The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-07-21
rae SUNDAY SCHOOL
rho First christian Church--Acts s,ss-As
July IL, 1893.

GOLDEN TEXT. The Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved d---Acts 9;47
TINE Sunday. May 20, A. D. 30 The feast
Of Pentecost Whitsunday The same day as
the last lesson but continuing into the days fol.
lowing t'ti H
PLAcE Jerusalem, In the vicinity OF the up
per room where the disciples met
RULERS-Tlbertus Cesar, emperor OF Rome
QD: Pontius Pilate, governor Of Judea C);
Herod Antpas, Of Galilee (S4); Caiaphes. high
priest (6). iH w
CRCuMsTANcEs.--lt was the biz thday Of the
Christian church. The risen Lord had ascend.
ed 70 Heaven The promise Of tho Father had
been fulfilled by the wonderful outpouring Of
the Holy Spirit upon tho one hundred and twen-
ty disciples assembled OF Jerusalem, manifest
wind. by tongues OF Gre, and BY the inspiration
Of the disciples 10 speak in various languages
All this took place before nine o'clock IN the
morning over lo).
LESSON HELPS.
81. snow when they heard this"
Which Peter had been saying. They
were pricked:" Pierced as sharp instru.
ment, causing sharp and sudden pain.
"In 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 dor Con-
vinced 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 i7-21, Unto
you, and to your children" He speci-
fes those for whom the promise was
intended "Unto your 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
afaY 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 "Did
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 un-
toward (crooked) generations" 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 the lands whence
they came.
AZ. And they (the 5000 converts) con-
tinued steadfastly:" The one Greek
word is expressed by the English verb
and abverb They persevered in and
gave earnest attention to their training
in the Christian life "In the apostles
doctrine" I. e., the teaching of the apos-
ties in the truths Of their religion. and
In the words and life of Jesus. and in
the practical duties Of religion "And
Cn) fellowship" The original signifies
literally sharing in common. Break
ing Of bread" is the earliest New Testa-
ment phrase for the Lords Supper, and
thus the second sacrament took its place
along with baptism In the Christian
community from the beginning.
43. "Fear came upon every soul:"
The fear was an awe, "a reverential as
tonishment." MANY wonders and signs
were done by the apostles:- This gen
eral description includes the miracles
described more in detail in subsequent
chapters (chap. 8:l-S; 5:12, Is, l6).
a.. "And all that believed were to-
they constituted q social community
by themselves, separated from the rest
of the people, not by local and physical
barriers, br.t by their own mutual sym
pathies." 4" "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.
Is, "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.
20. "And they, continuing daily" (ac-
cording to the prayer: Give us day by
day our daily bread") with one accord
IN the temples" The wisdom OF the
church Of the frst deys was conspicu-
ously shown in their revercnt love FOR
the temple Of their fathers. "And
q -