The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-09-03
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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1921.
Topic; Paul Under Persecu.
ton. Acts 16:23-34.
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REV. ]. J. DICKEY.

When Jesus commissioned His
twelve disciples to go into all the
world and preach the gospel to every
creature, he advised them Of the oppo-
sition they would encounter He told
them they would receive the same
treatment that had been accorded Him.
Paul and Silas are now realizing
the fulfillment Of this prophecy, and
Timothy and DR.. Luke, who have
Joined them are having taste Of per-
secution also. We find this advance
guard of Christian civilization in the
city of Phillip, in Macedonia - named
fer the father Of Alexander the Great
preaching the gospel. The Holy
Spirit writes conviction on a woman
fortune-tellsr, and she declares that
these men are the servants of the
Most High God. She follows these men
through the streets proclaiming this
fact. Paul turns upon her and COM
mands the spirit Of divination to
come out of her." This ended her for
tune telling and the men who had
profited by her art were angry when |
they saw "the hope of their gains was
gone" and they had Paul and Silas ar
rested, tried "for teaching customs not
lawful for Romans to receive" con-
demned, punished by beating them
with many stripes" and cast into
prison. i
AT midnight Paul and Silas prayed
and sang praises unto Cod Suddenly
a great earthquake shook the founda-
lion of the prison, the prison doors
lew open and the hands of the prison.
ers were loosed. The jailer frightened
beyond measure was about to com
nit suicide when Paul stopped him,
crying out: 1--WE are all here,p The
jailer and his household were con-
verted. 1t was a great occasion. God
was bearing testimony to the divinity
Of their commission, and His power to
save men from sin, and He is still
saving men through the preaching of
he gospel by heaven-appointed men.
From Philippi this company of evan
yelists proceed to Thessalonica, pass
ng through the large cities of Am .
,hipoils and Appolonia, perhaps be-
,ause there was no synagogue or Jews
here Here they find synagogue and
If course Jews. These Jews scatter
ID through all the cities of the Levant,
aught the great doctrine Of one God,
lgainst the doctrine of many gods
which was believed and taught by the
leathen, so that their presence and
eaching prepared the way for the gos-
,el, making sort of background for
is propagation.
The Philippi experience was note
worthy because 1t was the introduction
f the gospel into Europe, which led
0 the conversion Of our ancestors, and
0 the present great movements for the
Of the world. Nor has
he Opposition which Paul and his con- .
any encountered at Philippi ceased.
he teachers of false religions every
here oppose the teaching OF Gods
vord and so do business men when
S teachings interfere with their
rofits.
The East India Company refused to
AIRY Robert Morrison to India in
leir ships because they thought that
he introduction of Christianity into
lat country would interfere with their
usiness. Men in both heather and
hristian nations are so blinded by sin
nat they stand in the way Of their
ighest and best interests. Such is
oor, fallen, degenerate man till he is
eenewed in righteousness by the pow
r of God. ,