The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-06
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 10.
Lesson Text: "The Descent Of tho
Spirit" Acts H., 1-12-Golden
Text: John xvi, 13-
Commentary.


!. "And when the day Of Pentecost was
fully come, they were all with one accord in
one place." Since He left them ten days be-
lore they continued steadfastly in prayer
a., IA R. W and expectation. Fifty days
after the sheaf Of first fruits was presented
In connection with the feast CT the passover,
it was the custom to offer a new meat offer
ing LEV. xiii Is 49,. Three times year
all the men in Israel had to appear before
God in Jerusalem; at passover. the feast Of
weeks Of Pentecost and the feast of inEath-
ering or tabernacles (Ex. xiii, 14-10. The
first typifed the death and resurrection Of
Christ the second the descent OF the Spirit,
as in to-day's lesson, while the third still
awaits its complete fulfllment. See Zech.
xiv, 1921.
2. "And suddenly there came from heaven
a sound as OF the rushing Of mighty wind,
and it filed all the house where they were
sitting" While they waited patiently and
expectantly day by day, it is not unlikely
thought this might be the day of the prom
ise; yet it was sudden when it came. It does
not say that there was q wind, but sound
like mighty wind. See the Spirit typifed
by wind in Eek. xvii, 8.
3. And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues like as Of fire, and it sat upon each
of them" There may be reference to this
appearance Of fire in Math. ill.,. II, but the
fire of verse IL Is certainly yet future and
probably also the full meaning Of verse IL.
When the Spirit came upon Jesus at this
baptism, there was no fire, for in Him there
was no dress to consume, no purifying neces-
sary.
4. "And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance" As at
Babel God instantly caused people Of one
language to speak many languages, to their
confusion and dismay, 50 here for their bene-
fit and His glory He does similarly. See in
iv., 81, how they were again filled, and OBJ
serve that when filled they spake the word
of God with boldness. Jesus had them In
the days of His humiliation that the Spirit
would speak through them tMath. K, 2O),
but they had never seen it on this fashion.
5. "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem
Jews, devour men, out OF every nation un-
der heaven" God had in His providence so
brought it about that they might be wit
nesses Of this event and IN due time help
make it known in all the world. 1t Is His
purpose in this dispensation to gather out Of
all nations people for His name (Acts xv.,
IA; Rev. ", 9, 10y, but in the next age, the
millennial, He will through the Jews fill the
Rom. XII, l5), but it will be by the same
Holy Spirit and in the name and power Of
the same Jesus.
8. "Now when this was noised abroad, the
multitude came together and were con-
founded, because that every man heard
them speak in his own language" The r.
v. says, "When this sound was heard" the
apostles did not need to send for the crowd;
they came. The churches find it hard to
get the people to come to hear what they
call the Gospel. If there was more OF the
Gospel that the Holy Spirit teaches and
uttered in the power Of the Spirit. it Is prob.
able that more would come to hear. Yet
the gathered out ones Of this age who are to
rule with Christ are a comparatively little
flock. When the Spirit shall be poured upon
Israel and the glory OF the Lord rise upon
her, then shall nations come to her sight
and kings to the brightness OF her rising
lisa. lix., 19, to X, b. See also the re-
markable prophecy OF Zech. viii, %.
z. "And they were all amazsd and mar
veled, saying one to another. Behold, are not
all these which speak GaliIeans!" They were
amazed that SUCH q wondrous thing should
be seen in people from despised Galilee;
compare the saying OF Nathaniel in John l.,
46. They did not remember lisa. IL, l tsee
r. W, nor know that Gods way is to choose
the foolish and weak and base things in
mems eyes, and even things that are not to
bring to nought things that are. that no
flesh should glory in His presence Il Cor. l.,
27-29). They did not know Him whose name
is wonderful lisa. tx, 6), who had been
actually among them but had been crucihed
by them only few weeks before.
8 And how hear we every man In our
own tongue, wherein we were born" The
Holy Spirit is perfect in knowledge Job
x11vi., a, all languages are familiar to
Him. 1t was not the men who spoke by
their own ability, but the Holy Spirit In
them, who can talk every language with
equal ease, spoke through one language,
and through another another. When Moses
complained that he was slow OF speech Gou
asked him who made mans mouth, and
then said II will be with thy mouth and
teach thee what thou shalt say" See EI
iy., 1912, also Jer. l., Z.
gil. "Parthlans and Medes and Elamites,
and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, Cretes and
Arabians, we do hear them speak in our
tongues the wonderful works OF God" l
often wonder how much OF the Spirits
power we might know il our tongues were
wholly given to declaring the wonderful
works Of God. In the millennium Israel
shall sing this song: Praise the Lord, pro-
claim His N anne, declare His doings among
the people, make mention that bis name Is
exalted. Sing unto the Lord, for He hath
done excellent things. This IS known In all
the earth" lisa. xii, 4-5). Why not ante
date that day and let many willing hearts
determine to speak and sing henceforth al
ways only of our King" Then shall we
know the Spirits power as never before.
u. "And they were all amazed, and were
in doubt, saying one to another, What
meaneth this" The natural man receiyeth
NOT the things Of the Spirit of God, for they
are foolishness unto him II Cor. H.. Al, so
some mockingly said that these men were
drunken but Peter called there attention itS to
which they ought to have been familiar, and
adding some other quotations from the law
and the Psalms, He preached unto them EN-
Jesus and the resurrection. Win "nat re-
suit we shall see in our next lesson. Mean
time lay it to heart that if it is wrong to be
drunken with wine, it is also wrong not TO
be filled with the Spirit. See Eph.. ", 10,
and remember the promise in Luke 1i, l3.-
Lesson Helper.