The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-09-05
Lesson for September 8
LYDIA AND PRISCILLA

LULA HlNO TnlSOSlEGA
LESSON TEXT-Acts 16:11-15: 1871
3, 24-2S.
GOLDEN TEXT-Give her of the
fruit of her hands; and let her works
praise her in the gates.-Proverbs 1881.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Meeting Out of
Doors.
JUNIOR TOPIC-A Meeting by the
River Side.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOP
deserving God in Our Daily Work.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
TC-Women in Industrial Life.
The central teaching of this lesson
does not so much concern Christian
women in industrial life as it does the
gospel of Christ finding them while in
the pursuit of their chosen callings
!. The Conversion of Lydia (Acts
16:11-15).
SO far as recorded, she was the first
convert in Europe and in a real sense
hers is a typical conversion. Observe
the steps therein.
l. Attendance at the place of prayer
". 13). There being no synagogue here,
the accustomed place of prayer was at
tAe river side. The accustomed place
today IS the church. However, the
worship of God is not restricted to set
places.
2. Listening to the preaching of the
vantage Of the opportunity afforded
him by the assemblage of this group
Of devoted women to preach Christ
to them. He was always alert and
priced highly the opportunity to tell
the people about Christ.
8. Her heart was opened by the Lord
". 14). The individual may place
himself near to the means Of grace
and the preacher may preach the Word
of God, but there is no hope of saliva
ton till the heart is opened by the
Lord John 6:44, 40. While the saliva
ton Of everyone is dependent upon
this sovereign act of God, yet we can
be sure that he is willing at all times
10 do this for those who place them
selves in the way of saving grace.
4. She was baptized ". 15). The
ordinance Of baptism follows belief in
Christ. The invariable rule in the
early church was for believers to be
baptized. While there is no salvation
in the water of baptism, yet hearty
obedience should be rendered in this
respect.
5. She brought her household to
Christ ". 15). This was as it always
should be.
6. Her expression of gratitude ".
15). She thus showed signs of the
new life in showing gratitude to those
who had been instrumental in her con-
version by constraining them to share
the hospitality of her home.
II. AquiIa and Priscilla In corinth
tActs 1919.
1. Why there ". u. They were ex-
PEELED from Rome by the cruel edict
of Claudius against the Jews.
=. What they were doing ". 81.
Though recently arrived, they had al
ready settled down to the pursuit Of
their trade, the making of tents.
3. Paul finding home ". 81. While
carrying on an evangelistic campaign
in Corinth and needing work for his
support, he found a job at his trade
in the shop with Aquila and Priscilla.
1t was perhaps as he piled the needle
that he related to his fellow workmen
the wonderful story OF his salvation.
4. Valued helpers to Paul He more
than found q home with them; he
found priceless fellow-helpers of the
gospel. This was a most devoted
couple. They are never mentioned
separately.
III. Aqula and Priscilla Instructing
ApoIos (Acts is :24-29).
Having been instructed by Paul,
they we're able not only to discern
Apollos' lack of understanding of the
gospel but to eypound to him the way
of God more perfectly. Here is a case
where an eloquent preacher and
mighty In the Scriptures was perfect
ed in instruction by a humble couple
of manual laborers.
w. Aquila and Priscilla Were Active
Christian Workers (ROm. 1873.
Perhaps because of business success
they occupied a place of prominence
in the community, but they were pre-
eminently known as Jealous workers
for Christ.
v. Aquila and Priscilla Endangered
Their Lives for Paul from. 16: ~.
They seemed at some critical time
to have endangered their lives for
Paul's sake. They were so loyal to
Paul that they are described as hay
ing been actually martyred for him.
VI. AquiIa and Priscilla Had a
SanctiHed Home (Rom. 1850.
When poverty and persecution made
the house of worship impossible, the
home Of this cody couple became the
meeting place Of the saints. A private
home may be made sacred edifice
and is SO indeed when the saints
gather there to worship God.