Passaic City record., 1892-08-06
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
AUGUST z.
Lesson Text: "The Apostles Confi
dencc in God,D Acts iv., 1881
Golden Text: Acts iv., 81
Commentary.

1OuiHntHLdTys
10, tBut Peter and john answered and
said unto them, whether it be right in the
sight of God to hearken unto you more than
unto God, judge YEP Remember that these
are two Galilean fishermen, unlearned and
ignorant men verse 13, standing in the
presence of the greatest dignitaries of thi
Jews religion, even in the presence of al
least two of the very men who had Jesus
put to death Verse o., but they have no
fear. They are like the friends of Daniel in
the presence of the king of Babylon and see
only one thing to do Dan. ill.,, 1918, and
are ready to do it. The presence of Jesus
is more to them than the presence of any OF
all of these men, and by His grace they will
do right in His sight
20. For we cannot hut speak the things
which we have seen and heard" When
Jeremiah was reproached for the Word of
God he said hastily that he would speak it
no more, but it was a fire in his bones, and
he could not keep quiet (Jer. Xxx, s, 81. So
it was with these men and with Paul Il
John j., 1-3; Acts xxli., 15). If then we can
easily keep quiet, the question is have we
seen in Jesus nothing worth mentioning? Ii
SO, how different from that man of Gadera,
who published through the whole city how
great things Jesus had done unto him Qlukc
viii, 3t).
81 so when they had further threatened
them they let them go, finding nothing how
they might punish them, because of the peo-
ple-fcr all men glcrifed God for that
which was DONE" How often the people
are ready to believe but are kept back by
the rulers. There would be many more be-
levers in full Gospel to-day if they were
not kept back by the blindness and false
teachings OF many preachers. AS in Jer-
emiah's day the prophets lied in the name of
the Lord and perverted His words, SO it is
IT 1G
those rulers they would fain shut up these
who SPEAK the whole truth
90. sFor the man was above forty years
old on whom this miracle OF healing was
Showed" Jesus healed people who had been
afflicted twelve, eighteen and thirty eight
years luke viii, 43; xiii, 16; John ", 81,
but this notable case He left for Peter and
ers in His field Ruth H., 16). There is moth
ing too hard for the Lord (Jer. xxi, N,
and when we meet a special difficulty let us
see in it great opportunity for God to work
and glorify Himself.
%. "And being let go they went to their
own company, and reported all that the
chief priests and elders had said unto Them"
They knew just where to find their friends,
and without hesitation they seek those who
were gathered in Jesus's name, and who were
perhaps y, aging for the prisoners. Think
of Jesus at the age of twelve. not found
with the other boys, but with the learned
men in the temple, and probably asking
some wonderful questions duke H., 49,.
"a. And when they heard that they
lifted up their voice to God with one accord
and said, Lord, Thou art God, which hast
made heaven and earth and the sea, and all
that in them is" They think at once of
their great and faithful Creator 70 whom
Peter in one of his epistles teaches us to
commit our souls Il Peter iv., 19 Compare
lisa. xxxvii., 16: xl., 26: xiii, 5, 6; Jer.
xxi, II. They evidently believed that
their God had power to do as He pleased
both in heaven and on earth (Dan iv., 35i.
25. .sWho by tho mouth of thy servant
David hast said, Why did the heather rage,
and the people imagine vain things% OBJ
serve that it was David's mouth but
not David's words. The words were
the words of God. Compare Ex iv.,
12; IL Sam. XIII, 2; Jer. l., 9; John xii,
40, anG be foolish enough in the eyes OF
earth's wise men to believe in verbal in
spiratiop.
&C. "The kings of the earth stood up and
the rulers were gathered together against
the Lord and against His Christ" See in
the third verse Of this second psalm from
which we are quoting how He that sitteth
in the heavens laughs at all mans vain and
puny efforts against Him. Compare lsa
When will men learn that all thoughts
against God are vain thoughts and must
perish? Surely it is very evident ''the
carnai mind is enmity against Cod Rom
viii, u.
81 'For truth against Thy holy child,
Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod
and Pontius PLATE with the Gentiles and the
people OF Israel, were gathered together"
There was a fulhllment of part of Ps. ii. in
the treatment of Jesus by Jews and Gent1les
at His cruciixion. So surely shall verse 8
be fulfilled when Jesus shall sit on David's
throne at Jerusalem luke j., 32, 33,, and
verses 8, 9 shall also be fulfilled when He
comes in glory. bringing all His saints with
Him REV. H., 26, 30.
2S. '.For to do whatsoever Thy hand and
Thy counsel determined before to be DONE"
God declares the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are
not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand,
and will do ali my pleasure lisa. Xvi, 1W.
And yet men are free to accept or refuse
His gracious invitations of mercy (John ",
40; Luke xiv. IS; John ill.,, 16. As surely as
ChrisJ suffered, so surely shall He reign, but
only such as suffer with Him shall reign with
Him Gil Tim. ii. IL.
enings, and grant unto Thy servants, that
with all boldness they may speak Thy
wordp 1t is the Word of the Lord that
shall do the work, for it is the same word
that made the heavens (Ps. xxxiii., O.. The
Word of God in the power of the Spirit Is
Ine flre ana hammer tnaC breaks tne roch
in pieces Uer. xiii, 20. As to all threat
ening words or letters we have only to say,
Lord, behold themi just spread them be-
fore Him, and let Him see toit lisa. xxxyii.,
IA; Ps. xxxvii :, s..
30. by stretching forth Thine hand to
heal; and that signs and wonders may be
done by the name of Thy Holy Child Jesus"
They remembered His promise concerning
signs and wonders in Mark xvi, II, IS.
81. ''And when they had prayed, the
place was shaken where they were assembled
To rethar and fhav wnra all filled with tha