Evening star., 1925-12-12
Sunday School Lesson

AOOOOxx
their vessel entered one of the hand
soonest harbors in the world. 1t Is
doubtful, as Paul surveyed that mag
nificent harbor. that he ever dreamt
| that the beautiful hill on his right
with it's vines and green covering was
sleeping volcano. He never thought
that the fair cities at the base OF
Vesuvius would in a few years become
like the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah,
and that the Jewish princess who
had so lately conversed with him In
his prison at Caesarea would find her
tomb in that ruin with the child that
she had borne to Felix
When his vessel touched the docks
| at Puteoli where "the Syrian Orentes
first disgorged Its crowds on the way
to the Roman Tiber," Paul may have
found some Of the brethren from the
church there to welcome him. At
their request and with the approval
of julius he arranged to visit them
and the brethren from Naples, which
was about two miles away, for week
before proceeding to Rome. This gave
time to forward work to the brethren
In Rome that the great apostle had
| reached Italy as a prisoner. They ap-
pointed committees to welcome Paul.
| who met him as he journeyed over
the famous Appian Way. The first
reception committee greeted Paul ut
the Appian Forum, after travelling on
| foot 43 miles to welcome him. At the
| Three Taverns, which was 13 miles
closer to Rome, another company ex-
tended to the distinguished prisoner
the right hand of fellowship. The
companionship of his brethren cheered
Paul, who probably did not quite un-
derstand the effect of his entering
Rome, even as military prisoner.
He entered through Drussus Arch as
a conquering hero into the imperial
city.
Preaching In Rome.
| Three days after he reached the
city the apostle started his campaign
to win the great world center by sum.
moning the leading rabbis of the
seven synagogues to a conference. He
! tried to disarm their prejudice by as
suring them of his loyalty to the Jew
ish faith. In his reference to "the
hope Of Israel" the apostle again de.
clares the unity Of the faith OF the
| Christian with the religion of the Jew.
Israel had hoped for the coming and
revelation of the Messiah, the Chris
tians believed that in the person and
resurrection of Jesus there was q full.
fillment of Israel's hope. The Jewish
| leaders were interested in Paul's state
ments and arranged for another inter
view. although they pointed out &c
him that the sect with which he was
identified was everywhere spoken
against.
In the second interview Paul met a
larger number of the Jewish leaders
They showed d friendly spirit toward
him personally. but were divided con
cerning his views Of prophecy abou,
the Christ. Having failed to impress
his teachings upon the Jewish leaders
whom he loved, the apostle turned to
the Gentiles. 'eaching those things
which concerned the Lord Jesus Christ
with all confidence, no man forbiddine
him" His ministry went on in his
own private house for two years
when upon the presentation Of prob
ably the Gospel Of Luke and the Acts
In the apostles defense. the first i'm
prisonment of Paul came to an end
None OF his Jerusalem accusers had
appeared against him and two Roman
| officials had declared that he was not
guilty OF any crime and could have
| been given his liberty, If he had not
made his appeal to Caesar. which
| caused him TO enter Rome as a pris
oner. Paul was as proud of his chains
as many woman Is of her finest
bracelet.
Probably the emperor paid no atten
tion TO the apostle, whose entra ance
into Rome and preaching may have
escaped his attention. When Paul
entered Rome he had started an in
| f1uence that became so strong in the
army of the empire that Constantine
appealed to II in his efforts to obtain
the throne 400 years later. Paul's
ministry in Rome was not confined &c
n iv7Cr tr. IL Ntz. Ia.
| was able to keep in touch with the
churches scattered throughout the
empire through the visitors that came
annually to Rome from the ends OF
the earth. During this Imprisonment,
the apostle is believed to have penneo
at least the Epistles to the Ephesians
Colossians. Philippians and Philemon
He may have sent others letters, bu,
tney nave not come down to us in the
Bible
| Ramsay believes that Luke planned
to write another book that would
cover the work of the statesman and
pioneer OF modern civilization from,
the close Of this lesson up to his dea th
as a martyr under Nero. because his
reference to Paul in Rome was sc
brief. If the other view, which is
hndlng more advocates daily, Is taken
Acts was written in defence of Pau
| -, vas ~ iieeu VI tHe othel
work that would carry the record OF
the apostles words and work up tC
the hour when as a martyr he fin
ished ministry with Joy and faithful
| ness. He was. not ashamed of his
gospel and he saw the evidence of its
power in his ministry. while histor,
has acclaimed the fact that Paul, who
entered Rome prisoner, because OF
his loyalty to Christ. is one of the
worlds greatest men, witnessing By
the influence of his life upon the af
fairs of men to the power of the gos
pei OF Christ Jesus: for 1t is the
power of God unto salvation to ever,
one that believeth."