The keeper of the prison had been sleeping, but the earthquake awoke 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).