The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1921-11-03
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 4
PAUL IN MELITA AND ROME.
LESSON TExT-Acts 2S:1-3l

Lesson TExT-Acts 2S:1-31.
GOLDEN TEXT am ready to nreacb
the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
For l am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ; for it is the power of God unto
salvation to everyone that believeth.-
Rom. 115. 10.
REFERENCE Observation-Disclosures 1918;
Rom. 1:S-17.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The End of Paurs
Journey.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The End of a Long
Journey.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Paul Living in Rome.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Pauls Ministry in Rome
!. The Shipwrecked Crew on MsIita
wv 1-10l.
Through the storm they lost their
bearings, and when they were safe on
land they learned that the island was
called Melita
1. The hospitable reception of the
natives ". % They built fire and
made them as comfortable as possible
from the cold and the rain.
?. Paul gathering sticks for fire ".
-. 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 ". 81. With the sticks that Paul
gathered there was a serpent. Per-
haps it had already curled itself I'D
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 off,
nothing harmed. At first the natives
concluded that he was an escaped
murderer and that this was retributive
justice being melted out to him. When
they saw that he was unframed they
concluded that he was a god.
4. Paul heals Publius' father wv. Z
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
Poliux, 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-Forum and at the Three
Taverns brethren from Rome met him.
From PuteoH the news went before
Paups 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-
ioyed 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 a house there and live
alone except that the soldier that re-
manned his guard was constantly with
him. Being chained to a soldier was
rather irksome, but yet it gave him
chance to preach to the soldiers which
he could not have had any other way.
lie rcjoiced in whatever circumstances,
just so the gospel was preached.
III. PauI's Ministry in Rome wv.
17-3D.
/. His conference with the leading
Jews wv. 17-22). 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 fair understanding with them.
When they came he endeavored to
conciliate them. He told them that,
though he came as a prisoner, he was
not criminal Though his own
countrymen had so sought his life, 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
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
aence that it was wrong. Many times
thing may be wrong in mems minds,
because their judgments are biased. If
thing is right in the sight of God it
matters not what men think about it.
:, Paul expounding the kingdoms of
God and perSuading concerning Jesus
CIV. 23-3D. He pointed out real
NlngdOm--the Messianic Kingdom with
Jesus as the King.