_And when they were escaped then they knew._
TOMORROW, A REVEALER
A great many things are clearer today than they were last night.
Tomorrow will clear up some of the mysteries of today. Weird shapes of
the darkness take a matter-of-fact form when the sun rises. Doubts and
fears which oppress us du... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness; for they
kindled a fire._
GLAD SURPRISES FOR CHRISTIAN WORKERS
God has glad surprises at every turn for those who trust Him, and who
walk confidently in the path of duty. People who are called barbarous,
or sordid, or cold-hearted, are found r... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the
fire._
HOW TO KEEP UP THE FIRE
If a man wants a fire kept up, he must do his share in supplying its
fuel. It will not burn long unless it is replenished. Those who need
its warmth, “because of the present rain, and because of the... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island,
whose name was Publius._
PUBLIUS
Here is--
I. An obscure man made famous. History says nothing about Publius. As
far as the Roman annalists are concerned, such a man might not have
lived. They were busy with the Neros, Felixes,... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria._
THE JOURNEY TO ROME
1. After a delay of three months--_i.e._, when winter was past and
spring approaching--the party put to sea again. Castor and Pollux, the
tutelary deities of seafaring men, constituted the figurehead of the
ship in w... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_…The brethren … came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and The
three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage._
THE MEETING AT APPII FORUM AND THE THREE TAVERNS
The effect of this meeting on Paul requires explanation. He found
brethren at Puteoli, but no such feelings were ar... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to
the captain of the guard._
ROME AS SEEN BY PAUL
Within a circuit of little more than twelve miles more than two
millions of inhabitants were crowded. In this prodigious collection of
human beings, there were of course all the contr... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_After three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together._
PAUL’S FIRST CONFERENCE WITH THE JEWISH CHIEFS
Note--
I. His address. In justifying himself he states--
1. That his captivity was not due to any crime against Israel or its
religious customs.
2. That he had been compelled to appeal... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain._
THE CHAIN OF PAUL
1. A disgraceful monument for his blinded people.
2. An honourable sign for the faithful servant of God.
3. A precious comfort for all who suffer on account of the truth. (_K.
Gerok._)
THE CHAIN AND THE HOPE
I. The chain.... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into
his lodging._
PAUL’S SECOND CONFERENCE WITH THE JEWS
Note--
I. The interesting character of his preaching. It was--
1. Evangelical. His theme was the “kingdom of God”--the reign of
the Messiah as predicted by the prophets. Chris... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand._
JUDICIAL HARDNESS
The passage from which the apostle quotes is Ésaïe 6:1, where the
prophet received a special commission and was forewarned that he would
address his message to a hardened, unbelieving people--the effect of
the message on the peop... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent
unto the Gentiles._
THE SALVATION OF GOD
I. The salvation of the gospel is “the salvation of God.”
1. It emanates from God. It is the product of His power and wisdom. It
is the great display of His holiness and of His justice. It... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house._
PAUL’S TWO YEARS’ MINISTRY IN HIS OWN HIRED HOUSE
Here his biographer takes leave of Paul. The curtain falls on the
great actor. The greatest life has a close. These verses suggest--
I. The essence of Christianity.
1. “Those things which c... [ Continuer la lecture ]