The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-17
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
AUGUST FL.
Lesson Text: "The Apostles Perse
cuted," Acts v, 25-41-Golden
Text; Acts ", 29-Com-
mentary.

o5. "Then came one and told them saying.
| Behold the men whom ye put in prison are
standing in the temple and teaching the
people" The account OF the arrest, impris-
| oument and deliverance is found in verses
1870. When released on a former occasion
and forbidden to speak in the name Of Jesus,
their reply was to the effect that they must
speak wuat they had seen and heard tchap.
| ter iv., 1920.
g. "Then went the captain with the Off
GERS and brought them without violence, for
they feared the people lest they should have
been stoned The people were benefited
by the apostles preaching and miracles and
heard them gladly tversss 14-l6l, just as the
common people heard Jesus gladly (Mark
xii, 81. 1t was the religious rulers who
did the prosecuting and tried to hinder this
blessing to the people.
81. "And when they had brought them
they set them before the council" Jesus
had told them that it would be even so
(Math. T., IT, Il; John xv., 2O,, and the
same thing is true to-day, fer if man will
preach the whole truth, according. to the
plain, obvious sense Of Gods Word in the
power of the Holy Spirit, he will soon find
opposition from some religious rulers and
worldly minded professors.
%. ''Ye have filled Jerusalem with your
doctrine, and intend to bring this mans
blood upon u.s. Thus the council accused
the apostles. reminding them also CT the re-
strictions which had been placed upon them.
1t was good testimony to the earnest work of
the apostles that they had already filed the
city with their teaching.
90. Then Peter and the apostles answered
and said, We yht to obey God rather than
men," If we please men rather than God we
are not servants Of Christ; and He Himself
taught us that we cannot serve God and
mammon. The friendship of the world Is
enmity with God, and to love the word is to
forsake God lGal. j., 10; Luke xvi. 13; Jas.
iv., /; II Tim. iv., 10y.
20. "rhe God of our fathers raised up
Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on tree"
To their face they again fearlessly accuse
them OF being guilty OF His blood, ut they
testify that God has raised Him up. Com
pare H., 80; ill.,, 15; iv., 10, 33: K, 40, xiii,
33. and see what prominent topic the
resurrection was IN the preaching of the
apostles.
hand to be Prince and q Saviour, for to
give repentance to Israel and forgiveness Of
SINS" Exalted to be Saviour to the very
men who cruciaed Him if they would only
,, turn to Him in true penitence; ready to give
them even repentance as we'll as full forgive
ness. See lisa. l., 13; xviii, II; xiii, %;
Acts xiii, 3S, 80.
81. "And we are His witnesses of these
things, and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom
God hath given to them that obey Him."
Their bold and fearless testimony was that
Of the Holy Spirit speaking through them
as Jesus had said. See Acts L, 6, and COM
pare iv., 81. The same Spirit is in every
true believer as He was in the apostles be-
fore Pentecost John Xxx, 22, but our need
is to be tiIled'with the Spirit.
S3. when they heard that they were cut
to the heart, and took counsel to siay them"
Not only was the blood Of Jesus upon them,
but they were ready to bring upon them also i'2
the blood Of the apostles. so likewise did
they desire to do to Lazarus, whom Jesus
raised from the deal John xii. 10). The
truth OF God when not meekly received,
makes manifest that the carnal mind ls
enmity against God Rom. viii, q.
81, IS. "Ye men Of Israel take heed to
yourselves what ye intend to do as touching
these men," The apostles having been sent
out OF the council for little while, CANA
whose feet Saul Of Tarsus had been educated
(chapter xii, 81 thus begins to address his
brethren. He seems to have had something
OF the spirit Of Joseph and Nicodemus who
also were at one time members OF the coun-
oil MARK xv., 4S; John vii, 50). We do not
know that he ever received Jesus as the
Christ, but from the wisdom and spirit OF
this address we may almost hope that ne
did.
ST. 81. For before these days rose up
Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody"
He quotes two cases Of deceivers who for
tune had quite following, but In each case
the leaders perlshed and their followers were
dispersed The mark Of deceiver is that
'he boasts himself to be somebody" while
true follower OF the Lord seeks only to Rtor.
ify God. Jesus sought neither His own will
nor His own glory John vi, 80; viii., 5O,
and Paul determined to know nothing out
"Jesus Christ and Him crucihed," his mot
toes being, "Not I, but Christ" "Not 1, but
Gal, H., 20l. II any man, be he preacher or
professor, D. D. or Ii. D., boasts himself to
b somebody, he Is very evidently rot true
to Jesus Christ.
8s. And now I say unto you, Refrain
from those men and let them alone; Tor II
this counsel or this work be Of men, 1t will
come to nought," BE probably thought OF
such words as these The Lord bringeth
the counsel of the hsatheu to nought; De
maketh the devices Of the people OF no ef-
feet (Ps. x9xiii., 10Y, See also 1sa. viii, y. 10,
for very strong words in this connection. lt
is q great comfort for the true believer TO
know Goat no weapon formed against Him
can prosper Elsa. lv., ~.
O0s ouu IL ~ b0 Sk wv Wv
throw it, lest haply ye he found even to
fight against God" The counsel Of the Lord
standeth forever, the thoughts Of His heart
to all generations Ps xx1ui., 1n. My
counsel shall stand and I will do all my
pleasure lisa. Xvi, 10. I know that what
soever God doeth it shall be forever tEccl.
ill.,, 14. We hope that Gamaliel really be-
lieved in his heart that this work was the
work of God.
40. "And to him they agreed-and when
they had called the apostles and beaten them
they commanded that they should not speak
in the name of Jesus, and let them 60"
Why beat them if they were innocent OF any
crime? But Jesus had said that it would DO
so (Math K, III. and they were walking in
His footsteps Ponder, Peter IL, 19, 20;
iv., 1916, and may the spirit cause US to es-
TEEN it great honor to suffer for the truth.
fl, A. Rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for His name, they
ceased not to teach and preach Jesus
Christ" Scourged and bleeding backs, full
of pain physically, full of joy inwardly.
What glorious reality is Jesus, who can
enable men to take such treatment, not only
without resentment, but even joyfully. See
II Cor xii, 10. How much of this spirit
have we? How much can we bear cheerfully
for His sake? How much do we desire His