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LESSON II.—SUNDAY, JULY 9, 1893

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 26, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 33.

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LESSON II.—SUNDAY, JULY 9, 1893.

PAUL AT PHILIPPI.

[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]

Lesson Scripture, Acts 16:16-34.

  1. And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
  2. The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, which proclaim unto you the way of salvation.
  3. And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.
  4. But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
  5. And when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city.
  6. And set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.
  7. And the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.
  8. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely;
  9. Who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
  10. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening unto them;
  11. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened; and everyone's bands were loosed.
  12. And the jailer being roused out of sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
  13. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm; for we are all here.
  14. And he called for lights, and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,
  15. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
  16. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.
  17. And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house.
  18. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.
  19. And he brought them up into his house, and set meat before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.
Golden Text.—"Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. How did Satan first oppose Paul and Silas at Philippi? Verses 16, 17.
  2. What effect did it have on Paul? and what did he do? Verse 18. Note 1.
  3. What did her masters do? and why? Verse 19.
  4. What charge did they make? Verses 20, 21. Note 2.
  5. How did people and rulers regard this charge? Verse 22. Note 3.
  6. What did they do to Paul and Silas? Verses 23, 24.
  7. What did these men of God do under this sore affliction? Verse 25. Note 4.
  8. How was God's power manifested? Verse 26.
  9. How was the jailer saved from self-destruction? Verses 27, 28. Note 5.
  10. What effect did this manifestation of God's power, and the attitude of Paul, have upon the jailer? and what question did he ask? Verses 29, 30.
  11. What answer was given? Verse 31.
  12. What followed the preaching of the word of God? Verses 32, 33. Note 6.
  13. Why did he receive the apostles so generously and rejoice so greatly? Verse 34.
  14. How much is comprehended in believing in Christ? John 14:6. Note 7.

NOTES.

1. Paul being sore troubled.—This poor slave was doubtless possessed of a demon. Jesus would not allow the demon to confess him (Mark 1:34), because it was no benefit to his mission to be confessed by such characters. It was so with Paul. The people would get the idea that the spirit of his message was the same as that possessing the poor girl. He was therefore troubled, and God by his power rebuked the evil spirit. Satan's opposition to the cause of Christ is better than his friendship.
2. Trouble our city.—The real cause of the complaint was that their unjust, ungodly gains were gone; but this they knew would not stir up the people, so they appealed to their prejudice through their religious customs. Every act of the Roman almost was connected with his religion through State law; Christianity was against the Roman religion. The city was troubled because of sin. The truth of God does not make men sinners, but it shows their real condition. Then follows trouble. Those who believe find peace in the gospel; those who reject go on to greater trouble, the cause of which is within instead of in that which revealed the cause.
3. Multitude . . . magistrates.—The slave owners stir up the people, and the popular clamor moves the magistrates. Pilate would not have condemned Christ had he not feared the mad, thoughtless mob, stirred up by the priests. The magistrates probably would not have "shamefully entreated" Paul and Silas if it had not been for the people. The Congress of United States would not have committed itself to religious legislation on the Sunday question last year if it had not been for the people.
4. Praying, etc.—Note, they were stripped by the magistrates and scourged by the lictors on their bare backs, and thrown into the damp, dark, underground prison. Their feet were fast in the stocks, and the only way they could rest except in a painful sitting posture was prone on the lacerated back. They first prayed, committed themselves to God. They were his; it was his work, and he knew all about it. Then they sang praise for his goodness, for he was with them in the cell. It was a new thing to the jailers. Let praise be ever joined with prayer.
5. Do thyself no harm.—When there was no hope for the jailer, the servant of God escaped, and the guards were slain, not of God, but by the tyrant king, who in slaying them rejected God's power. At Philippi the jailer is to be saved, and the prisoner remains. It must have seemed a strange thing to the jailer,—the singing, praying prisoner, the supernatural power, and the prisoner's kindness to him. His heart was broken.
6. Baptized.—The jailer's whole household believed, because only those who believe are proper subjects of baptism. Baptism is an expression and profession of faith in Christ; it is the marriage ceremony which unites the believer with Christ. As all were baptized, all believed.
7. The Way and the Truth and the Life.—Such Christ declares himself to be; all the fullness of God dwells in him. To accept Christ is to accept him for all,—the way to God as laid down in his word, the truth of God as declared in that word, and the life of God as offered and contained in that word. He who professes to accept of Christ and yet rejects one of his commandments, one obligation of that word, rejects Christ. "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness"—right doing.