The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-07-13
T1e SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Tho First Christian Cburch--Acts 2'37-Ai
July II. 1892.

OF Hentecost, W nltSunuay Inc same uuy u
the last lesson, but continuing into the days fol
lowing
PLACE.-Jerusalem, In the vicinity Of the up
per room where the disciples met
RULERs-Tberius Cesar. emperor of Rome
~; Pontius PLATE governor OF Judea (5);
Herod Antipas, of Galilee go; Caiaphas. high
priest (6).
CIRCUMsTANCEs-Itw was the birthday OF the
Christian church The risen Lord had ascend
ed TO Heaven. The promise OF the Father had
been fulfilled by the wonderful outpouring OF
the Holy Spirit upon the one hundred and TWEEN
~ disciples assembled at Jerusalem, manifest
ed by sound as OF the rushing Of a strong
wind. by tongues OF fire, and by the inspiration
OF the disciples TO speak In various languages
All this took place before nine o'clock in the
morning (ver. l5).
LESSON HELPS.
81. Now when they heard this"
Which Peter had been saying. They
were pricked:" Pierced as a sharp instru.
ment, causing sharp and sudden pain.
I'm their hearts," Their conscience
and moral nature. "And said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles"
The meeting now evidently broke up
into fragments, personal conversation
with inquirers following the public
sermon. Men and brethren" This
friendly, courteous address showed how
| already the peoples hearts were
moved. what shall we do?" Con.
WINGED that the nation had put it's Mes
siah to death. the people were over.
whelmed with both sorrow and per.
plexity.
80. For the promise:" Of the Holy
Spirit, and of salvation, contained in
Joel. and quoted in verses 1921. unto
you, and to your children" He speci-
ties those for whom the promise was
intended. unto YOU" Lest they
should doubt of pardon and grace,
their sin being SO great. ITO your
children:" Because everyone's first
care is and should be for their families
and descendants. And to all that are
afar off," All Gentle nations. "Even
as many as the Lord our God shall CALI"
The promise belongs to everyone whom
God calls unto Him.
40. "And with many other words"
ETC.: Hence we learn that there is no
attempt made by the writer of the Acts
to produce more than the substance and
character of what was here said. Ibid
he testify" The usual word in the
Greek for "bearing witness" "And
exhort:" The order of these words,
especially the dependence of exhorta-
ton upon testimony or instruction is
worthy of note. Save yourselves" BY
taking hold of the offered salvation and
believing in Christ. From this I'M
toward (crooked) generation" The
meaning is, both from the evil influence
of and also from the condemnation pro-
nounced against the Jewish nation.
Al. "They that gladly received
"Freely," ''cheerfully," ''joyfully."
"Were baptized" Immediately, though
not necessarily on the same day. ''There
were added =. about three thou
sand souls" Unto them is an addition
by the translators. These were to carry
back the Gospel to tl,, lands whence
they came.
AZ. And they (the &, OOJ converts) con-
tinued steadfastly:" The one Greek
word is expressed by the English verb
and abverb. They pegsevered in and
gave earnest attention TO their training
in the Christian life. 'In the apostles
doctrine" i. e., the teaching of the apps.
ties in the truths of their religion, and
in the words and life of Jesus, and in
the practical duties of religion. And
(in) fellowship:" The original signifies
literally sharing in common. Break
ing of bread" is the earliest New Tesla
ment phrase for the Lords Supper, and
thus the second sacrament took it's place
along with baptism in the Christian
community from the beginning.
49, Fear came upon every soul"
The fear was an awe, "a reverential as
constituent" 'Many wonders and signs
were done by the apostles" This gen.
eral description includes the miracles
described more in detail in subsequent
chapters (chap. S:1-s; 5:l2, Is, 16).
A. And all that believed were to-
gether:" They had one central home;
they constituted a social community
by themselves, separated from the rest
of the people, not by local and physical
barriers, but by their own mutual SYM
pathies" And had all things common:"
Looked upon their possessions not as
their own, but held them as subject to
the use of the church as they were
needed.
As. "Sold their possessions and goods"
Possessions: immovable property -
lands, houses. Goods; movable personal
property. Parted them to ALL" Not to
friends only, but las every man had
need" These verbs (sold, parted) are in
the imperfect tense, indicating that the
sale and distribution took place from
time to time, as special occasion of dis
tress or want called for them.
46. And they, continuing daily" lac
cording to the prayer: give us day by
day our daily bread'') with one accord
in the temple:" The wisdom of the
church of the first days was conspicu-
ously shown in their reverent love for
the temple of their fathers. And
breaking bread" See in verse AZ. 1t
was the common meal, eaten together,
and closing with the Lords Supper.
From house to house," Or at home.
Ibid eat their meat" e., took their
food, their ordinary meals. with glad
ness" etc: Because those who were
able to contribute to the support of the
poorer members Of the church were de-
lighted to do so, and thus all over-anx-
ious care for the morrow was removed
from the whole community. Single
ness of heart" This means with sim
cere and pure heart
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.