The Arvada enterprise., 1921-09-01
Lesson FOR SEPTEMBER 4
FROM sH,L,pP, TO ATHENS.

tHOM PHIllPPl TO ATHENA.
LESSON TExT-Acts ls:s; I7:lk.
GOLDEN TExT-Ths angel Of the Lord
sncampeth round about them that fear
him. and delivereth them.-Psalm M:7.
REFERENCE AATER1AL-I and II
Thsss.
PRIMARY ToPIc-God Takes Care Of
Paul and 6ilas.
JUNIOR 1oPIc-A Midnight Experience
In Philippi
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Courage in the Face Of Persecution.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Preaching with Prosecutions.
!. Paul and Silas In Jail (vv. 1929.
/. The occasion (vv. 1924. When
the demon was cast out Of the maid
her supernatural power was gone |;
therefore. the source Of revenue was
dried up. This 80 exasperated her
owners that they had Paul and Silas
arraigned before the magistrates on a
false charge. Those men ought
to have rejoiced that such
blessing had come to this poor girl.
They cared more for their gain than
for her welfare. This Is true of the
Ubiquitous crowding together of the
poor In unsanitary quarters In our ten
ement districts and the neglect Of pre-
cautions for the safety OF employees
In shops and stores, Without any
chance to defend themselves they
were stripped and beaten by the angry
mob and then reinanded to jail, and
were made fast In stocks In the inner
prison.
2. Their behavior In Jail ". 25).
They were praying and singing hymns
to God. 1t seems quite natural that
they should pray under such condi-
tions. but to sing hymns under such
circumstances is astonishing to all who
have not come into possession Of the
peace Of God through Christ. Even
with their backs lacerated and smart
Ing. and feet fast in stocks compelling
the most painful attitude in the dun
geOn darkness Of the inner prison,
with morrow before them filled with
extreme uncertainty. their hearts went
up to God In gratitude.
3. Their deliverance ". 10Y. The
q great earthquake which opened the
prison doors and removed the chains
from all hands.
u. The cenvsrslsn Of the JaiIsr
wv. 27-S4).
The jailer's sympathy did not 60 out
very far for the prisoners. for after
they were made secure he went to
sleep. The earthquake suddenly
- aroused, MIN. He was about to kill
himself. whereupon Paul assured hin,
that the prisoners were all safe. This
was too much for him. What he had
heard Of their preaching and now
what he had experienced caused him
to come a. humble Inquirer after
salvation. Paul clearly pointed out
the way to be saved-"Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ" The word 'be-
iieve" means to yield to and fully obey.
The proof that the jsiier was saved Ii
threef0ld:
I. Transformation from brutality to
tenderness.
8. His whole household baptized.
~. The Maetstratss hvmbisd (vv.
hj-4O).
The earthquake brought fear upon
the magistrates. They gave leave for
the prisoners to ~. but now they re-
fuse to xO. claiming that their rights
A. Roman citizens have been violated.
and demand q public vindication. Paul
was willing to suffer for Christ's sake.
hut he used the occasion to show them
that perxecutinK men who preach the
gospel In an OfYenSe against the law
Of God and man.
w. Prsaeh'nS In ThsssalsNiea (vv.
i7-lv).
At Thessalonica he found open
hearts. He followed his usual custom
Of going frst to the Jew ". ~. After
witnessing to the Jews he went to the
t;sntiles. Concerning the Christ he
affirmed:
!. ut hehO0ved Christ to suffer"
". 81. No palmer teaching IL to he
found anywhere than the suffering Of
Christ Elsa. hS).
=. The resurrection Of Christ from
the dead ". 81.
3. The kinEship Of Jesus ". y.
The result of this preaching WAS
that many Greeks. xoine Jews believed.
v. prssehInS In Dsrsa wv. 1919.
His method here was the same ~
at ThessxlOnics. lie entered the Jew.
lsh synagogue and preached Jesus unto
them. The Beresns received the Hos-
pel with xlud hearts. Two striking
things were said about them:
!. They received the message gladly.
=. They searched the Scriptures daily
for the truthfulness Of their preach.
ting. All noble minds have ~ M
opennexs to receive the truth; (?) \
balanced hcsituncy: t3 q subsection
sO rixhtful authority.
k.A~AaAlA- A.