683
November 1928
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
Approach. —The younger classes w i l l have for their lesson the account of Paul’s experiences at sea, especially in the great storm, emphasizing Paul’s hero
of professing Christians. What an ex ample to Christians to live to be of ser vice to those in distress! Here was Paul as usual making wise use of circumstances. He was carrying wood for the fire. We may often win men by being willing to do humble tasks, besides we will get. more benefit from the fire ourselves if we help to keep it blaz ing. In what a variety of places and con ditions do we find Paul! Now he is in a strange land, tossed up by the waves,; and immediately he is about his Master’s business. “There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand’: ’ (v. 3). Surely he would fall down dead. The world always expects to see the Christian fall in bad circumstances, but the trusting soul is sure to “shake off the beast” (v. 5). Those who had judged that this viper was an instrument of vengeance upon a criminal (v. 4), were disillusioned. Let’s not be in too big a hurry to pronounce judgment. Wait—the man of God will be rid of the viper, and the fact that one attacks him is nothing against him. Publius, the “big chief?, of the island, lodged the men three days (v. 7). His father lay desperately sick. Through Paul’s prayers, he was instantly healed. Naturally the news spread, and other sick ones were brought and all were made well. Thus did great blessing result from a shipwreck. Out of great calamity God brings multitudes nearer Himself and they never would be reached otherwise. The great question is : Do we, like Paul, possess that spiritual touch that does good wherever we go? If so, though we be stripped of all our possessions in a ship wreck, we may be real philanthropists. Three months later, well-supplied with gifts from the natives, all set sail in a ship of Alexandria and went toward Rome (vs. 11-14). Christians of Rome, hearing that Paul was coming, had gone forth to meet him “as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns” (v. 15). Paul thanked God for these friends who were not ashamed to own their fellowship with him, even though he came as a prisoner. God has saints in unlikely places and as a rule they soon find each other. If we have friends who are kind, let us thank God who makes them so. The centurion, strange to say, delivered all his prisoners' save one, to the captain of the guard. “Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier” (v. 16). In such a manner he had hardly expected to come to Rome, but the goal was reach ed and God’s hand had been upon him all the way. For the carrying out of God’s will, a Roman captain had torn him from the hands of murderous Jews, shipped him by horseback and boat, and now his feet stand within pagan Rome. The story of his ministry to the Jews at Rome is recorded in vs. 17-24, and sum med up in the words: “some believed . . . and some believed not.” Here the New Testament curtain falls on the story of Jewish unbelief. Probably this is the reason the history of Acts breaks off at this point. I t opens with the commission to preach salvation to the Jews at Jeru salem. The record shows how general was their unbelief and how, step by step, the Gospel spread out to the Gentiles. In Rome, the capital of the world, the un belief of the last section of the Jewish family is recorded, and then the pro nouncement : “Be it known unto you that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gen
tiles, and that they will hear it” (v. 28). The spread of the Gospel over the Gen tile world is a new chain of history still in the process of completion. —o— T eachers ’ T ips 27:13. “Soft, south winds”—look out for the serpent’s hiss in s-s-oft, s-s-south winds. Sin, sensuality, skepticism. 27:13. Don’t bank too much on the “supposes” of men. See 1 Thess. 5 :3. 27:14. Compare this storm with that of Mt. 8:23-27. The L o r d rebuked the waves, and they were calm. Here, the waves increased, and the calm was in Paul’s heart. 27:14. What was back of the tempest uous wind? See Psa. 148: 8 ; 135:7. 27:21. Be sure to compare Paul and Jonah (Jonah 1:7). 27:21-25. Paul, chiding, cheering, con fessing. 27:22. Three cheers. Cf. vs. 25, 36. 27:23. On Paul’s bold confession, see Psa. 107:2. , 27:34ig|“ Not a hair&M Cf. 1 Sam. 14:45; 2 Sam. 1.4:11; 1 Kgs. 1 :52; Lk. 21:18. 27:38. “Cast out the wheatBii, Bring out Jonah 1:5. 27:41. “Stuck fast.?? See v. 22 and cf. Isa. 44:26. 28:5. On shaking off the viper, see Eph. 6:11-18. 28:7. The poorest man on the island helping the richest. Cf. Acts 3 : 6 . 28:10. “Honored." Every workman will have his wages. See 1 Cor. 9 :11. 28:15. Compare with 2 Tim. 4:16. We should take courage from God’s promises rather than from man’s compliments. 28:24. Some won’t be convinced by the most skillful preacher. See 2 Cor. 2:16. 28:27. Men join with the devil to put; out their own eyes. 28:31. Two years condensed in one verse. He stuck to his text to the end. G olden T ext I llustration I am not ashamed of the Gospel; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom. 1:16). We cannot better emphasize t h e s e words of Paul than to quote the state ments of Dr. R. Newton: “Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ! Let the skeptic, let the wicked profligate, blush at his deeds of darkness, which will not bear the light, lest they should be made manifest, but never let the Chris tian blush to own the holy Gospel. “W h e r e is the philosopher who is ashamed to own his God of nature? Where is the Jew ashamed of Moses? Or the Moslem that is ashamed of Moham med? And shall the Christian, and the Christian minister, be ashamed of Christ? “God forbid! No, let me be ashamed of myself, let me be ashamed of the world, and let me blush at sin; but never, never, let me be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!” —o— Paul And A Storm A t Sea Acts 27:1-28:31 Memory Verse. S “I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest.” Gen. 28:15a.
ism and his reliance on God. Show the pupils that prayer was the source of Paul’s bravery, and that the same re 4 % source is open to them. Use the map a n d m a k e t h e course of the jour ney v e r y c l e a r .
(fPeloubet’s Notes.) Lesson Story. Have we been standing up for Jesus this week? Have our play mates and friends seen in our lives that we belong to Jesus? Have our tongues been bold and brave to speak against sin and wrong? (Review.) Today we have a most interesting story of Paul in a great storm at sea, and he is the same brave man, even in the great danger. Paul is on his way to Rome to appear before Caesar, and is in charge of a centurion and a number of soldiers sent along to guard them by the way. The centurion’s name was Julius, who treated Paul kind ly, letting him go to shore to visit some of his friends in that city. Now let us move our boat along showing just the places where Paul sailed. After sailing many days they reached Fair Havens, in the island of Crete, and it was now winter, the time for storms.? Paul said it would be better to stay here as there would be great danger during the voyage, not only to the ship, but also their lives would be in danger. The master of the ship did not listen to Paul, but sailed out to sea, and soon there arose a fierce wind, that beat against the.ship; and when the sailors could steer no longer, they let the ship go wherever the wind drove her. After a while they drifted near to an is land called Claudia, and they could hardly save the little boat that was fastened be hind, fsom being washed away; they wound-»cables, or chains, about the ship, underneath and all around it, to keep it from breaking to pieces. Being greatly tossed by the tempest, the next day they threw out into the sea some of the cargo to make the ship lighter and save the ship from sinking. The storm became so severe the people gave up all hope of being saved and had eaten nothing for many days. Then Paul, the prisoner, told them all this loss and suffering could have been saved if they had listened to him and stayed at Crete. (Show on map or sand table.) Then Paul begged them not to be afraid, for God had told him there would be no loss of life, but the ship would be lost. At the end of two weeks, they came near to land, and the storm was still raging. The sailors, fearing the ship would be broken to pieces, let down the little boat into the water, intending to es cape and let the others be drowned. But Paul told the centurion that except these sailors stayed in the ship, the rest could not be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the rope and let the boat float away without any one in it. Paul begged them to eat and be strengthened, for they had not eaten because they were so frightened. Now listen, boys and girls. When Paul had said this he took bread and thanked God for it before them all. Then were they all cheerful and did eat with him. There were 276 persons on the ship. Even
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