Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-21
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

moment for a conference with the lead"
ing members of the Jewish colony. 1illS
gave him an opportunity to explain 10
them the circumstances and condltlonS
that had combined to make him prlS-
oner in Rome. It gave them the priv
ilege of meeting man whose ScholaI
ship, spirituality and service proved pc
yond any question that he was master
of the Scriptures and an original inter-
prefer of their teachings. At their re-
quest another meeting was held. inns
was largely attended and he spoke unto
them from morning until night con.
corning hts experience, "testifylng ABOUT
the Kingdom Of God and persuaolng
them concerning Jesus, both from Inc
law of Moses and from the propnets.
An eminent scholar has pointed OUT tIlaC
in view Of the warning with Whlch ne
closed, Paul may have failed TO WIN
MANY in this conference, which was his
first effort to secure in Rome new olS-
cipleS for the Lord Jesus.
Prison Ministry.
During the time that Paul was pris-
oner in Rome he used his lodgings or
home as a meeting place, where ne
taught all who came day and night tne
truths of Christianity. Ramsay, VINO
is in all probability one of the greatest
on all matters concerning the life and
laborS of Paul claims that this lmprls-
onnent could not have been more tnan
two wears. At the END Of that time, ne
would be free unless there was some per
son present to press a charge against
him. and prove the same. He took aoVan-
tage of every opportunity to present the
Gospel to every possible person. he
won converts among the soldiers as
signed to be chained To him. HlS group
of followers was expanded by the CO.
operative efforts OF the members OF tne
church in Jerusalem. He had no part
in its foundation, but during his two
years there as a prisoner he was sue
cessful In adding many to their number
including some from the most nnuen-
tial ranks in the city.
We learned something OF his work
during this period from the four prison
letters that he went TO the churcheS at
this time-Ephesians. Philippians. Co
lossians and Philemon. He recognized
that the limitations placed upon him by
his imprisonment had increased his In
fiuence for the Master There was a
general recognition of his innocence of
any crime, and that his Imprisonment
was due to his faith. He was conscious
that God was filling him with His Spirit
and this made him courageous in
speaking 20 his lord. This fact init
enced others to be aggressive for Christ
Jesus and His church. While we are
certain Of the wide influence he exerted
during his prison ministry, the name
of only one person that Paul won at
this period has come to us. Onesimus,
a slave. was won for Christ and sent
back to his owner, Philemon. in Colosse.
Paul was aided in his ministry by a
group of former helpers. Aquila and
Priscilla were among the number there
with whom he had close and intimate
fellowship Luke and AriStarchus had
accompanied him from Caesarea. When
he sent his letter to the Philippians and
to the Colossians. Timothy and Mark
were with him. Epaphroditus, the min
lister of the Philippian Church, had
brought Paul material assistance from
that church, and Anesiphorus, who was
a member of the Ephesian Church,
proved OF considerable help to the apos-
anything that would aid us in deter
mining whether it was Of a spiritual or
material nature.
After his release from prison, he
probably took a missionary journey that
carried him into Spain. His second
imprisonment did not result as favor
ably. A great cathedral marks the spot
where he died as a martyr for the faith.
A damp prison cell is shown to tourists
today as the one where he suffered in
his old age because of his loyalty to
Christ and love of the Lord Jesus. Up
to the very end of his days, Paul was
an alert winner of souls. Probably Luke
wrote his gospel and the Acts in con-
nection with Paul's defense during his
first imprisonment that teaches us to
say with him: Il can do all things in
Him that strengtheneth me-"