Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-13
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.
Places Jerusalem; a court of the tenn
pie where the apostles preached; council
room of the Sanhe drin; a public prison.
Time: A. D.. 90 or 49,
Persons: The apostles; the high priest
Annas; other tiignitaries. mostly Saddd-
Gees; an angel; officers of the Sanhedrin;
guards of the prison
The church was growing rapidly and
internal peace and purity were prevalent.
The divine takir g off of Ananias and Sap
phira for their hypocrisy had salutary
effect on the life of the church. Many
miracles of healing we're wrought by
the apostles. Jerusalem and the sur
rounding community was being pro-
foundry stirred The indignation and
jealousy of theSecelesiastical leaders of
the Jews was aroused at the success of
the Christians. They determined to
had crushed in a manner their Master
before. They arrest and imprison the
apostles. Their trial was being arranged
for, while the Offenders remained in Jail.
But an angel liberatss them without the
knowledge of the guards or the Sanhe-
drin. The angel tells the apostles to go
back to the temple and continue to preach
the words of this life"
The council assemblies, but the pris-
oners cannot at first be found--their
dduSSolS are cIIiplN. II Is TtHOIltu lfldl
they are at the temple as before.
This greatly perplexes the Sanhedrin,
but they send for the apostles, who are
brought without violence" on account of
the attachment of the populace for Them
the officers fearing the people. The
apostles are reprimanded for their
preaching. and commanded not TO speak
in this name" any more They make
splendid confession of faith and claim
that they are sent of God to speak for
His Son, the crucifled Savior.
HOROSCOPE.
Central Theme: Gods witness to the
work of the apostles, by His deliverance
and protection of them in danger.
Key Words of the Lesson: The angel of
the Lord by night opened the prison doors
and brought them forth. 50 Now 80 the
chief priests heard these things they
doubted of them whereunto this would
grow; and when they had brought
them they set them before the council
saying, Did-rot we straitly command
you that We should not teach in this
name? And behold We have filled Jeru-
salem with your doctrine, and intend to
bring this mans blood upon US. Then
Peter said, We ought to obey God
rather than men. The God of our fathers
raised up Jesus, whom We slew. y Him
hath God exalted with His right hand
to be a Prince and Savior, for to give
repentance to Israel and forgiveness of
SlliS, anu we are Ills WllueSSsS, anu
SO is also the Holy Ghost, whom God
hath given to them that obey Him."
Outline of the Lesson: I. The imprison-
ment. II. The liberation. Ill The sum
mons. ". The surprise. " The coun-
Gil perplexed. VI The prisoners re-
feared. VIII. The arraignment. TX. The
reprimand. X. First allegiance to God.
XII Claim fer Jesus. XII. Claim for them
selves and the Holy Ghost
The main idea for us to get out of this
lesson, it seems to me, is that God will
not forsake those that do His WILL that
walk in the path of duty; that choose
what is right; that believe in and honor
His Son; that He will shield and reward
those that serve Him in this world. The
truth of the lesson is the truth of Psalms
81, IL "He that dwelleth in the secret
place of the Most High shall abide under
the shadow of the Almighty. I will say
of the Lord He is my fortress; my God,
in Him will l trust Surely He shall de-
liver thee from the snare of the fowler,
and from the noisome pestilence. He
shall cover thee with His feathers, and
under His wings shalt thou trust; His
truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror
by night; nor for the arrow that fiieth by
day; nor for the pestilence that walketh
in darkness nor for the destruction that
wasteth at MONDAY. A thousand shall
fall at thy side, and ten thousand at
thy right hand, but it shall not come
nigh thee.
The first point to note is the mean mo-
tives which influenced the high priest
and his adherents. We can imagine them
as saving: '.Who are these ignorant. Cali
leans that they should encroach aon the
office of us dignified teachers? And what
fools the populace must be to listen to
them, Our prestige Is threatened If We
do not bestir ourselves, our authority will
be gone. lofty view in which to deal,
with grave movements ofopinion, not like
ly to lead it's possessors to discern the
TRUTH
The Instruments which zeal uses for
the truth are argument, Scriptlre and
persuasion. That zeal which, betakes
itself to threats and force is at the best
much mingled with the wrath and jeal-
ousy of man." -.
their eyes to the light. They looked upon
the Christians as nuisances and danger
Gus fanatics. They thought that they
were misleading the people and were ILL
disposed towards their superior teachers.
Hence the Sanhedrin, jealous of its pre-
negatives and unable to discern the truth,
or read the signs of the times. became
prosecutors and arraigned themselves
on the side of those who fight against
God But an angel upSetS their calcula-
tons and causes them confusion. God
was behind this movement, and God was
too much for the Sanhedrin God was on
the side of the apostles A consciousness
of this fact made them strong and made
them calm God opens prison doors for
His servants and sends them back to
posts of duty, and by His providence
opens up new doors of opportunity as the
old ones close. :,
God does not promise us that we shall
not suffer as we do His will, or that we
shall be delivered from difficulties, or
death as we do the right and serve Him,
but that He will be with us and not let
us suffer above that we are able to bear
and that He will use US for His own glo-
ry, and reward us for our service. In this
world the Christian man is promised
"tribuiation''-"He scourgeth every son
whom He receiveth." The apostle did not
have miracle wrought for their deliv-
GRANGE every time they were in dan
ger Some of them quickly suffered mar
tyrdom. Others were harshly treated,
beaten and afflicted in many ways. All
had to go through fiery trials for the tes-
timony of Christ. But l suppose they
always had the inner witness of Gods
spirit and felt that they were instruments
IN Gods hands for the accomplishment
m rood and hence had peace that pass