Evening star., 1916-11-18
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

tians. who entreated him to visit them.
The PuteoIians had long expected the
great apostle, but il is douotful
whether they had expected him TO
visit their church Il prisoner IN
chains and under police surveillance.
There is no hint Of how he spent the
week. but he had much to say to them
and they were eager to near. ne tln'e
was all too short for him ana the
church
The news Of Pauls coming travelled
to Rome during that week. Although
he was III chains. the apostle was de-
sirous of completing his trip. Al
capua, thirty three miles from Puteoli.
Paul found himself travelling on the
famous Appian way. which ran from
Brindisi to Rome. There is one in
cident that occurred on the Journey
that made Paurs trip different than
that of the usual prisoner who took
the trip to the imperial city. Two dele
cations came to meet the weary apos-
tie and acted n reception committee
TO conduct him into Rome. One party
ira veled forty-three miles and gave
Paul the hand of fellowship at the
Appian forum, while the other com
pany travelled thirty miles TO Three
Taverns, where they greeted the pris-
oner of the Lord. Their companionship
removed any feeling of depression that
might have filled the apostle s mind as
he contemplated the effect of his en-
trance into Rome as a prisoner.
like a conqueror than criminal. His
chains We're more powerful than Cae-
sar's crown. His life, labors and let
ters. inspired by the spirit of his Df-
vine Master, We're destined to over
turn not only the classical religions of
the empire, but the very throne and
empire itself. Three days after he en-
tered Rome, Paul commenced his cam
paign to capture the city by seeking
a conference with the Jewish leaders
so that he might understand their at
titude toward him personally and the
gospel Of Christ. He desired to dis
arm their prejudice by assuring them
of his loyalty to the Jewish nation. In
, his reference to Jesus. as the hope of
! Israel there is an unmistaken dec
laration by Paul to the effect that the
true faith and hope of the Jew is the
same that possessed by the Chris
tians. Israel had hoped for the COM
ing and revelation of the Messiah; the
Christian believed that the coming
and revelation were fulfilled in the
person and resurrection of Christ.
The Roman Jews attitude was more
friendly than any the apostle had
met with for years from his country
men. for they were willing to talk
over his ideals with him. They gave
statements, but they assured him that
they accepted the popular verdict
against it. AS a result of his second
conference with the Jewish leaders
Scriptures to confirm his position in
his efforts to persuade them to
cept the Lord Jesus there arose a dis
agreement among them. The failure
of all to accept Christ caused Paul to
turn to the Gentiles after he had
warned them by his citation of the
words of Isaiah concerning the har-
dening of their hearts. Their rejec-
tion was due to their own acts. Their
punishment resulted from their own
attitude toward the truth.
Luke in the closing verses of the
Acts gives brief insight into how
Paul spent his period of Roman i'm
prisonment. Dwelling in his own hired
house. his congregation came unto
him and he preached unto them the
kingdom of God. Teaching those
things which concerned the Lord Je
sus Christ. with all confidence, no
man forbiddng him"
Ramsay thinks Luke planned to
write another book SO as to complete
the life of the great apostle who
stands next to his own great Master,
but not on the same plane. All that
is known of the rest of the life of
Paul must be CLEANED from the refer
ences he makes in his epistles that
We're written during his Imprisonment
in Rome. 1t is thought that at the ex-
p1ratlon of two years he secured his
liberty and carried out his plan to
preach the gospel in Spain. He died
during the reign of Nero, as a martyr
to the cause he loved. finishing his
ministry with faithfulness and joy.