The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-26
LESSON STORY.

"The word Acts" says DR.. Plump
tire, seems to have come into common
use in the first and second centuries
after Christ. for what we should call
memoirs or Biographies. We have,
therefore, in the book which is to be the
basis of our Lessons for the year on
which we have entered, Memoir OF the
apostles. The book, according to the
understanding of those who in the early
church gave it the name by which it is
now designated, is devoted to recording
the acts. or doings. of the apostles.
This object is, however limited; the
doinge of the apostles are recorded only
go far as they relate to the founding OF
the church. 1t makes mention OF the
Twelve, now Eleven; but it concerns
itself chiefly with such as Stephen.
Philip, James, John, Peter and Paul.
These were not all of the original
Twelve; but they were all in the true
sense apostles. These cone into promi-
nence in this memoir because they had
essential parts in the beginnings of the
Church, the organization and spread OF
the Gospel. Acts is to be studied as be-
ing what its author declares it to be, a
Book of Beginnings.
The author. by concurrence of the al
most unanimous decision of Christian
scholarship, is Luke. This book is really
the continuance of Luke's Life of
Christ. Luke, according to Paul, was by
profession physician; he was Gentle
convert to Christianity. He was Paul's
attendant on several of his missionary
ages,-probably as physician as
we'll as a pupil Asa Gentle convert to
Christianity Luke naturally whites of
the esta bliehment of the church, as one
who sees in the Gospel it's universalism.
He always writes as one who has been
deeply impressed by the truth that the
Man of Nazareth is the Saviour of the
world, that his Gospel as an impartial
message OF Divine good will to all men
who dwell on the face of the earth.
L. Authors Introduction, VS..
Is.
From the very structure of this in
scription it is too evident for denial that
it is Luke, the author of the Third Cos
pei, who writes the Book of Acts. Rsnan.
who would allow no tradition to stand
without assault if he could find any
ground for skeptical conjecture, con.
cedes that il is indisputable that Luke
the Evangelist is the writer of Acts
To friend named Theophilus (LoUer
of God, Luke had dedicated his former
treatise, or writing, which recorded
what Jesus began to do and teach. To
the same Theophius. now in Rome. and
who is like Luke Gentle convert to
Christianity, the author dedicstes the
continuation Of his history.
Luke revives recollections Of the clos
ing passage of his former story, that he
may complete the statement there made.
AS pertaining alike to his former story
and to the one now before him. he re-
calls that Jesus, by infallible proofs, re-
appe lred to his disciples, from time to
tlme, uuIlnB ioIlJ uaJs aAtei MS rosui-
rection. He was with them, however,
appearing aud disappearing,-as an I'm
mortal. Luke specially recalls that
Jesus, after having met his disciples in
Galilee according to the record of the
other Evangelists). caused them to as
semble in Jerusalem; and meeting them
there charged them not to depart again
from that city until they received the
ful6llment of the promise of the Father,
the baptism of the Holy Spirit,-an up
lift out of their misgivings into the
Spirit.
The Gospel is the natural prologue of
the story of the Beginnings of the So