The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-12-01
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 4
PAUL IN MELlTA AND ROME

LESSON TEXT-Acts 2S:l-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 1t is the power of God unto
salvation to everyone that believeth.--
REFERENCE MATERIAL,-Mark 1913;
Rom. 1:S-17.
PRIMARY ToP1c-The End of Paurs
Journey. #aG
JUNIOR TOP1C-The End of q Long
Journey l
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Paul Living in Rome.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
--Paul's Ministry In Rome
I. The shipwrecked Grew on Melita
wv. 1-10).
Through the storm they lost their
bearings, and when they were safe or
land they learned that the island was
called Melita.
1. 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 Us 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 rs the evidence
Of capacity for great commissions.
8. Paul bitten by venomous ser
pent ". 81. With the sticks that Paul
gathered there was a serpent. Per-
haps it had already icurled Itself up
for Its winter sleep, but when the
warmth Of the fire aroused it 1t darted
at Paul and fixed Its fangs upon his
hand. The natives expected to see him
fall down dead, yet he shook 1t on.
nothing harmed. At first the natives
, concluded that he was an escaped
murderer and that this was retributive
I Justice being meted out to him. When
: they saw that he was unharmed they
concluded that he was god.
A. Paul heals Publius' father wv. 4
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
0 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.
q After three months stay at Melita.
/. Paul departs for Rome in the ship ALI
II exandria, whose sign was Castor and
l. Pollux. At Syracuse they were de-
sr layed three days. perhaps for favora-
" BILE winds. At Puteoli he found breth-
n. rem, at whose request he tarried seven
N days. At Appili-F Forum and at the Three
y 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
3 than forty miles to meet him. This
z greatly encouraged him, for which he
gave God thanks. No one, perhaps,
IS ever enjoyed more close fellowship
re with God, and yet no man ever en-
tn joyed more and derived more benefit
er from human fellowship than he. His
readiness to preach the gospel at
ae Rome, which he had expressed in the
he 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
n allowed to hire house there and live
Nv alone except that the soldier that re-
mained his guard was constantly with
en- him. Being chained to soldier was
e, rather irksOme, but yet it gave him a
k chance to preach to the soldiers which
ay he could not have had any other way.
He rejoiced in whatever circumstances,
- just so the gospel was preached.
Ill. Paul's Ministry In Rome (vv.
a. 17-3D.
/. His conference with the leading
lel Jews wv. 1920. He did not, as
OF usual, wait for the Sabbath day to
A. speak to the Jews. He only allowed
one day for rest. His object was to
q, have a fair understanding with them
~ When they came he endeavored to
ie conciliate them. He told them that
"a though he came as prisoner he was
w not criminal Though his own
se countrymen had so sought his life he
did not come with an accusation
nd against them. The result of this inter
of view was that the Jews cautiously
e's took neutral ground, but expressed q
IN desire to hear what Paul could say in
as defense Of a sect which was every
~ where spoken against. The fact that
this sect was spoken against Is no evi
= dence that 1t was wrong. Many times
IT, thing may be wrong in mems aainds
o. because their judgments are biased. L
Of thing is right in the sight Of God 1
matters not what men think about 1t
M. -. Paul expounding the kingdom O
ID God and persuading concerning Jesu
(vv. 23-31). He pointed out rea
kingdom-the Messianic Kingdom will
Jesus as the King. WAL