The National tribune., 1892-07-07
SUNDAY MEDITATION,

A Study of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for July
II, 1892. : 5,,. ID
aia lsii
Subject: The First Christian Church. Acts,
2:a37-47.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph ffOm the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above. su~
INTRODUCTION.
the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost
Day. 1t was a very peculiar demonstration.
Some wondered and could not explain others
attributed it to drunkenness. great crowd
was drawn together and much excitement pre-
vailed. st. Peter addressed the people in ex-
planation of what they had seen and heard.
He showed that the Old Testament. in which
his hearers believed. had anticipated the mani
festations which occurred that Pentecost Day.
David. 1000 years before, had foretod the
resurrection in Ps 16; also the ascension in
Ps. no. And about 700 B. c. the prophet Joel
had described the very scene of that memorable
Pentecost. Joel, 2:28) The address of St.
Peter, full of not only emotion but argument,
was very effective. We now study the sequel.
/. References
We give the references verse by verse;
Y. 81. Pricked in their hearts. Eze, z: 16;
Zee, i2: 10; Eccus, 1912 Contrast "cut to
the heart" Acts, 5: 49, z: 81. What shall we
do? st. Luke, 3: 10, pictures the people so ask
ing st. John Baptist. So Saul in 8: 6. So the
iailer, 16: 30 So Elisha's servant, 2 XII, 6: Is.
Men and brethren. 2:29.
V. s. Repent 3 10; st. Luke, 3:3; "a: Az.
In the name of Jesus Christ. 10: s. st. Mt,
2S:19. Remissions of sins. st. Luke 3: g;
"a: AZ.
V. 80. Promise is to you. st. Luke, 9: II |;
ST. John, IS: 26. Promise is to your children.
Gen.. 17:7; Isa., SO: 81; Joel, 2:28. Promise
is to those afar off. 1895; 10: 45; IL: Is, 10;
Ia: 81; 1873, 8, ii; Isa., 81: 10; Eph., 2: 13,
II. God shall call. Ro., /: IS, 6; Gal, 1:6;
5: 10; TIL, q IL.
V. 40. Untoward generation. Deu., 80: s.;
st. Luke, 81.
V. az. Continued in fellowship. V. 46; Heb,
10: 25. Continued in breaking of bread (prob-
ably Holy Communion). / Cor, IL: 2. Con-
tinued in prayer. 1: IA; Cd; Ro IL: IL;
Eph., g.: 10; Col, AZ
v. 43. Wonders, etc, by Apostles. This was
according to Christ's prophecy St. Mark, IS:
II. 18 20; Acts, 5: II.
V. Al. All things common. q: 81, "a; Prov,
l. IA.
8; Isa., 55:7; st. Luke, IL: SO; 2 Cor, 8: !,
9; John, 3: II.
V. 46. Continually in the Temple. 5:42;
st. Luke, "a: SO. Breaking bread. 20:7. From
house to house. 5: az. With gladness. Eco,
OF.
V. A. Praising God. st. Luke, "a: SO. Hav-
ing favor with people. Gen.. 80: 81; st. Luke,
9: so; Acts, 4 80; Ro, Ia: Is. Lord added to
the Church daily such as should be saved.
8: Ia; IL: "a.
g Time
The Passover began on Friday, March 10, A.
D. %. Our lesson must be dated so days after
the Saturday next to the beginning of the Pass
over. Hence Pentecost was on Sunday early
in May. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit
took place about 8 a. M. e: 49, Then fol-
lowed the sermon of st. Peter. u: 14-36) We
may say that when our lesson opens {V. 81, it
was towards noon.
"same day" ". All corresponds with the
Pentecostal display. "Shall receive" (Y.35l
on the spot without having to wait as the
Apostles had waited for 10 days.
The promise referred to in V. 80 may be
that given through Joel the Prophet Joel,
Q: 2s), 600 B. c.; but we remember the specific
promise made to the Apostles ON the Thursday
night before Good Friday-promises for Jews
and Gentiles alike. (St. John, Id: 16, II, 26;
Is: 26; 1877, 49,
"shall" ". 39) takes in all times, all holy
all nations.
3. Place.
See this question fully discussed in lesson for
Acts, 9: Ill, last weeks study, under the head
Of place. Il: 13; g: 1, 81 We locate in Jeru-
salem. The Prophet Joel probably wrote in
the same city.
We notice the Disciples continued to attend
the two Temple services. ". 46.)
They were very active. When not at the
Temple they went about to different residences
on the streets of Jerusalem. Bengel and De
Wette think we have the antithesis-T Temple
and houses-to indicate public and private
We read ". Az "ali that believed were to-
gether." Some hold this means all abode to-
eether. This would be difficult. There were
then 100 q: 49, plus 1900 ga at least
Others think together" is to be taken in the
sense of unity of mind, interest, work. hope,
ETC. They were all banded together, though
not assembled in one body. They were of one
heart and one mind. They had all a common
interest e: Az. They organized and entered
into covenants. The following take the second
view: Theophylact. Kuinoel, Beza, Calvin,
Pearce, Heumann Bloomfield DR.. A. Clarke
There is no question but what these assem-
bled at times in one body for services and in
struction. Moreover, it is plain all would try
to get into some section of the city whore they
could readily meet.
a. Persons.
a. The Apostles (v. 37) One is mentioned
by name. Peter. The multitude called The
Twelve "men and brethren" ". 81 Mat
tbias had been elected in the place of Judas
Iscariot. Il: 21-26.) We find the names of IL
Of the Apostles in l. 13.
b. The persons referred to by they" in V.
81 were the hearers of st. Peters address.
US. 1866 We find in v ID who they were.
St. Peter said, Ye men of Judea, and all We that
dwell at Jerusalem" In v. % we have, eye
men of Israel" In V. 20 he says, Men and
brethren" The Apostle accused them of hav-
ing crucifed Christ with wicked hands. ".
%. CT V. 36.) We have reason to believe the
crowd had in it they of Vs. IL and 49, Hence
there were doubters ". 12) and Knockers. (V.13)
The "devout men "(V. s. were also present.
There were men OF diverse language. (Vs. O.
IL 1t is supposed the persons included in VS..
9-11 were Jews who were at Jerusalem from
the Indifferent countries mentioned-Jews liv-
ing in said foreign countries and speaking the
languages. There must have been
a very great multitude. (V g. 1t included
the 100 of /: Is, and the 1900 Of g: Ill We
can suppose that only fraction became Chris.
tians and 5000 is the fraction Of large number.
We may suppose that among the :, 900 were some
who had Knocked. (V. l3) In VS.. 90 and 36
we are not to understand perhaps that said
persons were actually engaged in the cruel.
fxion. We may believe many of said number
were among those who assented to his death,