Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-07-22
THE LANE HEALED.
LESSON ", THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
RATIONAL SERIES, JULY "a.

DRY Verses, 6-s-Goiden Text, Acts iii,
1O-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
l. Now Peter and John went up to-
gether into the temple at the hour of
prayer, being the ninth hour" This was
probably at the time of the evening sacri-
! flee, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. 1t
was the hour at which Jesus died on Cal
vary (Math. xvii, IS, 50D We are remind
ed that praysr can be acceptable only
through the merits of Jesus our sacrifice.
See Rev. viii, 3, !. Compare David and
Daniel praying three times day CPs lv,
10; Dan. vi, l0).
2. And a certain man, lame from his
mothers womb, was carried, whom they
laid daily at the gate of the temple" This
man, over forty years of age Chapter iv,
22), had apparently no thought of ever
being healed, but desired only the aims of
the worshipers, that thus he might exc out
living. We wonder why, when Jesus
healed the man born blind John tx, y,
probably at the same gate, He passed by
this man, who was also afflicted from his
birth. Did He purposely leave this man
for Peter and John to heal9
3. "Who seeing Peter and John about to
go into the temple, asked an aims" How
many there are who are spiritually lame,
and like Mephibosheth, lame on both feet
through the fault of another-Adam and
his sin QI Sam. iv, 1; tx, l3); who know
nothing of the Kings table, but desire
only temporal gifts.
4. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon
him, with John said, Look on us" They
must have passed him many a time before,
for he was there every day, but now they
are by the Spirit in them led to give heed
to him. If we were always filled with the
Spirit then God would work in us phil. ii,
ID; Heb. xiii, 81 and we would see many
an opportunity OF making Him known to
the people whom we meet and pass I'M
noticed every day
5. And He gave heed unto them expect
ing to receive something of them" 1t was
money he wanted and for money reached
out his hand, as almost any one will He
little thought of the durable riches and
righteousness prov. viii, lS) which were
within his reach.
6. Then Peter said, Silver and gold
have none; but such as have give thee
in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
rise up and walk" There is something
better than money which can be had with
out money Qsa. ", y. Money for which
most people toll cannot give health of body
at all times, and never health of soul ops
Xix, 6, y. But Jesus, who is heavens
riches for body and soul, may be had by
all John i, II Vi, 81 iii, Is; Rev. xxi, 10
I. And he took him by the right hand
and lifted him up; and Immediately his
feet and ankle bones received strength. I"
God in Peter reached out the hand to him.
and wrought through Peter in the name
of Jesus on behalf of the lame man, ac
cording to Mark xvi, 20 Why may not
every believer believing lisa, xii, ID, be used
at least in some measure in the same way.
According to your faith (Math. tx, 29)
s And he, leaping up, Stood and
walked, and entered with them into the
temple, walking and leaping and praising
God" Long before had the prophet said
that such things as this should come to
pass lisa. xxXv, G). But who can tell the
feelings of tsis man under this sevenfod
manifestation of the power of Jesus name?
What do we know of the power of this
name?
o. And all the people saw him walking
and praising God" When God works
nightly people must see it, and if there
are no works of God manifest in us, where
is the evidence that God is in us? If peo-
Pile glorified God in Paul gal. i, "a why
not in US also? Perhaps we have not Paul's
ambition phil. i, 90 iii, SLID
10 And they knew that it was he; and
they were filled with wonder and amaze
ment at that which had happened unto
him." The change was marked and I'M
mistakable. Perhaps some of them would
think of the man born blind whose eyes
Jesus had opened and be compelled to
conclude that this Jesus although cruel
fed was yet alive. That is what believ-
ers are now on earth for, that the mighty
works of God may be seen in them and
Jesus thus made known (II Cor. w. ID
II. And as the lame man which was
healed held Peter and John, all the people
ran together unto them, greatly wonder
ing" The healed man naturally chung to
his deliverers, and the crowd ran to see the
healed and the healers. There being but
little of the power of God in the church to
day, the crowd have to be drawn by enter
tainments and suppers and concerts; but
let some of the power that was seen on this
occasion be again manifest and the things
which now disgrace the church shall speed
lily vanish.
IL aye men of Israel why marvel We at
this or why look ye so earnestly on us?"
Thus Peter spoke to the people as with
wonder they gazed first at the healed man
and then at the apostles Not knowing
God the invisible, people will gaze upon
and wonder at the visible instruments
whom God is graciously pleased to use.
And as soon rs the instrument is willing
to be magnifed the power ceases q Cor
i, 29).
49, "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac,
and Of Jacob, the God of our fathers, had
gloritied His Son Jesus, whom ye delivered
up" With the power of the risen ascend,
ed and glorifed Jesus manifest in the
healed man, Peter now breaches unto
them Jesus and the resurrection according
to the Scriptures of the prophets Verse ls),
urging them to repentance and to look for
the return of Christ to restore all things
| Oversees l9-2D
A. But ye deni,d the Holy One and the
/ Just, and desired "A rIerer to be granted
unto youW He faithfully and fearlessly
charges home upon them their sin, not only
of preferring murderer to the Holy One,
| but of actually numbering the Holy One
Consider the testimony of men and demons
to the holiness of Jesus MARK i, %, "a.
| Math xvii f. 49, 81