Outline Studies in the New Testament for Bible Teachers Part 14

4.) =Mysia= (Acts 16. 7). 5.) =Lydia.= 6.) =Caria.= These three provinces together formed the district known as "Asia" (Acts 2. 9; 19. 10).

(_c_) Three on the Mediterranean Sea, beginning on the west. 7.) =Lycia= (Acts 27. 5). 8.) =Pamphylia= (Acts 13. 13). 9.) =Cilicia= (Acts 21. 39).

(_d_) Five in the interior. 10.) On the north, =Galatia= (Gal. 1. 2). 11.) On the east, =Cappadocia= (Acts 2. 9). 12.) On the southeast, =Lycaonia= (Acts 14. 6). 13.) On the southwest, =Pisidia= (Acts 13.

14). 14.) On the west =Phrygia= (Acts 16. 6).

IV. We notice the twelve most important =Places=.

1. =Alexandria=, the commercial metropolis of Egypt (Acts 18. 24).

2. =Jerusalem=, the religious capital of the Jewish world (Matt. 4. 5; Luke 24. 47).

3. =Caesarea=, the Roman capital of Judea (Acts 10. 1; 23. 23, 24).

4. =Damascus=, in the southern part of Syria (Acts 19. 3).

5. =Antioch=, the capital of Syria, in the north (Acts 11. 26; 13. 1).

6. =Tarsus=, the birthplace of St. Paul, in Cilicia (Acts 22. 3).

7. =Ephesus=, the metropolis of Asia Minor, in the province of Lydia (Acts 19. 1).

8. =Philippi=, in Macedonia, where the gospel was first preached in Europe (Acts 16. 12).

9. =Thessalonica=, the princ.i.p.al city in Macedonia (Acts 17. 1; Thess 1.

1).

10. =Athens=, the literary center of Greece (Acts 17. 16).

11. =Corinth=, the political capital of Greece (Acts 18. 1-12).

12. =Rome=, the imperial city (Acts 28. 16; Rom. 1. 7).

Other lands and places are referred to as Elam, Parthia, and Media, all east of the Euphrates river (Acts 2. 9). Ethiopia, south of Egypt in Africa (Acts 8. 27), and Babylon on the Euphrates (1 Peter 5. 13); but these places are outside the general history of the church.

Hints to the Teacher and Her Cla.s.s. Eleventh Study

In teaching this lesson let the conductor sketch the outline of the map upon the board and drill upon the seas; then draw and name the islands; then drill upon the provinces, etc. Review until the lesson is learned by all the cla.s.s.

The student should search all the references and be able to state the events connected with each locality.

It would be well for the student to find additional Scripture references to all the localities.

Let each student practice the drawing of the map at home, until he can draw it without copy. Then, in presence of the cla.s.s, let one student draw on the blackboard in presence of the cla.s.s the boundary lines of the continents; or one the boundary line in Asia; another in Europe; and a third in Africa. Then let another draw and name the islands; and others locate and name the provinces in Asia, Europe, and Africa; and finally let the twelve cities be located and named.

Blackboard Outline

I. =Se.= Med. Gal. De. Bl. aeg. Adr.

II. =Isl.= Cyp. Cre. Pat. Sic. Mel.

III. =Prov.= 1. =Eur.= Thr. Mac. Gre. (Ach.) Ill. It. 2. =Afr.= Af.-Pr. Lib. Eg. 3. =Asi.= Ar. Jud. Phoe. Syr. 4. =As. Min.= (_a_) Pon. Paph. Bit. (_b_) Mys. Lyd. Car. (_c_) Lyc. Pam. Cil.

(_d_) Gal. Cap. Lyc. Pi. Ph.

IV. =Pla.= Alex. Jer. Caes. Dam. Ant. Tar. Eph. Phi. Thes. Ath. Cor.

Ro.

Questions for Review

What difference is to be noted between the map of the Old Testament world and that of the New? Name six seas in the New Testament world. State the location of each of these seas. Name five islands in the New Testament world. Give the location of each island.

Name in order the provinces in Europe in the New Testament world. Name the provinces in Africa. Name the provinces in Asia, exclusive of Asia Minor. Name the provinces of Asia Minor bordering on the Black Sea. Name the provinces on the aegean Sea. Name the provinces on the Mediterranean Sea. Name and locate each of the interior provinces. What city of the New Testament world was in Africa? What cities were in Judea and Syria? What cities were in Asia Minor? What cities were in Europe?

TWELFTH STUDY

The Synagogue

Before beginning the history of the Early Church, we must study one inst.i.tution which formed an important link between the Old Testament and the New; and more than any other inst.i.tution prepared the way for the gospel throughout the Jewish world. That inst.i.tution was the synagogue.

I. =Its Origin.= The synagogue arose during the captivity, when the Temple was in ruins and the sacrifices were in abeyance. In the land of captivity the people of G.o.d met for worship and fellowship, and out of their meeting grew the synagogue, a word meaning "a coming together." It is believed that the inst.i.tution was organized as a part of the Jewish system by Ezra, B. C. 440.

II. =Its Universality.= There was but one temple, standing on Mount Moriah, and only those who journeyed thither could attend its services.

But the synagogue was in every place where the Jews dwelt, both in Palestine and throughout the world. Wherever ten Jewish heads of families could be found there a synagogue would be established. There were four hundred and sixty synagogues in Jerusalem; and every nationality of Jews had its own (Acts 6. 9).

III. =The Place of Meeting.= This might be a building erected for the purpose, or a hired room, or even a place in the open air (Acts 16. 13).

This meeting place was employed for secular as well as religious uses.

Courts were held in it, and sentence was administered (Acts 22. 19), and sometimes a school for teaching the law was held in it. Thus the synagogue became a center of local influence.

IV. =Its Arrangement.= Every ancient synagogue contained:

1. _An_ "_ark_," which was the chest for the sacred rolls, and stood in the end of the building toward Jerusalem.

2. _Chief seats_, elevated, near and around the "ark," for the elders and leading men (Matt. 23. 6).

3. A desk for the reader standing upon a platform.

4. Places for the worshipers, carefully graded according to rank, the Gentile visitors having seats near the door of entrance.

5. A lattice gallery where women could worship without being seen.

V. =Its Officers.= These were:

1. Three _rulers of the synagogue_, who directed the worship, managed the business details, and possessed a limited judicial authority over the Jews in the district (Mark 4. 22; Acts 13. 15). One of these was the presiding officer, and called "_the_ ruler."