The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-24
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY %.
Lesson Text: ttThe Disciples Dis
persed," Acts Will. 1-17-Golden
Text: Acts viii, 4-Com-
mentary.

l. Satan was very angry and stirred up the
religious Pharisees, who thought that Jesus
Christ was blasphemer and an imposter
and therefore justly put to death, to do all
they could to stamp out this sect OF apostles
from Judaism, but this was overruled by
God to scatter the truth OF His great redemp-
t1on. The command had been given. "Go
ye into all the world.' and the assurance
also that they should be His witnesses unto
the ends OF the earth (Mark XVII, Is, Acts l.,
81; but, being slow to obey, they had to be
scattered by persecution. We would think
that the apostles would be the first to go forth,
but the record is that all we're scattered ex.
cept the apostles.
2. With great sorrow they laid away the
poor broken body Of Stephen till the resur.
rection. While they knew that he was GER
tainly with the Lord in glory. they would
greatly miss him, and for the body, and for
the bereaNe1 friends and relatives, the work
of the great enemy, death, is always sorrow-
full work. Even Jesus wept at the grave
OF Lazarus, though He knew that He would
in few moments give him back to his sisters.
8. Saul seems to have been the leader in
the persecution of the Christians. His own
testimony in after years was beyond
measure prosecuted the church Of God and
wasted it," IA blasphemer and prosecutor
and injurious" (Gal. l., 13; Tim. L.. 13).
See also his more full testimony in Acts
XVI, Gil.
4. Those who were scattered abroad went
everywhere preaching the word. Men,
women and children could tell Of Him who
was crucif1ed, who rose from the dead, who
appeared to hundreds of His followers and
afterward visibly assembled to heaven, and
who was surely coming back from heaven in
due time to restore all things Of which the
n, ,oDhatc had oDnlau [AofS
21). and that all who would receive Him
now by faith would have in Him the forgive
ness OF all their sins (Luke xiv. At; Acts
xiii, 38, 39), and come with Him in glory q
Thess. w., 1D.
s. This is Philip Of the committee Of seven
Of chapter vi, 5, not Philip of John xiv. 8.
OF the apostles. Stephen. the leader of the
seven, being promoted, Philip. the next
named In order, seems called to special SER
vice by the Holy Spirit. HepreachA Christ
in His humiliation and exaltation, in His
life and death and resurrection, His ascen-
sion, interoession and return, and that
through Him all who accept Him have re-
demption in Him, even the forgiveness Of
sins.
6. The word which Philip spake was fol-
lowed by miracles which God did by him,
God thus working with him by the Holy
Spirit MARK xvi. 20). Philip sought only
honor and glory Of God through Christ, and
the power Of the Lord was manifest cd In the
people giving heed with one accord to what
was spoken.
7,S. There was great Joy in that city as
they saw the lame ana the palsied healed
and evil spirits casi out. and receiving Christ
as Israels Messiah, and their own personal
Saviour had the assurance Of eternal life as
present possession. 1t is the will of God
that His people be full OF Joy John xv., II;
XVII. "a; xviii, 13). But there Is no way to
be full OF Joy except by believing (Rom. xv.,
l3).
8. One who had beforetime deceived the
people by wonderful works which he wrought
In the power OF the evil one-for the devil
has In The past wrought miracles and will
again before the Lord comes In His glory
(Ex. vii. II, 12; Rev. xiii, 11-15)-is now in
Produced to US as being among the believers.
He had exalted himself before the people as
being some great one, but he saw in Philip
the work Of a greater than he had ever
heard Of.
10, II. Before Philip came all gave heed to
Simon, looking upon him as the great power
of God. He Was a sample. like many others
who have been and are now, and especially
Of one who is to come Grew. xiii, 8, 4), Of a
satan filed man glorifying himself and do
Ing his will that he himself may prosper.
See Dan. xi., 36. How shall We know
whether We are to give heed 10 or beware OF
one who doeth wondrous works2
12. The words and works OF God through
Philip, the name OF Jesus Christ and the
things concerning the kingdom of God took
such hold of the people in the power of the
Spirit that many believed in the Lord, both
men and women. and publicly, confessed
their faith by baptism. Philip did not seek,
like Simon, to draw people to himself; but,
hiding himself, he exalted Christ that people
might be drawn to Him. II Christ Is mag.
nified, he will to this day draw people unto
Him.
.19. It must have been wonder to all peo-
pie when the great sorcerer himself believed
and was baptized. He continued with Philip,
wondering at the signs and great miracles
fmargin) which he saw. Whatever of sleight
Of hand or of the real power OF the devil
there had been in the soreeries with which
he had bewitched the people -and doubtless
there is much Of each in the spiritisms or
!o-day-here were works such "a simon had
never seen, much less done Here was in.
deed the power OF God.
IA. The apostles continued at Jerusalem.
They heard that the word was being preached
and received in Samaria and sent Peter and
John TO see. These men who had been ap-
pointed TO serve tables were being nightly
used Of God One had been honored to be
The first martyr in the early church. and one
was being honored to win many souls in
Samaria, while from Jerusalem nothing
special is heard about this tiUe, though
doubtless many were still being added TO the
Lord Cchapter ", 1D. Let US be willing to
serve the Lord In any capacity. and He will
lead US into all He has for US III Sam. xv,
15).
Is, 16. When any one truly receives
Christ, such one is truly saved (John l.. ~;
ill.,, 16, sc; ", "a; vii., 81, AZ, etc.). Baptism
is the public confession that Christ has been
accepted, although neither baptism nor the
Lori's su pper nor joining the church adds n
whit to our safety, but are acts OF obelience.
bringing increased fellowship with God to
the obedient believer. Every truly peni-
tent and believing soul receives the Holy
Spirit upon believing.
IT, "Then had they their hands on them,
and they received the Holy Ghost" They
were saved before, but are now specially
qualified for service. Simon, not under
standing, offers money that he may receive
the power which he saw in Peter and John.
Peter severely rebuk him, but in verse "a
Simon seems sorry for his misunderstanding
and asks TO be prayed for. Peter and Jonn
bear witness to Christ and return to Jerusa-
lem, preaching as they 90. II We are fully
yielded and ready for any service, we shall
be fllled.-Lesson Helper.