p. 13 | The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 24, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 24.

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON II.—SUNDAY, JULY 11, 1897.

PAUL AND THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER.

NOTE.—Notice the grounds upon which objection was made to the teachings of the apostles, as brought to view in verses 16 to 22 of the chapter in which the lesson scripture is found. It had interfered with the financial affairs of some, had checked their worldly gains. The teacher will place the emphasis of the lesson upon the night song in the prison, or the question which the jailer asked, according to the age of the members of his class. The missionaries in this missionary journey were Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke. Commit verses 28-31.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 16:22-34, R. V.

22 "And the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to 23 beat them with rods. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to 24 keep them safely; who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the 25 stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to 26 them; 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 every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the jailer being roused out of sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself, 28 supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm; for we are all 29 here. And he called for lights, and sprang in, and, trembling 30 for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas; and brought them out, 31 and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said. Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shall be saved, and 32 thy house. And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, 33 with all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, 34 he and all his, immediately. 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 Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What action was taken by the people toward the apostles? (2) What was done by the magistrates? Verse 22. Note 1. (3) What punishment was inflicted upon them? (4) What charge was given the jailer? Verse 23. (5) In compliance with the order of the magistrates what did the jailer do? Verse 24. Note 2. (6) As the night advanced, what did Paul and Silas do? (7) Who were listening to them? Verse 25. Note 3. (8) What occurred while the imprisoned missionaries were singing? (9) How severe was this earthquake? (10) How did it afford the prisoners an opportunity to escape? Verse 26. (11) When the jailer awakened, what did he see? (12) What inference did he draw from this? (13) What was he about to do? Verse 27. Note 4. (14) How did Paul prevent this? Verse 28. (15) What did the jailer do? (16) How did he then conduct himself toward Paul and Silas? Verse 29. (17) What did he do with them? (18) What important question did he ask them? Verse 30. Note 5. (19) How did they answer him? Verse 31. (20) What opportunity did this give them for prosecuting their labors? Verse 32. (21) What act did the jailer perform which showed his change of heart? (22) What Christian ordinance was performed for him and his household? Verse 33. Note 6. (23) After his baptism, how did he treat the apostles? (24) What effect did his conversion have upon him? Verse 34.

NOTES.

1. Rent their garments off them.—The garments of the apostles, so that they were beaten upon the naked flesh. The word translated "to beat" signifies in the original to beat with rods. This is one of the three times which Paul was beaten in that manner.

2. The inner prison.—The prison was composed of two apartments, an outer and an inner. In the outer apartment, which was somewhat commodious and airy, people were herded together to await trial for trivial offenses or in punishment for such. The inner apartment was gloomy, oppressive, and filthy, and here dangerous criminals were confined in chains or in the stocks. This apartment had but one opening, a door, which, when closed, cut off ventilation as well as light.

3. Prayed and sang praises.—The stocks then used were instruments of torture as well as confinement, and the torture in these was sometimes so severe as to cause dislocation of the joints. The wounds inflicted by the rods were still undressed; and yet these Christian men, instead of complaining of their hard lot, prayed and sang praises to God. It was a wonderful object lesson to the hardened criminals of what the Gospel of Christ can do for men. It was a touching testimony under singular circumstances. Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," written in Bedford jail, is another instance of Christian fortitude under trial.

4. Drew out his sword.—If the prisoners escaped, the jailer must bear the punishment to which they were condemned. If prisoners were confined there whose lives were forfeited to the state, the jailer's life was also forfeited if they escaped. This jailer preferred to die by his own hand than by the hand of the executioner.

5. What must I do to be saved?—The question asked by every repentant sinner. But this man evidently supposed that he must do some great thing in consequence of having done so great a wrong to the messengers of God. He had also connected in his mind the power which wrecked his jail with the power accompanying the work of his wonderful prisoners. His conclusion was very likely correct. The reply of the apostles to the jailer's question is the requirement demanded of every soul that would seek salvation. This is in accordance with Christ's words in John 3:36: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life;" and in Mark 16:16: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."

6. Washed their stripes.—Notice the change of heart in the man. He gave no evidence of sympathy for them before his conversion or a desire to soothe the pains of their wounded flesh. The change of heart gave him instant sympathy with suffering; for his deed of kindness was performed the same hour of the night. Altho he had never seen Christ, and very likely had never heard of his work among the suffering, yet his first impulse after his conversion was to do the same work which Christ had done where suffering existed.