THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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in g o u t of h is sleep , a n d se e in g th e p ris o n d o o rs open, he d re w o u t h is sw o rd , a n d w o u ld h av e k ille d h im se lf su p p o sin g th a t th e p riso n e rs h a d b een fled. (28) B u t P a u l c rie d w ith a lo u d voice, sa y in g , Do th y s e lf no h a rm : fo r w e a re a ll h ere. (29) T h e n h e c a lle d fo r a lig h t, a n d s p r a n g in, a n d cam e tre m b lin g , an d fo il dow n b e fo re P a u l a n d S ilas (30) A nd b ro u g h t th e m o u t, a n d said , S irs, w h a t m u s t I do to be sa v e d ? (31) A nd th e y said , B eliev e on th e L o rd J e s u s C h rist, a n d th o u s h a lt be sav ed , a n d th y h o u se, (32) A nd th e y sp a k e u n to h im th e w o rd of th e L o rd , a n d to a ll th a t w e re in h is h o u se. (33) A n d h e to o k th e m th e sa m e h o u r of th e n ig h t, an d w a sh e d th e ir s trip e s ; a n d w a s b a p tized , h e a n d a ll h is, s tr a ig h tw a y . (34) A n d w h en h e h a d b ro u g h t th em in to h is h o u se, h e s e t m e a t b efo re th em , a n d rejo iced , b e lie v in g in God w ith a ll h is h o u se. a party to a violation of law, and assist ed in th e m istreatm en t of the prisoners. How reckless, inhuman, unfair and unsafe is the un regen erate man! Pop u lar opinion is as often expressed by a mad mob as by a vote of th e people. The voice of th e people has never yet been th e voice of. God. Men are easily sway ed. Sometimes they are in the rig h t b u t more frequently in th e wrong. The only safety is to be rooted and grounded in th e faith of God. (3 ) The M idnight Meeting, “And at m idnight.” The Apostles, P aul and Silas, were in prison, w ith lacerated backs and feet in th e 'stocks. Where now is th e God of E lijah? Where is “ all power” prom ised in Matt. 28:18? Joseph, Jerem iah, Daniel and many others had been per m itted to suffer for H is sake, why no t P aul and Silas? (Phil. 1:29) a ls o to su f f e r f o r his sake.” We may testify for the Lord' by lip, th a t is by preaching and teaching; and bj life, th a t is in the patien t endurance of trial. Who can say which may be th e most effective? The main th ing is to glorify God w hether it be by life, suf fering or death. The Sustaining Grace. P aul and Si las sang praises to God. -How could they do it? (Luke 6:22, 23; Phil. 2:17; I Pet. 4:14 ) “ F o r unto y o u i t is giv en in th e o f C h ri s t , not o n l y to b e l i e v e o n h
T h ese m en, b e in g Je w s, do e x cee d in g ly tro u b le . o u r c ity , (21) A nd te a c h cu stom s, w h ic h a re n o t la w fu l fo r u s to receiv e, n e ith e r to o b serv e, b e in g R om an s. (22) A n d th e U iu ltitu d e ro se u p to g e th e r a g a in s t th e m : a n d th e m a g is tr a te s r e n t oft th e ir c lo th e s a n d com m an d ed to b e a t th em . A nd w h e n th e y h a d la id m a n y s trip d s u p o n th em , th e y c a s t th em in to p riso n , c h a rg in g th e ja i l o r to k e e p th e m s a fe ly : (24) W ho, h a v in g re c e iv e d su c h a c h a rg e , th r u s t th e m in to th e in n e r p riso n , an d m ad e th e ir fe e t f a s t in th e sto c k s. (25) A nd a t m id n ig h t P a u l a n d S i la s p ra y e d , a n d s a n g p ra is e s u n to G od: a n d th e p ris o n e rs h e a rd th e m (26) A nd su d d e n ly th e re w a s a g r e a t e a rth q u a k e , so th a t th e fo u n d a tio n s of th e p riso n w e re sh a k e n : a n d im m e d ia te ly a ll th e d o o rs w e r e .. op en ed , an d e v e ry o n e’s h a n d s w e re loosed. (27) A nd th e k e e p e r o f th e p riso n a w a k - Outline: (1) The Malignity of th e Masters, vs. 19-21. (2) The M agistrates and th e Mis sionaries, vs. 22-24. (3) The M idnight Meeting, vs. 25- 34. (4) The Mandate of th e Magis- trates, vs. 35-40. (1 ) The Malignity of th e Masters, “They caught P au l and Silas.” The lesson centers in a conflict be tween th e powers of heaven and hell, and is rich in suggestive tru th . When th e m asters of th e damsel out of whom P aul had cast LESSON th e evil spirit, saw th a t EXPOSITION th e ir hope of gain was T. C. H orton gone, they were filled w ith rage. They were only interested in her as an investment. The greed for gain was as pronounced then as now. The heartlessness of man has been uniform th roughou t th e ages. The men invoked th e aid of th e au tho r ities and aroused th e antagonism of the people against th e Apostles. (2 ) The M agistrates and th e Mission aries, “And brought them to th e magis tra te s.” Philippi was a Roman colony and th e Apostles were en titled to a fair trial, h u t in place of th a t they were beaten v ith rods, w ithout any trial. The mag istra tes were Romans, b u t they became
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