The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-09-14
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEM BES 1S.
Lesson Text: Quarterly Review
Golden ieXt: Epb. ill.,, 20
Commentary.

Commentary.
HOME READINGs.-The first eight chap
ters of Acts. entire. containing the lesson
passages of the Quarter.
Lrss:N l.-Topic, The Ascension Of
I Christ" (Acts L., LIP. Golden Text,
"When He had spoken these things, while
they beheld He was TAX an up. and Cloud
received Him out Of tneir sight (Acts l.,
q. The Gospels tell what Jesus began to
do and teach; the Acts tell what He con-
tinued to do and teach through His apos-
ties. They were to rely upon the Holy
Spirit as their only power. and their one
business was to testify of Jesus. Their Joy
was that the same Jesus would return IN
due time to restore the kingdom to Israel.
He viii! come in person, His saints will meet
Him OH the way and return with Hin Il
Thess. iv.. 16. II: ill.,, 13; iv., 14).
LESSON u.-Topic, 1.-The Descent Of the
Spirit (Acts H., 1-l2). Golden Text, when
he. the Spirit of Truth, is come: He will
guide YOU into all truth" John xiv, 19.
They prayerfully and e1pectantly waited
from day to day tor the promised Comfort.
er. See John xiv, 16, 26; xv.. &c; xvi, -.
If Jesus had not ascendeo, He would not
have come John xvi, y, and the disciples
might have labored in vain. But when the
Spirit OF God works or speaks then work is
done and to some purpose. Our wisdom
and power is nothing, but He who at crea-
ton brought light OUT Of darkness and order
and truitfulness Instead OF chaos and e!npti-
ness can shine IN mems hearts and give the
knowledge of God tGer. l.. 2;s Cor. iv.:, g.;
John xvi, 81.
Lesson IlI.-Topic "The First Christian
Church" tActs H., 3!-40. Golden Text
"Ihe Lord added to the church daily such
as should be saved" (Acts H., ~ As Peter
spoke the word in the power OF the Spirit
and testified Of the resurrection OF Jesus
from the dead, the people were convinced OF
their sin and earnestly asked wnat to do.
Thus began to be formed the Church or
Body OF Christ tEph.'j -. e3,, of which
He is the Head, ana which when completed
will be brought to Him rs Eve was to
Adam. Then the marriage OF the Lamb,
and after that the kingdom (Rev. XIX.
LESSON lV.-fopic, The Lame Man
Healed tActs ill.,, 1-l6). Golden Text. And
his name, throug gh faith in His name, hath
made thus man strong" tActs ill.,, 16., Jesus,
though absent in body and invisible, has all
mower in heaven and on earth Matt.
xviii, 49,, and is pleased by His Spirit in
His people to show His power on behalf OF
our bodies as well as our souls. Observe
that again Peter breaches a risen Chrls5
lverse 15).
LESSON V.-Topic "Petter and John Be.
Text, There is none other name under
heaven given among men whereby we must
be saved' tActs iv. 12. The preaching Of
the resurrection of Jesus so enraged the re-
Iieious rulers. and especially the Sadducees,
who did not believe in a resurrection, that
Peter and John were imprisoned and the
next brought before the council. Again
Peter boldly proclaimed that Jesus whom
they had cruclfied was alive, and that the
healing of the lame man was His doing. IL
the power Of q risen, living Christ was seen
in us. people would learn Of Jesus through
US.
LESSON VI.-Topic, 'The Apostles Con-
fdence in God' (AcJs iv., 1881 Golden
Text, "1hey spake the Word of God with
boldness (ActS iv, 31. The council having
threatened them and commanded them to
spsak no more in Jesus's name. let them go.
The apostles said that they must speak in
His name and departing went to the other
believers and told their story. The result
was prayer and praise and another mighty
baptism Of the Holy Spirit and increased
testimony to risen Christ.
LESSON VII.-Topic, 'Ananias and Sap
phira" (Acts ". ILL. Golden Text, "Be
not deceived, God is not Knocked; for what.
soever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap" (Gal. vi, q. We have thus far seen
the power Of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit OF
Truth in holy and true men who were
faithful witnesses; but now we see the de-
ceitfuiness OF the human heart in man and
his wife who thought they could deceive
God and not be found out Keeping back
part OF the price, lack OF whole.hearted con-
secration to Goo, is the great hlndrance In
the church to-day.
LESSON VlII.-Topic, The Apostles Per
secuted" facts ", 2s-4U Golden Text 1--WE
ought to uLey God rather than men" Acts
v. 29. SO many mighty works were
wrought by the apostles that the rage OF
Satan again caused their imprisonment, but
the Lord by an angel set them tree IN the
night, and told them to keep on preaching.
They are found in the temple at their wore,
are arrested and brought before the council
and again testify to a risen Christ. The
council are reaoy to kill them; Gamaliel ad
vises moderation, so they are beaten and let
LESSON lX.-Topic. "The First Christian
Martyr" (Acts vii, 54-6N. Golden Text,
'tHe kneeled down and cried with a loud
voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge
(Acts vii, 6O). Out OF seven men, full OF
faith and the Holy Spirit. who were chosen
to see to the temporal affairs OF the church.
Stephen so spake and wrought miracles ana
accused the council Of the murder OF Jesus,
that what they thought to have done to
Peter and John they actually did to Stephen,
and stoned him to death. Saul being VIII
ness to the deed and cons enting to it.
LESSON X.-Topic, "Philip Preaching at
Samaria" (Acts viii, 5-35). Golden Text.
'And there was great joy in that city"
tActs viii, 8. The command Of Jesus was
to testify of Him in Judea, Samaria and un-
to the ends Of the earth chapter j., 81, but
up to the death of Stephen they had not
done so. After that the believers were scat
tered everywhere, preaching the Word, and
Philip, another Of the seven, had such sue
cess in Samaria that Peter and John wers
sent from Jerusalem that the believers
might receive the gift Of tho Holy Ghost.
Then is revealed the heart Of Simon the
Sorcerer, who tn ought that money could buy
the gift. Compare this with the sin Of An
anias.
LESSON XI.-Topic, "Philip and the
Ethiopian" lActs viii. 26-4G. Golden Text
He that believeth on the Son hath ever
lasting hfe' John ill.,, 3GI. Philip is called
from the great work IN Samaria to visit the
desert and lead the Ethiopian eunuch to
Jesus. Our business as servants of Christ
is not to seek great things for ourselves
tJer. XIV, 81, but to obey Him and follow
where He leadeth. We cannot estimate the
value of one soul, and az we ara laborers
with God, not he with us, He must have full
control OF us.-Lesson HELPER.
THE rusting Of rails, especially in
oi 1nnr fnppo1c