Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-24
Sunday School Lesson
churches he had established in Mace
BY
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

churches he had established in Mace
donia.
Providence through his labor afilia-
tons and Jewish birth opened up a
home for him with a family OF tent
makers. A close friendship grew up
between Priscilla and Aquil. that was
strengthened by his winning them LOT
Christ. Their house became Chris
tan home and place of prayer. They
studied the prophets together, while
they worked. Whenever the opportu-
nifty offered, he showed his missionary
spirit Every Sabbath found him IN
the synagogue, where he reasoned WIN
his countrymen and the Gree an prose-
lytes about the Lord Jesus. Evidently
he did not succeed in winning many OF
the Jewish leaders to favor his teach
ings. He may have felt the influence
of the enormities of paganism that was
Shamelessly enacted before his eyes,
for he tells US that he preached the
gospel in weakness. and in fear, ana
IN much trembling. Although ne
labored faithfully, 1t was not until Slias
and Timothy came that Paul was
pressed by the spirit to preach that
Jesus was the Christ. The attitude OF
opposition and continued resistance re,
suited in an open rupture. He opened
a meeting place in the house OF Justus'
whose home was close to the Syna-
gogue. Although at the time OF nus
open break with his countrymen, ne
announced that he would preach hence
forth to the Gentiles, the apostle re-
joiced in the conversion OF CrlspuS'
whom he baptized with his own hands.
After Paul had preached in Corlntn
about year and half. his success
stirred up some of his enemies, VINO
took advantage Of the arrival OF new
proconsul to accuse the apostle OF
teaching a strange and unauthorized
religion. Gallo, the new ruler, was a
brother of Seneca, who dismissed the
case. This was in fulfillment OF IL"
vision that came to Paul to strengthen
him one night. 1t encouraged him TO
"Re not afraid. but to speak" because
God would be with him. and no harm
would come to him, for there were
many believers in Corinth. His enc
mics had expected that Gallo would
try to please them, but Paul knew In
whom he had believed and He kept His
servant that day. When the proconsuI
refused to settle religious questions, the
church was assured of legal protection
and opportunity to expand its field OF
labor. The reference to this d1stln-
guished Roman proconsul proves that
Paul was in C3rinth in 52-53 AID.
for there was found recently an in
scription at Delphi, which states that
date was the period of Gallio's pro-
consulate at Corinth.
The Corinthian Letter.
over forty years ago, during his
student days, the writer heard Henry
Drurnmond lecture upon the chapter
selected from Paul's letter to the
Corinthians to be considered in connec-
ton with our lesson. He spoke that
day upon Love. the Greatest Thing in
the World" 1t still remains as the
outstanding popular explanation of its
message. 1t will pay every reader Of
these notes to read that address Of
phasizeS the lesson that the world
needs at this moment, for that which
abides in faith. hope and love.
Faith calls for us believe in the
presence, power and purpose OF the I'M
seen God, the Creator and SuStainer Of
all life. We need to have faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ to possess the hope
of eternal life, that He came to bring
to men. Hope is the child of faith and
the incentive to life Of self-denial,
sacrifice and service for the glory of
faith and hope surpasses everything.
If We love God and our fellowmen, as
we ought. then new age free from all
forms of iniquity would dawn upon us.
bringing an era of brotherhood and
love among all men and nations We
see the evidence of its existence in
Patience, forbearance. magnanimity,
generosity, modesty, courtesy, guile
leSsneSS. trustfulness, unselfishneSs.
forgiveness. devotion to truth, and
deathless fidelity" Let us always re-
member that faith. hope and love
abide and that they will exist beyond
present life and labors, throughout
eternity, and that the greatest of these
is love.