The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-10-05
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 8.
Lesson Text: "Dorcas Raised to Life" g"
Acts tx, 32-43-Goiden Texa,
Acts TX, 3O-Commentary.

90 'And it came to pass, as Peter passed
throughout all quarters, he came down also
to the saints which dwelt at LYDIA" Be
levers are called saints in the various
epistles (see Rom. j., Z; Cor. j.. 2, etc.,
omitting the italics), because all who truly
receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour are in
Him washed, sanctl6ed, justified, and He IS
made unto them wisdom, Righteousness
sancti6catton and redemption Il Cor. vi, II; 4;
l., 30; II Cor. ", 21l.
LYDIA is between Jerusalem and Joppa,
about ten miles east of Joppa.
33. "And there he found a certain man
named Eneas, which had kept his bed eight
years and WAS sick of the palsy" Jesus
healed those who had been eighteen and
thirty-eight years sick, and Peter had al
ready been the channel Of health from Jesus
to one forty years afflicted luke xiii, 16;
John v, 5; Acts iv., ~. 80 that a sickness
which had lasted eight years would not
seem an insuperable difficulty to Peter or to
any one WHO believed Wer. xx1ii., II; Mate.
xix, &c; xviii. 20.
81. "Aud Peter said unto him, -Eneas,
Jesus Christ maketh thee whole; arise and
make thy bed: and he arose Immediately"
Compare ill.,, 6, 16, and. iy.. 10. The great
fact of our redemption is Jesus Christ risen
from the dead. and alive for evermore, hav-
ing all power in heaven and on earth REV.
l., 1S; Math. xviii, 49,. This was made
plain to Saul in the last lesson by the ap
pearing OF Jesus to him, and is now made
plain to Eneas and to the people OF LYDIA
by this miracle.
35. "And all that dwelt at LYDIA and
Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord
Note the expression turning to the Lord"
IN chapters Xi, 81; xv., 10; XVI, 20 and in
[ Thess. j., Q, see what 1t means turning
from. We are all by nature turned from
God. and repentance is turning to God, to
:erye Him, ami wait for His Son from
heaven II Thess. j., 10y. Ifmore Of the power
and WORKS Of the risen living Christ were
seen in US, there would be more sinners
turning to God, and the kingdom would be
greatly hastened.
&c, 'Now there was at Joppa a certain
disciple named Tahitha, which by interpre-
tation is called DorcaA This woman was
iull Of good works and aims ceeds which
:he did," Both OF the names OF this woman
signify "a roe or hart or gazelle," and are
Indicative of swiftness See Chron. xii,
!; Songs ii, II; viii, IA. She believed
that the kings business required haste,
and whatever was to be done should
be done quickly. She is called disciple
=, a taught or trained one. All who truly
receive Christ are holy in Him, but not all
mch are willing to be trained by Him. All
rue disciples or trained ones will, like
Dorcas, be full Of good works (Eph. IL, 10;
Titus ILL.,, 8; John xv., 81
81. "And it came TO pass in those days
that she was sick and died, whom whea they
nad washed they laid her in an upper cham
ber.n No evil can befall child OF God; not
.ven satan can lay finger on such without
Gods permission. Both sickness and death
nav glorify God John Il, i, ID 15 by Civ.
ng occasion for the display Of His grace and
oower. Precious in the sight Of the Lord is
she death Of His saints-to die is gain, to de-
,art and be with Christ Is far better (Ps.
xvi, IS; Phil. l., 81, %
3S. "And forasmuch as LYDIA was nigh
TO Joppa. and the disciples had heard that
Peter was there, they sent unto him two
c,en desiring him that he would not delay
10 come to them" Whether they thought
that God might through Peter gave Dorcas
back to them, or whether they wanted only
the comfort Of the Spirits words through
him. is not very clear. While thankful tor
tbe comfort Of such words as II Cor.v., /;
Phil. l.. 81; Thess. iv., 1918, most Of US
| ara selfish enough to want our friends back
again. even though we know, or at least pro-
| fess to believe that having died In Christ
they are now unspeakably happy.
80. tTben Peter arose and went WIFE
them. When he was come they brought
| him into the upper chamber, and all the
widows stood by him weeping, anu sno"lut, z,
the coats and garments wh:cn Dorcas made
while she was with them." Observe Peter:
| promptness, remember the significance oil
| Dorcas and pray for that quickness to re-
spond to the call OF the Spirit which is here
suggested. It was sal house; the sorrow
Ing hearts, ana fearful eyes and the works
wrought BY the hands now cold in death, al
proclaimed what blessing she had beer
who was now no more with them. Happy
| are those who prove their relation to CHRIS
by their abundance OF good works.
40. But Peter put them all forth, and
kueeled down and prayed, and turning hin
to the body said. Tabitha, arise. And sh
opened her eyes, and waen she saw Peter sn
sat up" Peter had seen Jesus put them al
| forth except tne rather aud mother and tn
three with Him Mark ", 4N. Elijah an
Elisha were both a.one with the deah bodle
which they raised to life Il Kings xvii, IL
| II Kings iv., 33). If we would know tn
| power OF God, it must be IN being mucl
Alone with God. Even Jesus found 1t neces
sary to be alone with God uIuHe lx., &c
Al. "Aud He gave her his hand, an
lifted her up, and when ne had called tn
saints and widows, presented her alive.
| A few moments before it was all tears an
| sadness, but now all is joy and glaoness
| and it is the work OF the risen Christ VIII