit
AS Paul gathered the roots and put
them upon the fire there came out a.
viper, probably benumbed by the cold,
which fastened itself upon his hand.
There are now no venomous serpents
in Malta, but this is no reason to be-
lieve that in the earlier days, when
sparsely inhabited, this common Eu-
ropean serpent, known as the viper. or
possibly the Egyptian asp, may not
have been here. 1t was natural for
superstitious nations to expect that
this was the vengeance Of a god
brought upon Paul because no doubt
he was murderer. Having escaped q
from the wreck, Paul could not escape
from The sword of divine justice and
the goddess of Justice, Nemesis, Ffhe
avenger, suffered him not to live
With perfect composure, doubtless
arising from Gods promises that Christ
had made to his servants mark low
Is; Luke 1o:19), and also the promises n
that he should preach the gospel IN
Rome, Paul shook the viper from his
wrist. They then changed their minds.
thinking that he must be a god fse0
Acts IA :8-19).
No reference is made to Paurs
preaching, though, of course, that is
taken for granted
His words and deeds went along
with his preaching.
They honored him with many hon.
ors, and loaded them with such things
as were necessary, such as clothing
and provisions, not of necessity, but
n II Sr,sJr i