The National tribune., 1892-08-11
sunday MEDITATION.
stG9 in-
A Study of tleas.lll'ernalionaI Sunday
School Less'o9lnlS5Aayppointed for August
81, 1884, .
Subject: The Apostles Prosecuted. Acts. s
7E25F43.

deaths OF those two under such peculiar cir.
cumstances reused the populace. No wonder
that the priests in special who felt themselves
responsible in all religious matters were stirred
up with great excitement. Aud very strange
events followed Holy boldness fred the Apos-
ties and they ventured to preach and effect.
humanity speaking, nnaccountable cures. Not
only the hands ". 12) of the Apostles had
miraculous power, but even their shadow drove
away incnrable diseases. We arc all very con-
cerned when members of our families fall dau-
gerously Ill. We are specially grieved when
those dear to us are found to be chronically and
h0pelessly sick. We do not give up effort even
at the bidding Of the physician, but try every
proposed remedy. No wonder then that, when
it became known the Apostles were curing
most inveterate disorders, the people from all
the region round about took their sick to the
Apostles, hoping cure. (V. 16.) 1t is not to be
wondered at that the Apostles gained the good
will OF the populace. (Fs 13. LAD 10 sinners
the presence of the Apostles was awful, awing.
Familiarity was thought daring (See "durst
no man." V. 49, But they who accepted the
Apostles as true teachers and hence conformed
to their doctrines, focked about the holy
men aud ventured to become members Of the
new body of believers. ". 14)
But the course Of tho Apostles run too straight
to be without difficulty. Nothing so stirs up
people as innovations on religious customs.
they are with regard to dogmas. They will
contend more for rubric than for doctrine
| moro for ritual than creed. Then, the minis
tiers of a settled religiOn-trained i'll the usages
OF said religion deriving their support from its
incomes, and their influence from their official
positions-cannot without much concern see a
new system supplanting the old, new ministers
cr0wding out the ancient order of priests peo-
pie being drawn away from the established
religion aud flockipg over in great numbers to
di1erentsystem of faith and practice-their own
deeds utterly cell psed by the wonderful acts and
accomplishments of new set Of religious lead
ers They will be filled with indignation"
". III They will stop the innovation if
they can succeed. So as to the Apostles OF
the early Church. The priests set themselves
against them. AS men against men they had
the advantage. But new factor was found.
The Angel of the Lord is at hand. ". 49,
What now2 The fight must be against super.
natural powers. There is only one side in such
contest, and the Apostles were sure to win.
When prisons prove useless men are brought to
halt. The thought at length gets into their
minds that they are fighting against God rather
than against men. ". 80; 9:5; %: 81
We now study the sequel of the second inn
prisonment The first is mentioned in 4: 3,
aud included only SITS. Peter and John. This
second incarceration Is: 49, involved, possibly,
all Twelve Apostles Tho Sanhedrim decided
to investigate, but where were the prisoners?
God had liberated them and they were preach
ing and etisctiug signs and wonders V. ~ in
the very Temple ~. 25)-the Gentle Court,
Solomon's Porch.
We shall get most out OF this paragraph II We
consider it under four heads
/. Apostles tried by Sanhedrin VS.. 1923.
2. st. Peters defense. VS.. 1872.
3. Gamaliels counsel. vs.. 33-40.
a. Sequel. vs. Al, 42.
/. Time.
We date May, A.. ID. %. 1t is difficult to be
exact about the time. I We must be quite away
from Pentecost Day.. The account shows sew
eral interesting events calling for considerable
intervals Then. the account is probably quite
meager. 1t is likely much was done in the
mean while of which We have no record. (G.
st. John. q :25} 'sa. 49,
g. Place.
The Sanhedrim met in the Council House.
4:15; 5:21, 81, "a, Al; 6: 12.) That was a
building attached to the western wall OF the
Temple between the gate Parbar and the south
gate Asuppm. These gates led out from the
Temple into the suburbs Of Jerusalem. 1t was
in that same place that Christ was tried and
condemned. st. Mark, Is: l; st. Luke, %: G6 !;
St. John, Al. lSee references on v. 30
The Council-room WAS 210 feet long and ITO
wide. That included side rooms--places to
which prisoners went aside" "a: 49, The
Apostles were preaching in Soiomon's Porch.
". 12) 1t was only little distance from the
Council Chamber. 1t must have required
great courage to disobey the Sanhedrim Com
pare A. Is and 5: II, 25) at a mere distance
which could be covered by loud voice.
l. APOSTLES TRIED BY THE SANHEDRIM.
!. analysis.
/. Data. Acts, 5 1888 Gnclusve).
2. Time. A. d. 20, May (?).
3. Place. Council House.
d. Prisoners. Twelve Apostles
5. Informant. One. V. %. Unknown.
g. Arresters. Captain and officers. 26.
7. Judges. Sanhedrim. q.
T /. Disobedience. CT. AIS and
c.;. 5:25.
o. crimes 2. Exciting the people. g.
3. Bad intentions. %.
8. Method. InausitiOn.
10. Lessons. See below.
2. References.
Verse %. Put in prison. 4:3; 5: 1s, 10, 81.
90, 90. Are ont of prison. God let them out
Elk. Is: IL; Ps., rs: 10; ST. Mt, 10: 90; ST.
Mark, 10: 81; st. Luke, Is: 81.
V 90 Captain. V. "a Captain with the
officers. %; ST. John, 49, II. Sanhedrim
feared the people. Al; st. Mt 81 %; 26:
8, 5; 81: 49, 46. So Herod feared the people.
S.. Mat, IA: 5. Lest stoned. 7: So. So; Law.
2i:l H. 10, %; st. L., 20: 8; st. John, 8: 7, 50.
90: Is; "a 30; st. Mt, 1917.
V. %. Command you not to teach in Christ's
name 4 IS. Christ's blood (death). 30; 2 %,
SO; 81 IS; $50. Blood upon us. St. Mt, 81 !:
g. Compare Acts, 1876. Blood. st. Mt
%: 30.
3. Notes on analysis.
]. Informant " g. Somebody is always
found ready to tell even to offer his services
1t is we'll the name of the informant is not
given. for it would rank only with TINT Of
Judas.
9 The Apostles offered no opposition to the
officers. (V. 26.) Christians must be law
abiding. >, .,oss sn
g. Mans blood on us. The Apostles had
charged tho Sauhedrim with being guilty of
Christ's death. There was no question about
said fact. Tho members of that body could
but admit tho fact. The Apostles had so stirred
up the people that tho lives Of the members of
the Sanhedrim would have been in danger.
Those who condemned Christ must meet the
charge. asgtu
ID, Lessons.
!. We must not;obey civil powers when they
forbid us doing what God had commanded rs
to do Compare st. Mt. %: 10; Acts A: 1S;
S: 25 yonJ
2. We must not stir people up against human
g. We must obey God, even if bad conse-
uuences come thereby on evil doors.