The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-05-24
THE APOSTLES IN PRISON.

SECOND QUARTER-LEssoN X.
June 4, 1876. Acts v: 1926.
THE APOSTLES IN PRISON.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"If any man suffer as
Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him
glorify God on this behalf. II Peter iv: l6.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK.
S.-Acts v: l2-26,-The Lesson.
M-Isaiah xl: 1-17.-Tke Church Comtorted
after Trials.
T-Acts xii.-Pster Dellcered
W-Acts xvi: l6-40.-triS0nerS at Ptilppi
R-Acts xxiii-PaL Rescued
FIJI Tim. iv-Paul the Prisoner.
S-Dan. vi.-DaRlel Rescued
Prosperity of the Church after ITS calamity.
vs.. 1916.
The calamity that had befallen the Church
in the sin of Ananias and Sapphire, and the
judgment by which it was purified, did not
hinder its prosperity. But the awe produced
by this sad occurrence, and perpetuated by
the miracles wrought by the apostles, led to
the awakening and salvation Of many, and
to state of general prosperity in the Church.
The outpOuring of the Spirit on the day of
Pentecost, the first assault upon the Church
by its enemies, and the judgment of God
upon its hypocritical members, were all alike
followed by seasons of ingathering, and of
special grace manifested in the Church.
V. II. Miracles followed the death of An,
anias and Sapphire, as they had the other
events above alluded to, (i: 43. iv; 80, 49,
The number of disciples had now become very
large, and perhaps for this, as we'll as for
other reasons, their regular place of assem-
bly, was in SolOmOn's porch. Not simply on
one occasion, but from day to day, "they
were all with one accord in SOlomon's porch. l"
1t is better to understand CALI as including
the body of believers, than to limit it to the
apostles. The parenthesis which in the Eng
lish version begins in this verse and includes
the 18th, and in some editions of the original
contains only the 18th verse, had better be
omitted altogether, as it breaks, rather than
helps the connection of thought.
". 10. Sand of the rest burst no man
join himself to them; but the people magni-
fed them" The same feeling of ave, caused
by the judgment and the miracles, that pre-
vented "the rest" Il. e. "the people not be-
lievers) from Joining the number of the disci
Piles, and mingling with them in their assem-
blies in Solomon's porch as if belonging to
the Christian body, led them to magnify the
disciples. As spectators they admired and
praised the disciples, bat they burst not, with
unregenerate hearts like Ananias and Sap
phira, profess to be of their number.
V. IA. This however did not hinder. geuu
inc professions of religion. Whilst whole
some awe kept hypOcriteS away, it only in
creased the number of true believers; who
"were the more added to the Lord" "Wo
men" are here first mentioned among the
converts, showing that the loss of Sapphire
as well as of her husband was more than
made up by the multitudes brought into the
Church.
V. 10. SIN so much that they brought
the sick, etc. The parenthesis in our yer
sion and some others is designed to connect
this statement with that of '. u, that many
miracles were wrought. Those who include
only v. II in the parentbesis, make this
statement dependent on that Of Y. -, the
people magnifed them 10 so much
that" etc. But if the parsnthesis be alto
gether omitted as not called for, the bring
ing of the sick to be healed is consequence
of all that is related in the description of the
church, but especially Of there being mul
t;tude II converts. Tae increase of believ-
'ers led to the increase O; 1rglie.stsHs tar
healing. The nearest 4pgrOach tc the poserI
given Peter in healing BY means Of his shad
ow, that is mentioned m our Lords minis
try, is his healing by touch of the hem q
his garment, Mark vi: 90.
V. IS. GA multitude out of the cities
round about, is not as strong an expression
as the original Greek. Literally it is, "the
multitude of the surrounding cities, the
mass of their population. The preaching
and miracles of the apostle had excited such
an interest among the people ffequenting
the temple, that the whole surrounding cOun-
try came to Jerusalem with their sick, and
those afflicted with demons, all of whom were
healed.
The apostles Imprisoned and Released, VS..
1920.
V. II. The High Priest was no doubt
Annas. Gv: 6.) "Rose up" is to be I'M
derstood of his arousing himself from his
apathy. The Sanhedrim, over which he pre-
sided had threatened Peter and John, and
forbidden their preaching; but nOtWith-
standing this the apostles continued to teach
the people, and to preach through Jesus the
resurrection from the dead, and had filed
all Jerusalem with his doctrine And not
only so, but so great was the popularity of
Christianity, and such was the effect of the
miracles performed, that the influence was
reaching multitudes beyond the city. 1t was
this that aroused Annas and those that
were with hin" those who took sides with
him In his onnosition IN Christianity Who