The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-10-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson for October 10, 1s92-Peter's WIS.,
ion-Acts lO;l-2O.

ion-Acts lO;1-2O.
GOLDEN TExT.-Of truth perceive that
God Is no respecter Of persons.-Acts 1884
TIME-A d. 40 During the many days"
while Peter was preaching at Joppa, after the
raising OF Dorcas
PLACE.-Peter was at Joppa, in the house Of
Simon, the tanner Cornelius was at Cesarea,
the Roman capital of Judea, about thirty miles
to the north.
LESSON NOTES.
/. There was certain man in
Cesarea:" Cesarea, the Roman capital
of Judea, was situated on the Mediter-
ranean sea, thirty miles north of Joppa,
and about twenty-five miles south of
Mount Carmel and forty-seven miles
northwest of Jerusalem. called Cor
nelius:" A Roman officer of some rank,
though not the highest, being "a CEN
turion," i. c. captain of one hundred
men. He belonged to the band CO.
hort, ''called the Italian" probably be-
cause the soldiers We're true-born Ital-
ians
q He was "a devout man." religious,
the devout worshiper of the one true
God. with all his house." showing
that he was openly religious, regulat-
ing his household on religious princi-
pies. He prayed to God always" The
Greek word rendered prayed is not the
usual one. 1t means rather ''be-
seeched."
3. He saw in vision evidently"
openly. He was not in a trance or a
draa,p ssAlo,,+ 4ba ninth, bo,,r ,f tho
day" The ninth hour, or three in the
afternoon, was one Of the stated Jewish
hours of prayers. He was keeping
the ninth hour of prayer" Cornelius
had adopted some of the Jewish Gus
toms about prayer. IAN angel of Cod"
A fact that would not only assure Cor
nelius, but would be strong argument
! with the Jews for receiving the Gem
tiles.
4. ''When he had looked on him."
Rev. Yer, fastening his eyes upon him.
HE was afraid" The angel appeared
to him lin bright apparel" (ver. 3O),
like the angel at the tomb of Jesus.
"Thy prayers and thine aims are come
up" Rev. YER, arc gone up, like in
censc, or sweet odors. For memorial
before Cod They have been such as
| to be remembered before God.
5. "And now send to Joppa:" where
Peter was preaching. A careful de-
scription of his full name and address
is given that there may be no mistake.
6. He shall tell thee" The angel
| IA ,at +ha nAc,a1 but 1r
guided him to one who would do it.
What thou oughtest to do" Peter
shall speak words whereby thou shalt
be saved, AID all thy house"
7. "Whcn the angel was departed, he
called" forthwith, Immediately. "Twc
of his household servants" The do
nestle character of the piety of Corne
Illus seems to show itself here from /;
new point of view. "A devout soldier o
them that waited on him continually
This man is described as like his maste
in religious character.
o. "On the morrow" Cornelius vision
was about three o'clock in the after
noon, so that the messengers could no
reach Joppa, thirty miles away, til
about noon the next day ''Peter went
up upon the housetop:" for the sake o
retirement. THE roof, according to tn,
Oriental manner, was fiat or but slight
ly inclined" About the sixth hour
Twelve o'clock, noon.
10. "He became very hungry" 70
noon was the usual mealtime with tn,
learned among the jews" ''IIe fel
into trance" Among scientific men
trance is recognized mental condition
in which the mind loses the conscious
ness of outer objects.
II. And saw Heaven opened" Il,
show him that the teaching of tn
vision was sent to him from God. 81
great sheet knit (bound, tied) at tn
four corners to the cords by which i
was let down.
IL. wherein were all manner" al
varieties, clean and unclean alike, 80
four-footed beasts" including wilt
beasts, which were unclean, for though
the oldest MSS. omit these word
here they belong to the story. "An'
creeping things" Reptiles, unclean t,
the Jews, and representing here tn
lowest and most degraded nations.
ID. Rise, Peter" From his attitud
Of prayer. Kill and eat" Here |
presented the means of satisfying hi
hunger, and by the command he is di
rected to kill without distinction
among all that he sees.
IA. mot so. Lord" The comman
was so contrary to his lifelong practic
that Peter could not obey till he wa
sure that he understood the comman
Alright II have never eaten anything
that is common" Unholy, forbidden t
the Jews And unclean:" To ca
seemed to be almost treason to God an
His nation.
Is. What God hath cleansed, tina
call not thou common" Thou is cor
trasted with God. Your word is moth
ing to His, and here He is speaking.
, 16. This was done thrice" In orde
to impress the truth; to make him eel
tain that it was from God, and was
Divine message to coun terbalance tn
Divine law against intercourse wit
Gentiles Was received up again int
Heaven" showing that it first cam
down from Heaven.
, II. while Peter doubted:" question
ing, perplexed as to what this vision
should mean-the men-from Corneliu
stood before the gate" which close
the arched entrance to the courtyard
around which the Jewish house wa
usually built.