Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-12-01
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SllrnldaySchool 3
' Lesson '
U3y REV. p. b. FITZWATER, d. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 4
PAUL IN MELITA AND ROME.
Lesson TEXT-Acts 2s:1-s1.

LESSON TEXT-Acts 2S:1-31.
GOLDEN TEXT am ready to preach
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 belieyeth.-
Rom. lis, 16.
REFERENCE MATERIAI-MarIx 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
-Paups Ministry in Rome.
|. The shipwrecked Crew on Meita
WV. 110).
Through the storm they lost their
bearings, and when they were safe on.
land they learned that tie island was
called Melita.
l.. The hOspitable reception of the
natives ". %. They built a fire and
mads them as comfortable as possible
from the cold and the rain.
2 Paul gathering sticks for fire (v.
81. This is fine picture of the worlds
greatest preacher and missionary not
above picking up sticks for a fire. The
ability and disposition to serve natu-
rally in whatever way is the evidence
of capacity for. great commissions.
3. Paul bitten by a venomous SER
pent ". 81. With the sticks that Paul
gathered there was 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 off,
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 a god.
4. Paul heals Publius' father wv. Z
10). 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 Puteoli he found breth-
ren, at whose request he tarried seven
days. At Appili-Forum and at the Three
Taverns brethren from Rome met him.
From Puteoli 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-
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 a house there and live
alone except that the soldier that re-
mained his guard was constantly with
him. Being chained to a soldier was
rather irksome, but yet it 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.
Ill. PauI's Ministry in Rome (vv.
17-3D.
/. His conference with the leading
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
against them. The result of this inter-
view was that the Jews cautiously
took neutral ground, but expressed a
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
thing may be wrong in mems minds,
because their judgments are Diased. If
a thing is right in the sight of God It
matters not what men think about 1t.
2. Paul eXpOunding the L-ingdom of
God and persuading concerning Jesus
| wv. 23-3D. He pointed out a real
kingdom-the 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 h. showed from
the Scriptures. He weat 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 MasteS had used duke
24.2T). His exposition lasted from
morning till evening-a rather long
| sermon.
For SeIn-P..eservation