Connecticut western news., 1876-06-02
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS.
By Rev. Mason Noble, Jr.
FOR JUNE 4TH, 1876. THE APOSTLES IN PRISON-ACTS V,

THE APOSTLES IN PRISON-ACTS V,
 1928.
 GOLDEN TExT.-If any man suffer as & Christian, let him not be ashamed but let hlm glorify God on thls behalf. Peter ". 16.
 SIGNS AND WoNDERs-[12-16lw winch the Lord had promised should accompany the preaching of the Gospel Mark XVI, 15 18I, always remember that Gospel means glad tidIngs, were abundantly granted at this time to confirm the new fallh of those who had learned the truth. Notwithstanding the prohi bltion which the rulers had spo- ken, tue apostles continued to preach. fue people gathered of one accord in Solo mons porch Ia covered gallery of great beauty, built not by Solomon but by Klng Herod. eastward of the temple, in the tenn ole area or yard, larger than any church in America). They listened to the good words and saw the good deeds of Jesus apostles. God gave Ills servants great power in preaching and great power ln healing, SO that. like the woman who was cured through her faith in touching Jesus' robe in the crowd, 50 now the sick were cured who had been brought by hands of faith upon them. Multitudes of men and wo- men believed and were added to the Lord,' for the church is His body and Je- sus counts those who love Him as 8 part of Himself; but of the rest,' of those who did not truly believe. none dared to join them. The terrible lesson God had tau. ..ht by the destruction of Ananias and Sapphi. ra accom- pllshed its purpose.
 JESUS ENEMIEs.-l17-1Sl Then the high priest bestlrred himself, and those that were with him. They were filled with in- tlignation that their commands were not needed. They had crucifed Jesus, but the truth that Jesus had preached was gaining multltudes of believers. The Sadduceas were especially excited by what they saw going on. The Sadducees were a sect among the Jews, not very numerous but of great | influence as many of them held high posi- tions and prominent offices. The preach ing of the resurrection of Christ gave them great offence tsee Matt. xii. 2S, and | Acts Xxlli, S). So they sent out their off cers and arrested the apostles again, aU d | threw them into the common prison that they might be kept safely until the morn ing. Thelr council or court always met early iu the morning. This IS the second time within llttle while that Peter was | arrested and imprisoned, and it was not the last time. Peter knew what he was | talking about when he wrote the golden l text.
 JESUS MEssENGER.-l19 POI But the Lord did not leave them to suffer in prlson at this time. He sent one of his ministeripg 2 spirits (see Heb. !, IA to deliver them. A l great many people in these days seem to be practically Sadducees in one thing. ministry ot angels. But it is true, for the Bible teaches It, that Jesus does send an gels to help and guard those who trust Him. We do not see them, nor hear then speak, but they have defended and aided us many time. Thls angel the apostles dld hear on that dark night of their trouble. He opened the door for them aud led them out, and then he said to them 'Go:' God does not do for us what we can do for ourselves. He carries the young lambs in His bosom; He gently leads the ' weak; but it IS better for those to walk who can, and He does not carry them Stand; , they had work to do for then Master. Though their enemies were DOW. erful and angry. Jesus wished his apostles to acquit themselves boldly. Speak, fol they could speak to lost sinners all tho words of this life, this eternal life that Je sus had brought to light. So the anee sent them back to do their work ln tn,
 JESUS SERvANTs.-T21 26I And the apos
 ties did not hesitate, but went into tn,
 most public place, and stood where al
 might see them, and spoke the word
 which men had forbidden, but which Got
 ia strong contrast to tn e conduct of Jesu. , eneWles. It seemed as though nothing could teach them that in prosecuting the apostles they were fighting against God The court met in the morning. but the off cers they sent to bring the prisoners re turned without them and reported tha r they found the prison shut and fast, ant
 the keepers on guard, but when we opened we four d no man wlthin.' Perhaps thes keepers, like those who guarded the toni , of Christ, became as dead men at the pres
 ence of the angel And while the court
 were wondering at this report, there cam, ) another. They learn that those who hat
 been their prisoners were not hiding them selves away, but were teaching in tn temple. Is it not enough to teach the higl priest that God Is working through thes
 men, when such mighty power rests upol them, and that power Is only used ID doinl
 eoodR Is 1t not enough to teach the Sad duces, when an angel makes their prisol , bars and keepers useless No, for Jh
 tue apostles once more before the court
 to go forth 'reiolcing that they were count ed worthy to suffer shame for Ills name'- the shame of being publicly beaten witl
 whips