Lesson 10

What women tried to save Jesus

during his trial?

PILATE’S WIFE

Matthew, 27: 19

The wife of Pilate had been visited by an angel from heaven, and in a dream she had beheld the Saviour and conversed with Him. Pilate's wife was not a Jew, but as she looked upon Jesus in her dream, she had no doubt of His character or mission. She knew Him to be the Prince of God. She saw Him on trial in the judgment hall. She saw the hands tightly bound as the hands of a criminal. She saw Herod and his soldiers doing their dreadful work... She saw Pilate give Jesus to the scourging… She saw him give Christ up to His murderers. She saw the cross uplifted on Calvary. She saw the earth wrapped in darkness… She saw Christ seated upon the great white cloud, while the earth reeled in space, and His murderers fled from the presence of His glory. With a cry of horror she awoke, and at oncewrote to Pilate words of warning.

While Pilate was hesitating as to what he should do, amessenger… handed him the letter from his wife, which read:

"Have thou nothing to do with that just Man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him."

(The Desire of ages, page 733)

Claudia Procla

Missionary in a crucial moment

She became convinced of Jesus’ innocence because of her dream, and she transfered a letter to her husband, so he would have nothing to do with Jesus’ death. “As he read, he trembled and turned pale, and at once determined to have nothing to do with putting Christ to death” (Early writings, page 174)

Who was the first woman to proclaim publicly that Jesus

was the Christ?

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

John, 4: 1-42

The woman had been filled with joy as she listened to Christ's words. The wonderful revelation was almost overpowering. Leaving her waterpot, she returned to the city, to carry the message to others. Jesus knew why she had gone. Leaving her waterpot spoke unmistakably as to the effect of His words. It was the earnest desire of her soul to obtain the living water; and she forgot her errand to the well, she forgot the Saviour's thirst, which she had purposed to supply. With heart overflowing with gladness, she hastened on her way, to impart to others the precious light she had received

The Desire of ages, page 192)

The samaritan

A succesful evangelical missionary

At the same moment that she became convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, she couldn’t remain silent and she went to tell her neighbours about the Good News.

They listened to her with interest and, when they talked to Jesus directly, many were converted.

Who was the first European woman who accepted the

Gospel?

LYDIA

Acts, 16: 14-15

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us

Acts, 16: 14-15

LydiaA hospitable missionary

She was a pious woman who worshipped God. She opened her heart and accepted the Gospel, being baptized.She started a church in her home.Her conversion was showed on her hospitality to the missionaries.

What roman woman instructed Apolos and helped Paul in

his ministry

PRISCILLA

Acts, 18: 1-3, 24-28

Aquila and Priscilla were not called to give their whole time to the ministry of the gospel, yet these humble laborers were used by God to show Apollos the way of truth more perfectly. The Lord employs various instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His purpose, and while some with special talents are chosen to devote all their energies to the work of teaching and preaching the gospel, many others, upon whom human hands have never been laid in ordination, are called to act an important part in soulsaving

. (The Acts of the Apostles, page 356)

PriscillaA biblical instructor

She belonged to roman nobility, being a cultivated woman. Together with her husband, Aquila, she was banned from Rome due to Claudius’ decrete; they met Paul and, because he had the same profession, they offered him job and lodging.She worked as an active part in Apollo’s instruction, standing out against the christians for her power and fervour. Her house worked as a church .

What woman is What woman is known because of known because of her alms and good her alms and good

deeds?deeds?

DORCAS

Acts, 9: 36-42

At Joppa, which was near Lydda, there lived a woman named Dorcas, whose good deeds had made her greatly beloved. She was a worthy disciple of Jesus, and her life was filled with acts of kindness. She knew who needed comfortable clothing and who needed sympathy, and she freely ministered to the poor and the sorrowful. Her skillful fingers were more active than her tongue.

E.G.W. (The Acts of the Apostles, page 107)

Dorcas

A helping missionary

She was loved greatly because of her service to community and her alms.She made dresses and tunics for needy people.Maybe she was the deacon who looked after the widows of the church .

What two women are mentioned in

Romans, 16:6 and Philemon, 2?

MARY AND APPHIA

Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you

Romans, 16: 6

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker - also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier - and to the church that meets in your home

Philemon, 1-2

Mary and ApphiaMissionaries in the shade

Mary was a hard-working sister in the church of Roma.

Apphia, Philemon’s wife and Archippus’ mother, is mentioned in relation to the church that met at her home. The advice that she gave to her son bore fruit, as we can see in Paul’s sentence: “Archippus, our fellow soldier”

Tryphena, Tryphosa, PersisMissionaries in the shade

They worked hard for the Lord. Their labour would have remained anonymous if Paul hadn’t refered to them. (Romans, 16: 12)

Who were the two Who were the two women from women from Macedonia’s Macedonia’s

church who were church who were quarrelling?quarrelling?

EUODIA AND SYNTYCHE

Philippians, 4: 2

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel Philippians, 4: 2-3

Euodia and Syntyche

Missionaries working together

There was a difference of opinion between them that couldn’t be an important matter in the church, but it could have been a reason for disturbance in the group. Paul invites them to be in harmony “with the Lord” like when they worked with him.

Only in spiritual union with Christ we can actually be in harmony with our brothers .

There is a wide field in which our sisters may do good service for the Master in the various branches of the work connected with his cause. Through missionary labor they can reach a class that our ministers cannot...

There is work neglected or done imperfectly that could be thoroughly accomplished by the help that sisters can give...

Many things connected with different churches are left undone that women, if properly instructed, could attend to. Our sisters might serve as church clerks, and the church business would not be so sadly neglected.

There are many other offices connected with the cause of God which our sisters are better qualified to fill than our brethren, and in which they might do efficient service.

(Review and Herald, the 19th of December, 1878)