Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-02-21
Jhe freemaa.
Sunday School Les son Notes.
BY REV. ]. o. SHERBURN.
Mar. 4: Persecution Renewed Acts 5:l7-S2'

Mar a. Persecution Renewed Acts 5:l7-S2
The miracle of healing tho lame man,
followed by the sudden death at the word
of Peter. of Ananas and Sapphira opened
the eyes of the people to see that God was
pleased to work wonders by the hands OF
the apostles. Hence, as was natural,
many came to seek healing at their hands.
God was pleased to work by the m won
derfully, sothat 'many signs ana wonders
were wrought by their hands.
The wonderful increase of the new
sect, and their favor amcng the people
naturally stirred the Indignation, or
jealousy, as the New Version has it, of the
leaders of the Jewish church. They saw
that their influence over the people was
waning, and were jealous of the growing
popularity of the dispised followers OF
Jesus. The Sadducees, AS we have before
seen, were most aroused, because the
resurrection of the dead was one of the
leading items in the new teaching. Seeing
that the new doctrine was making such
progress they conceived that it could be
best checked by the confinement OF the
leaders,-a common mistake that the
opponents of Christianity have perpetually
made So, determined upon this course,
they "rose up to put it in execution.
They caused the arrest of the apostles,
perhaps the twelve, ,and had them lodged in
the common prison. This was doubtless an
illegal aud unwarrantable proceeding, but
the rulers were desperate, something must
be done.
But they had presumed too much upon
their power to restrain these servants of
God. In seeking to confine his chosen
agents they had set themselves against
the Almighty, and prison bars and guard.
ed gates are of no avail against him. |
The Lord, by his angel visited the prison
sufficient compensation for the shame of |
being lodged with criminals-and brought |
his apostles forth and gave them direct |
command to return TO the temple and
continue the preaching for which they
were imprisoned. "All the words of this
life signifies teaching concerning this
new life which ia by faith in Christ. The
zeal of the apostles, it would appear
outran the rage of the rulers. for before
the council had convened the prisoners
were in the temple teaching the people
Some are disposed to think that this
meeting of the council has extraordinary
the Senate of the children of Israeli has
been understood to mean a general gath.
ering of the elders of the people, both in
and about Jerusalem. There is some
uncertainty about the matter however e.
the same terms are not elsewhere used.
But this body of grave counselors were
greatl, surprised when the officers who
were sent to bring the prisoners in
returned with the intelligence that they
found the prison well locked and guarded
but no man within.
The question naturally arose among them
what will be the outcome of such extraor.
dinary events. The council was really con. i
founded at what they saw and heard. One {
sensible, many thing they ight have done,
they might have followed the convictions -,
of their better nature, and said this is of {
God and we cannot withstand him. But {
they were lifted up with their own concets
and refused the wisdom which begins in
acknowledgement of error. While they
were in doubt and uncertainty about the /
of tba ot1ia
from the temple to say that the apostles q
were not only at large, but were at that /
moment teaching the people in the temple. t
Immediately officers were dispatched to s
bring them before the council. They
proceeded cautiously in this work, for they a
saw plainly that the popular feeling of the s
city was in sympathy with the apostles. v
When they were arraigned before the )
council the high priest, as the chief n
officer proceeded to question them. His O
question refers naturally to the time when 9
the apostles were before he council some o
days previous. The high priest charges y
the apostles with disobedience to the a
commands of the council, a command S
given with threat if it was broken, for a
this is really the meaning of the phrase v
'straitly' charge or command and with g
an intent to bring the guilt of Christ's Ii
death upon the leaders of the Jews. The a
language that they used is almost an o
acknowledgements that they felt sense of "
guilt in the matter, as they doubtless did. V
The answer of the apostles IS the same b
which they gave when first commanded U
10 desst from preaching, 1--WE ought to II
obey God rather than man." another p,
appeal to the higher law, a perpetual h
answer to every injunction against the o
earnest prosecution of Gods work u
Following this succnct and positive :"
answer, Peter adds word directed to the b
leaders of his people. The God of our W
fathers, he SAYS; thus linking himself with n
them in the bond OF a common nationality, i,
and the new doctrine with the old, both 81
being the work OF our fathers God. Two g,
explanations are given for the words, az
'raised up Jesus" and both are well y, y,
supported and defended. cf
Some hold that they mean simply that OF
God raised up, or brought forward Jesus, g
in due time to be the Savior of the world. ~ ~
Others hold that Peter speaks of the Of
resurrection of Christ, and argues that tsthe R
great question between the Jews and he In
apostles at this time was concerning the q
verify of the resurrection which they ar
preached. The matter will bear careful dc
study and should have its proper attention, au
though it really has little to do with the sl -,
main teaching of this passage. 1t need tb
moi Mniuh with nnu nnn TINT ihasn nntnc | ,u