Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1921-11-30
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 4
PAUL IN MELlTA AND ROME.


LESSON TExT-Acts 2s:i-Si.
GOLDEN TENT ain ready TO preach
the gospel to you that are At Rome also.
For | am not ashamed of the gospel OF
Christ for Il II the power OF God unto
salvation to everyone that belisVeth'--
Rom. LIS. is.
REFERENCE MATERIAL.-Mark 1913;
Rom. i:S-17.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Ths End Of Paurs
Journey.
Journey
INTERMEpIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Paul living in Rome.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
--Paufs Ministry In Rome.
/. The shipwreeked Crew on MeIIta
wv. 1-l0).
Through the storm they lost their
bearings, and when they were safe on
land they learned that the island was
called MeIlta.
|. The hospitable reception Of the
natives ". y. They built fire and
made them as comfortable as possible
from the cold and the rain.
2, Paul gathering sticks for a fire ".
-. This is a fine picture OF the worlds
greatest preacher and missionary not
above picking mp sticks for fire. The
ability and disposition 10 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 1t 1t darted
ut Paul and fixed its faDgs 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
justice being meted out to him. When
they saw that be was unframed they
concluded that he was god.
4. Paul heals Publius father wv. T.
l0). AThese people are now getting
.sornS return for their Kindness. When
this M Of note was healed others
#FSO anu WIT nCuiCns ~ THE
they sponded 10 appreciation by load
ing lem down with necessary sup
plies.
II. Paul Arrives at Rome wv. 1870.
When Paul landed ut Rome Christ's
charge to the disciples was fulfilled.
After three months stay ut Melita,
Paul departs for Rome In the ship Al
eXandria, whose sign was Castor and
Po;ux At Syracuse they We're de-
layed three days, perhaps for favora-
BILE winds. at Puteoli he found breth-
ren, at whose request he tarried seven
days. At .Appill-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 lie
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 mt
I 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 q house there ANA live
( alone except that the soldier that re-
manned his guard was constantly with
/ him. Being chained to soldier was
! rather irllsome, but yet it gave him a
1 chance TO preach TO the soldiers which
he could not have had any other way.
! He reioiced in whatever circumstances
I Just so the gospel was preached.
III. PauI's Ministry in Rome wv.
! lT-31).
J. His conference with the leading
Jews wv. 17-22). lie 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 then that
though he came us prisoner, he was
not u 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 8
desire to hear what Paul could say il
! defense of a sect which was every
where spoken against The fact thai
this sect was spoken against is no evi
dence that 1t was wrong. Many time,
a thing may be wrong in mems minds
because their judgments are biased /
a thing is right in the sight Of God I
matters not what men think about it
>. Paul expounding the kingdom o
God and persuading concerning Jesu,
4 wv 23-3D. He pointed out rea
hingdom--the Messianic Kingdom viii
Jesus rs the King.