The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1921-12-01
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 4
PAUL IN MELITA AND ROME.

LESSON TEXT-Acts 28:l-S1.
GOLDEN TEXT am ready 80 Srs:cs
the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
For ! am not ashamed OF the gospel OF
Christ for It Ia the power OF God unto
salvation to everyone that betesetn.-
REFERENcE MArERIAL-Mark 1913;
PRIMARY ToPIc-rhe End Of Pauls
JUNIOR ToPIc-The End Of Long
Journey.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Paul Living in Rome.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Pauis Ministry In Rome.
l. The shIpwrecked Crew on Mslite
tvv. 1-10l.
Through the storm they lost their
bearings. and when they were safe on
land they learned that the island was
called Meiita.
/. 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 fine picture Of the worlds
greatest preacher and missionary not
above picking up sticks for fire. The
ability and disposition to serve natu-
rally in whatever way Is the evidence
Of capacity for great commissions.
3. Paul bitten by venomous ser
pent ". -. With the sticks that Paul
gathered there was a serpent. Per
haps it had already curled itself up,
for Its winter sleep, but when the
warmth Of the fire aroused it it darted
at Paul and fixed its 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 unframed they
concluded that he was god.
4. Paul heals Publius' father wv. q
10Y. 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
Pol2ux. AT Syracuse they were de-
layed three days, perhaps for favora-
Bile winds. At PuteOli 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-
manned his guard was constantly with
him. Being chained to soldier was
rather irksome, but yet 1t gave him a
chance to preach to the soldiers which
he could not have had any, other way.
He rejoiced in whatever circumstances,
just so the gospel was preached.
III. Paul's Ministry In Rome wv.
17-31). sss
I. 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
conciliate them. He told them that,
though he came as prisoner, he was
not criminal. Though his own
countrymen had SO sought his life, he
did not come with an accusation
view was that the Jews cautiously
took neutral ground, but expressed
desire to hear what Paul could say in
defense OF a sect which was every
where spoken against. The fact that
this sect was spoken against is no evil
dence that It was wrong. Many times
4 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 expoundfng the kingdom Of
God and persuading concerning Jesus
wv. 23-3D. He pointed out q real:
Kingdom the MessiaEic Kingdom with !
Jesus as the King.
Conservation.
II you want to live in this world,
doing the duty Of life, knowing the
blessings OF it, doing your work heart