Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-02-25
rnE SUNDAY SCHOOL
International Lesson for February IS, 1897
The Disciples Dispersed-Aets SILT.

( E-AE Ian ALtJE4.
/. 4 Great Persecution.-Vs. IA. i.
''And Saul was consening unto his
DEATH The word implies hearty APP
proval. He probably voted against him
and spoke against him in the Sanhe-
drim-besides being among his muir
derers- AT that time" The original
literally implies on that very day las
N the r. W; Immediately after the
stoning. There was a great persecu-
ton against the church, The severity
and the variety of suffering may be inn
agined from James description (Jas.
go, y, and Paul's in Cor. I1:23-25.
And they were all scattered abroad"
Not every member, but the active ones,
those who taught the doctrine of Ste
phen, as a farmer scatters his seed
broadcast. They went as far as Pie
nicia, Antioch and Cyprus (11:19). The
enemy scattered the good seed, and by
scattering increased the harvest. "Ex-
cept the apostles" These remained
ID because as leaders of the church
they would rather suffer with those
that remained, as long as it was posi-
bic.
5. saul, he made havoc Of the
church," lie ravaged, devastated the
church as a wild beast does a vineyard
or an invading enemy peaceful coun-
try. He did this under the sanction of
the rulers (26:10). Entering into
every house:" i. e., making his search
everywhere, that none should escape.
II. One Example of the Work Done:
Philip, the Evangelist.-Vs. IS. 5.
Philip" Not the apostle of that name.
but the evangelist, enc of the seven dea-
cons chosen to aid the apostles (6:5).
The capital of the district of Samaria.
And preached" proclaimed the
Christ" the Messiah, unto them"
Simon was the leader of the opposition
(V. %, but apparently Philip took no
direct notice of him.
6. THE people with one accord gave
heed" 1t is quite possible that Philip
may have reaped a harvest from the seed
sown by Jesus Himself nearly ten years
before John a in city of the same
region. The seeds of truth otter spring
up after lying dormant for years.
Hearing" the gracious words of eter-
nal life, and of the effects of the Gospel
upon those who had embraced it at
Jerusalem. Seeing the miracles:" The
signs of their divine authority, of their
power for help, of the loving, helpful
nature of the Gospel they preached.
S. and there was great joys" Be
cause so strong and deep, and much joy
Or. VI because it was so universal.
The natural effect of the Gospel is Joy.
Ill. One Strange Result: Simon
Magus.-Vs. 9-13; 1925. We have here
the first collision of the Gospel with
inPosture and occult powers of the
world. 9. "a certain man, called ST.
mon" Little is known of him. Mean
der Identifies this Simon with one men
toned as living from ten to twenty
years after this by Josephus, and as
having been employed by the procura-
tor Felix to tempt Drusilla to leave her
husband (king Azizus) and live with
him, which she did (Acts 24:24). Simon
is there called "a Jew, born in Cyprus -
used sorcery:" Practiced magic.
10. rs the great power of Cod" r.
V, that power of God which is called
great The one in whom divine power
was manifested. One of the wizards so
numerous throughout the east at that
time, and multiplied by the general
expectation OF great deliverer, and
the spread of the Messianic notions of
the Jews.
II. ITO him they had regard" In
the hope that he might be the long
looked-for deliverer.
12 But when they believed Philip"
When they saw the true light, they
turned from the feeble worldly light
that had attracted them before. a
Philips teaching met their needs.
brought forgiveness and salvation, hope
and joy. (2) Philips works were not
only more wonderful, but more gra-
cious, more loving, more divine; and
they were such that all possibility of
decepti was removed.
IS. Then" following the popular
tide. Simon himself believed ALSO"
The sequel shows that it was a mere in
tellectual belief in Jesus. He believed
the facts. He believed the miracles were
the result of divine power. He was
baptized" Thus making a public pro-
fession of his faith. Perhaps he was
self-deceived, and thought that he pos
scssed the same faith as the others, and
knew all about religion. And WON
dcrcd:" Showing the kind of belief he
had
". The Samaritan Bridge Between
Jews and Gentiles.-Ns. 14-17. II.
when the apostles heard that
Samaria had received" etc: The Holy
Spirit had led the way to- fuller under
standing Of tile Gospel spirit and the
Gospel field. II he approved by con-
yelting the Samaritaus, Christians could
do no less than 10 approve by receiving
the,n We note here one of the steps
Is which the Gospel became all-em
blacing. sent Peter and john"
As leading apostles who could be Who'll
" trusted The minds of the Chris
tians were open 10 the ieadings Of God.
John once would have called down de-
4ba Saf,ta ~ ans