The Arvada enterprise., 1921-12-01
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 1
PAUL IN MELlrA AND ROME.

LESSON TExT-Acts 2S1-u.
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 II 10 the power OF COD uh'o
salvation to everyone that oelieveth.-
Rom. lis. 16.
Rem. 1871.
PRIMARY TOPIc-The End Of Paul
journey.
Journey.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Paul Living in Rome.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Paurs Ministry In Rome.
!. The shipwrseksd Grew on Msiita
(vv. 1-1O.
Through the storm they lost their
bearings, and when they were safe on
land they learned that the island was
called Melita.
/. The hospitable reception Of the
natives ". 2). They built fire and
made them as comfortable as possible
from the cold and the rain.
9. Paul gathering sticks for fire ".
81. This is a flne 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 Is the evidence
Of capacity for great commissions.
8. Paul bitten by a venOmOus SER
pent ". 81: With the sticks that Paul
gathered there was Z serpent. Per.
haps 1t had already curled itself up
for its winter sleep, hut when the
warmth Of the fire aroused 1t it darted
at Paul and fixed Its fangs upon his
hand. The natives expected to see him
fall down dead. yet he shook 1t of.
nothing harmed. At first the natives
concluded that he was an escaped
murderer and that this was retrtbutive
Justice being meted out to him. When
they saw that he was unharmed they
concluded that he was god.
4. Paul heals Publius' father wv. Z
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
they responded In appreciation by loud
Ing them down with necessary sup
plies.
u. Paul Arrives At Rome tvv. 11-16).
When Paul landed at Rome Christ's
charge to the disciples was fulfilled.
After three months stay at Mellta.
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 Pute0li he found breth.
ren. ut whose request he tarried seven
days. At Appill-FOrum and at the Three
Taverns brethren from Rome met him.
From Pute0ii the news went before
Paul's coming. and 20 interested were
the brethren that they came more
than forty miles to meet him. This
greatly encouraged him. for which be
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. wcs
now realized. He was treated with
great leniency at Rome. for he was
allowed to hire house there and live
alone except that the soldier that re-
mained his guard was constantly with
him. Being chained to q soldier wns
rather irksome. but yet 1t gave him 4
chance to preach to the soldiers which
lie could not have had any other way
He rej0iced In whatever circumsta ances
just no the gospel WAS preached.
~. Paui's Ministry In Rome wv
17-3D.
]. His conference with the leadIn.
Jews wv. 17-22). He did not, as
usual. wait for the Sabbath day ia
speak to the Jews. lie only allowed
one day for rest. His object was to
hive II fair understanding with them
When they came he endeavored ia
conciliate them. He told them that
though he came as 4 prisoner. he was
not IL 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 y
desire to hear what Paul could say In
defense OF a sect which was every.
where spoken against. The fact thnt
this sect was spoken against IL no evi.
Hence that 1t was wrong. Many times
4 thing mny be wrong In mems minds
because their judgments are biased. II
4 thing Is right In the sight Of God |,
matters not what men think about Il.
=. Paul expOundlng the Kingdom Of
God and pcrsuading concerning Jesus
wv. 23-3D. He pointed out q real
klnghom-the Messianic Kingdom with
Jesus ns the King.