him. When he saw the doors open, he supposed that all the prisoners
had fled; and knowing how severely he would be punished on that
account, he drew his sword to kill himself. Paul knew this, and called
out loudly, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." Then the
keeper, who but a little while before had cruelly treated Paul and
Silas, came trembling, and fell down before them, and said, "Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?" He was afraid because of his sins; and
wanted to know how he might be saved from the fearful consequences of
sin. Paul's answer was, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved." Then Paul and Silas spoke to him about Jesus. He
believed, and was baptized; and the next morning the two disciples
were set at liberty.
[Illustration: THE PHILIPPIAN JAILOR BEFORE PAUL AND SILAS.]
TIMOTHY AND HIS MOTHER EUNICE.
Timothy was a youthful and earnest disciple of Jesus Christ, whom Paul
loved dearly. Paul had found him during one of his missionary
journeys, and, discovering how highly he was esteemed as a Christian,
had selected him as his assistant. Afterward Timothy became Paul's
companion in travel, and the first bishop of Ephesus. While Timothy
was at Ephesus, Paul wrote two letters to him. They are contained in
the Bible, and are called the Epistles to Timothy. In them Paul says
many kind and wise things, giving Timothy directions how to act in his
high Christian office. But Paul also speaks of Timothy's early days,
and of his mother and grandmother. These were both good women, who
loved God, and diligently studied the Holy Scriptures. The mother's
name was Eunice. She was a Jewess. The grandmother's name was Lois.
Both loved the little boy Timothy, or Timotheus as he was called, and
they sought to instil into his young mind and heart the love of God
and the knowledge of His holy Word. In our picture we see Eunice
teaching her son. She has not a bound Bible, but a manuscript, wound
round small rollers. From this she reads to Timothy; while Lois, the
aged grandmother, sits by.
Paul warned Timothy not to forget the teaching of his good mother and
grandmother; and especially to value his knowledge of the Scriptures.
Because, said Paul, "they are able to make thee wise unto salvation."
Many young folks have good mothers and grandmothers, who love to teach
them about Jesus. Are they receiving this teaching as Timothy did, and
being made wise unto salvation?
[Illustration: LOIS, EUNICE AND TIMOTHY.]
CHRIST BLESSING THE CHILDREN.
(_See_ Frontispiece).
Jesus had left Galilee, and was journeying toward Jerusalem, where He
was to be put to death. He was in the country beyond Jordan, called
Peræa, and had been speaking some very wise words to the Pharisees,
and also to His disciples, when some women came to Him, bringing
infants and young children that He might put His hands upon them and
pray for them. The disciples thinking probably that Jesus, who had so
many important things to attend to, would not wish to be troubled by
women bringing their children, rebuked them for so doing. But Jesus
loved children. So, when He saw the disciples about to send them away,
He was displeased; and, calling the disciples to Him, He said, "Suffer
little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is
the kingdom of God." Then, we are told, Jesus "took them up in His
arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." How kind was Jesus!
and how willing that the little ones should be brought to Him! And He
is the same now. May all our young readers learn to love Him, and find
for themselves how willing He is to love and bless them.
* * * * *
End of Project Gutenberg's Mother Stories from the New Testament, by Anonymous