THE CONVERSION OF LYDIA.-V. 13 —15. "Some days" passed in doubt and prayer; the Sabbath dawns; at the "ninth hour," the first hour of prayer, many women pass the gate of the city. They are "devout women;" no synagogue in the town, so out by the river-side for worship. The missionaries follow. A little roofless erection protects the worshippers from public gaze, these mostly women, Gentiles by birth, but proselytes to the Jewish faith. These river-side services probably continued several Sabbaths; much courtesy and attention; at last a conversion, that of Lydia. She appears to have been a widow, who, for the support of her children, had betaken herself to trade, left Thyatira, and came to Philippi, not to wear purple, but to sell it. This dye was very valuable, and was said to be obtained from the shell of a fish. In what words is her conversion described? Paul's words opened the ears of Lydia, the Lord opened her heart, and Jesus passed in on the wings of His own mercy. An act of profession and an act of hospitality followed the conversion of Lydia, ver. 14, 15.

PERSECUTION.-V. 16-24. Who was the cause of it? ver. 16. An evil spirit was at work in the mind of this poor girl. She was a slave, and her masters made money by her fortune-telling. What did she say? why? To get some of the honour that was beginning to surround the Apostles; perhaps thought them as mercenary as herself, and hoped for a reward from them for her assistance. Way of salvation, was a phrase which she had probably picked up from the addresses of the missionaries. The masters seize Paul and Silas, and hurry them off to the market-place. There the military rulers or magistrates held court. The accusation was soon told, ver. 20, 21; would be enlarged upon. No Roman could profess a religion which had not been sanctioned by the State. Political, local and religious prejudices were aroused; the mob took the law into their own

hands, and fell upon the Apostles. The Roman officers of police, under order, tore off the robes of the Apostles, and inflicted many stripes with the rods which were always at hand. As the sun went down, the two confessors found themselves in a dark dungeon, with their feet ironed to a block of wood.

A DOUBLE DELIVERANCE.-V. 2534. Sounds strange in a prison are heard; not cries and lamentations, but songs! Surely the other prisoners would say, 'How happy those prisoners are in the inner cell, just hear how they are singing!' What happened? ver. 26. An earthquake might open doors and shoot back locks, but could not undo fetters. That was miraculous. What did the gaoler think? ver. 27. Recall what Herod did when Peter escaped, ch. xii. 19. So this gaoler was prepared to kill himself to save himself from being killed! Who are these men ? More truth than the gaoler thought in the words of the poor soothsaying girl, "these men....show unto us the way of salvation." What did he? ver. 29, 30. Brought them out; so this was the first deliverance. But another deliverance follows. What question did he put? Paul's answer shows in what sense the question was put; the poor gaoler was anxious for the safety of his soul. So Paul gave a brief reply, and then explained it; he spake the word of the Lord, not only to the gaoler, but also to his family, hastily gathered in some apartment of his house. How does the scene close? ver. 34. Brightness, light and joy! How God can alter things!

REFLECTIONS.-1. Wisdom and mystery of Providence.-Paul must not preach in Mysia, but finds his first convert at Philippi, in a lady from that country. Lydia leaves home for trade, and finds salvation.

3. Attention only will not suffice for salvation.-Jesus knocks at the ear, that we may open the heart.

4. How noble are the fruits of a true religion, endurance and joy; illustrate by the conduct of the Apostles.

5. Jesus only, through faith, can give us this religion. See ver. 31.

JULY 5.

QUESTIONS.-Where did the Apostles commence their work? Who was the first convert? What led to the persecution of the Apostles? What were the events of that persecution? How did the Apostles endure it? How were they delivered? What led to the gaoler's conversion? What did his question imply! How did Paul answer it?

INTRODUCTION. Our Reflections are occupied by an aspect of character which is always of importance to the young men of our senior classes, and the youths below them. But the sketch there found may be altered for younger classes into this form: how noble it is to be good and brave; good and happy; good and free!

ROMAN CITIZENS.-Acts xvi. 35-40. Our last Lesson concluded with the kindliness of the converted gaoler. The missionaries appear to have returned to the inner cell. Gaoler perhaps sent reports to the magistrates. In the morning, the sergeants or lictors appear: is there to be a renewal of the scenes of yesterday, terminating in the death of those whom he now loves so much? Let those men go.-The magistrates, regretting their conduct, alarmed at the earthquake, conciliated, perhaps, by the gaoler's report, have sent this message. The gaoler takes the lictors into the cells, and the message is delivered. But the prisoners let fall a word that startles both gaoler and lictors: Romans.

"Tis a glorious charter, deny it who can, Which breathes in the words, I'm an Englishman."

Roman law conserved the dignity of the Roman citizen. He might not be beaten without formal trial; and when condemned to stripes, they must not be inflicted in public. Paul and Silas had both obtained the freedom or citizenship of Rome. They claim an official release, ver. 37, 38. Why afraid? Because they had rendered themselves liable to an action for damages, and if convicted of injustice to Roman citizens, would lose their rank, and become disqualified for the office of magistrate in the future. So here they are in the inner cell, supplicating the prisoners to depart for the sake of public peace.

The

The Apostles, being neither obstinate nor revengeful, comply. The brethren, -so the sojourn of a few weeks has been wonderfully productive. Epistle to the Philippians is evidence how large and worthy a Church had been founded. Luke remains behind to care for the Church; and the Church itself, whose first member was a woman, furnishes a noble sisterhood of helpers, Phil. iv. 3.

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THESSALONICA.-Acts xvii. 1. The we " of ch. xvi. 16, is changed for "they;" that is, Paul and Silas; Luke, the narrator, being left behind in Philippi. "The Jew first," was Paul's great principle of action; and for the reason that there were few Jews and no synagogue in the two large towns. through which they must pass, they only halt at each for a night's repose; at Amphipolis, thirty-three miles away, and at Apollonia, thirty miles further. A journey of thirty-seven miles on the third day brought them to Thessalonica. A great city, this; like Liverpool, Bristol or Hull, for situation or trade; like Dublin, for dignity. Here resided a Roman proconsul, the representative of the Emperor. If the Gospel can get firm hold here, its tidings may travel far and near. So it did, and as two thin lips blowing a breath at the narrow mouth-piece of a trumpet awaken hill and dale with echoing sound, so says St. Paul to these Thessalonians, "from you sounded out the Word of the Lord..in every place," 1 Thess. i. 8. That success is still in the future; the missionaries enter this strange city; who will receive them? Perhaps they brought letters of introduction. At any rate they find a host and a home, Acts xvii. 5.

THE MINISTRY AT THESSALONICA.V. 2-4. Paul found a home; next

work; for in his youth he had learned the trade of a weaver of tent-cloth, 2 Thess. iii. 8. Then, work for the Lord this he found on the Sabbaths and in the synagogue, but not there only; the house of Jason, when the weaving was over for the day, would be a school for Christ's scholars. What did he preach in the one place and talk about in the other? ver. 3. Three things,-Christ must suffer; must rise again; Jesus is this Messiah. How did he preach? 1 Thess.i.5. Some Jews were converted,-a multitude of proselytes, many devout women; many others also who up to that time had been worshippers of idols, 1 Thess. i. 9, 10.

REFLECTIONS.-The conduct of Paul at Philippi is an exemplification of true manliness.-Notice,-1. Endurance, -a manly suffering of wrong for right's

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sake. 2. Joy, the songs in the prison; how different from the hard, apathetic endurance which the heathen used to admire! 3. Independence,-Paul's assertion of his rights as a Roman citizen. The same spirit will assert itself in opposition to the power of seductive example or the tyranny of scoff and derision. 4. Forbearance,-Paul's courteous compliance with the request of the magistrates. Might most mighty when mingled with tenderness.

QUESTIONS.-What message did the officers bring? How did Paul receive it? What effect had Paul's message on the magistrates? What had been the result of Paul's labours in Philippi? Who was left there? What sort of a place was Thessalonica, politically and commercially? What was Paul's first work on entering there? How and where did he begin his ministry? Who else besides Jews and proselytes were added to the Church? How does this appear?

SUMMARY.-Our last Lesson left Paul, Silas and Timothy at Thessalonica: our present Lesson opens with their flight from that city and some weeks of happy toil at Berea. Then we accompany Paul in a midnight escape, his fellow-helpers being left behind at Berea. With him we enter Athens, and in our Notes content ourselves with doing what he did, looking round and endeavouring to realise the effects of the scene. Matters of discussion between the Apostle and others will most aptly fall in with the exposition of the Speech which forms the subject of our next Lesson.

PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS.— V. 5-9. Compare 1 Thess. ii. 1416. Probably for some months St. Paul continued his work in the city; the Church grew to such dimensions that it required organisation, so teachers and officers were placed over it, 1 Thess. v. 12. Now let us see how this work was interrupted. The Jews were again agents in the persecution; probably had received information from Philippi. They took unto them-hired by money-lewd fellows,―roughs, abundant in large towns, worst and most numerous in sea-ports; gathered a company,-organised a riot. The Church took the alarm, would not risk the lives of the missionaries: think themselves strong enough to stand alone, so the three (who?) are concealed. Their courage is put to the test. Certain brethren find

themselves in a Roman court of justice, charged with an offence which Roman law visited with the penalties of confiscation and death, viz., riot and treason, ver. 6, 7. Magistrates who treated such crimes lightly, exposed themselves to punishment by imperial authority, hence the fear expressed in ver. 8. But Roman justice takes more time at Thessalonica than at Philippi. The charge is entered on a tablet, and suspended on the walls of the court. Jason and his friends have to give bail to " come up, when called for."

A QUIET SPOT AND NOBLE PEOPLE.V. 10-15. What became of Jason and the rest? That they were "called up" and suffered severely is evident from 1 Thess. ii. 14-16; that they bore their sufferings nobly is further evident from 2 Thess. i. 4. Berea, to which the Apostles fled, was a small town beyond the route of ordinary travel, and out of the jurisdiction of the magistrates of Thessalonica. As was the place, so were the people it secluded, they thoughtful: more noble than those in Thessalonica: these impulsive either in their conversion to Christianity or their opposition to it; those cautious, investigating before committing themselves to either position. How was this shown? Christianity fears nothing from such a temper; gains by it, see ver. 12. These Jews were like blood

that God ruled the world by subordinate agents; that the souls of good men became heroes in an after-life, and that the souls of the wicked became absorbed in lower forms of animal life. These sages must have more definite statement. The populace supported the sages: for when Paul preached "Jesus and the resurrection," the common people, incapable of separating religion from polytheism, thought he was proclaiming a new god and goddess, ver. 18. The sages and populace hurried him up by the steps from the market-place to the space above for the sake of a more convenient hearing. Let us notice the truths which Paul introduced into his speech :

1. "THERE IS ONE GOD."-V. 22, 23. What did the Athenians mean by the inscription in ver. 23? These Greeks had heard from returned conquerors and merchants, as well as from the Jews in the midst of them, of a God Whose nature was spiritual and mysterious, Who "concealed Himself;" and there stood the altar, an ignorant tribute to the Jehovah of Paul's ancestors. That mysterious God was the only true God. 2. GOD MADE ALL THINGS: where is this taught? 3. GOD IS NOT CONTAINED IN EARTHLY TEMPLES: beautiful houses; many busy servants; the supply of returning wants, these belong to men; not to the Great Creator, ver. 24, 25. 4. GOD IS THE GOD OF PROVIDENCE: ver. 26, 27, 28 first part. God is the Maker of all men; He decides how things are to go on; He has planned the countries of the world, like the

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rooms of a large house, and determined by whom they shall be occupied ; and in all His plans there is but one purpose, the salvation of man in the knowledge of God. 5. IDOLATRY IS A FALSEHOOD AGAINST GOD, ver. 28, 29. 6. FORBEARANCE FOR THE PAST, FORGIVENESS NOW, THROUGH CHRIST.-In what way does Paul refer to Christ? ver. 30, 31. Repentance, judgment, resurrection are the last thoughts.

THE RESULTS OF THE SPEECH.-V. 32-34. Derision was the only weapon raised against Paul, whilst thoughtful men said, We will hear thee again. Two converts are mentioned by name: one a magistrate of long standing, and a member of the supreme court whose sittings were held upon the hill where Paul had preached. The other, a lady, probably of rank.

REFLECTIONS.-1. God gives courage. -Paul needed courage on Mars' Hill; this needed by the young, Ephes. iii. 16.

2. God gives wisdom.-How can I speak of Jesus? When? To whom?

3. Note the limitation of human intellect.-An English child with his Bible is richer than an Athenian sage.

4. Remember what Paul said about Jesus, ver. 30, 31.-Jesus is our Saviour; will be our Judge. We must repent and turn to Him.

How

ATHENS TO CORINTH. V. 13. "Athens to Corinth," is very like "Oxford to London." The journey was from learning to wealth, art to trade; a select to a busy population. Find out its position on the map; two ports, one, Cenchrea, receiving the traffic from the coast towns of Asia; the other, Lechæum, at the other side of the Isthmus, discharging it westward to Italy, Rome and the regions beyond. Greece was divided into two parts, having no connection save through the Isthmus of Corinth, so all land-borne traffic, as well as sea-borne, passed

through the town. These ports bore some resemblance to the position of Hull and Liverpool. If the Gospel should get a firm hold upon Corinth, the words used of Thessalonica may be applicable again, 1 Thess. i. 8. Great numbers of Jews were there always; now more than usual. Why? Two of these fugitive Jews are mentioned: who? Why did Paul join them? The craft had its origin in Paul's city of Tarsus; it consisted in weaving cloth for tents, the material for which was the hair or wool of the Syrian goat. Paul shared their toil with the shuttle