Middletown transcript., 1921-12-03
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 4
PAUL IN MELlTA AND ROME

PAUL IN MELlTA AND ROME.
LESSON TExT-Acts 2S:1-s1.
| GOLDEN TEXT am ready to preach
| the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
| For ] am not ashamed Of the gospel OF
| Christ: for it is the power Of God unto
| salvation to everyone that believeth.-
| Rom. 1:15. 16.
! REFERENcE MArER1AL-Mark 1918:
Rom. 1:s-7.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The End Of Paurs
] Journey.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The End Of Long
| Journey
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Paul Living In Rome.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Paul's Ministry in Rome.
!. The shipwreeked Crew on MeIita
wv. 1-1O).
Through the storm they lost their
bearings, and when they were safe on
land they learned that the island was
called Melita.
l. The hospitable reception Of the
natives ". p. They built fire and
made them as comfortable as possible
from the cold and the rain.
2. Paul gathering sticks for fire ".
81. This is a fine picture Of the worlds
greatest preacher and missionary not
above picking up sticks for q fire. The
ability and disposition to serve natu-
rally in whatever way Is the evidence
Of capacity for great commissions.
8. Paul bitten by venomous SER
pent ". 81. With the sticks that Paul
gathered there was serpent. Per.
haps 1t had already curled itself up
for its winter sleep, but when the
warmth Of the fire aroused It It darted
at Paul and fixed it's fangs upon his
hand. The natives expected to see him
fall down dead, yet he shook It Of,
nothing harmed. At first the natives
concluded that he was an escaped
murderer and that this was retributive
justice being meted out to him. When
they saw that he was unharmed they
concluded that he was god.
4. Paul heals Publius' father wv. T.
1O). These people are now getting
some return for their kindness. When
this man of note was healed others
came also and were healed. To this
they responded in appreciation by load
ing them down with necessary sup
plies.
II. Paul Arrives at Rome wv. 11-16).
When Paul landed at Rome Christ's'
charge to the disciples was fulfilled.
After three months stay at Melita,
Paul departs for Rome in the ship Al
exandria, whose sign was Castor and
Pollux. At Syracuse they were. de-
layed three days, perhaps for favora-
BILE winds. At PuteoA he found breth-
rem, at whose request he tarried seven
days. At Appili-F Forum and at the Three
Taverns brethren from Rome met him.
From Puteoli the news went before
Paul's coming. and SO interested were
the brethren that they came more
than forty miles to meet him. This
greatly encouraged him, for which he
gave God thanks. No one, perhaps,
ever enjoyed more close fellowship
with God, and yet NO man ever en-
joyed more and derived more benefit
from human fellowship than he. His
readiness to preach the gospel at
Rome, which he had expressed in the
Epistle to the Romans, written from
Corinth about three years before, was
now realized. He was treated with
great leniency at Rome, for he was
allowed to hire house there and Live
alone except that the soldier that re.
mafned his guard was constantly with
him. Being chained to q soldier was
rather irksome, but yet 1t gave him Q
chance to preach to the soldiers which
he could not have had any other way.
He rejoteed in whatever circumstances,
Just SO the gospel was preached.
~. PauI's Ministry In Rome (vv.
17-31).
/. His conference with the leading |
Jews Wv. 1922. He did not, as
usual, wait for the Sabbath day to |
speak to the Jews. He only allowed |
one day for rest. His object was, to
have a fair understanding with them. |
When they came he endeavored to |
c0ncfliate them. He told them that,
though he came as prisoner. he was
not a criminal. Though his own
countrymen had so sought his lite, he
did not come with an accusation
against them. The result of this inter.
view was that the Jews cautiously
took neutral ground, but expressed q
desire to hear what Paul could say in
defense of sect which was every
where spoken against. The fact that
this sect was spoken against is no evi.
dence that it was wrong. Many times
q thing may be wrong in mems minds
because their judgments are biased. II
q thing Is right in the sight Of God it
matters not what men think about It.
2. Paul expounding the kingdom Of
God and persuading concerning Jesus
wv. 23-31). He pointed out q real
Messianic Kingdom with
Jesus as the King. The Kingdom to
Paul meant a definite reign Of def
mite person, not simply an improved
state of society. This he showed from
the Scriptures. He went through the
Old Testament, carefully showing this
to be in harmony with the teaching of
the law and the prophets. This was
the method his Master had used (Luke
"a :27). His exposition lasted from
till EVENING" rather long
For SeIq-Preservation,
For self-preservation and self-pos-