The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-02-25

a Commentary by the Rev. d. NJ.
Stearns.
l. Satan was very angry and stirred up
the religious Pharisees, who thought that
Jesus Christ was a blasphemer and an i'm
postor 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 redemption. 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 xvi, Is; Acts i, s.; but, being slow
to obey, they had TO be scattered by perse-
cution. We would think that the apostles
would be the first to go forth, but the rec
ord is that all were scattered except 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
certainly with the Lord in glory, they
would greatly miss him, and for the body,
and for the bereaved friends and relatives,
the work of the great enemy, death, is al
ways sorrowful work Even Jesus wept
at the grave of Lazarus, though He knew
that He would in "a 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 I prosecuted the church of God
and wasted it, - g A blasphemer and a per
secutor and injurious (GaL i, 13; 1 Tim.
i, 49, See also his more full testimony
in Acts XVI, ell.
f. Those who were scattered abroad went
everywhere preaching the word. Men,
women and children could tell of Him who
was crucified, 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 prophets had spoken (Acts i, 3, IL;
iii, 20, 21), and that all who would receive
Him now by faith would have in Him the
forgiveness of all their sins duke xiv,
Al; Acts xiii, 3S, 39), and come with Him
in glory q Thess. iv, 14).
5. This is Philip of the committee of
seven of chapter vi, ., not Philip of John
xiv, g. one of the apostles. stephen, the
leader of the seven, being promoted, Phil
ip the next named in order, seems called to
special service by the Holy Spirit. He
preached Christ in His humiliation and
exaltation, in His life and death and res
direction, His ascension, intercession and
return, and that through Him all who &C
cept Him have redemption in Him, even
the forgiveness of sins.
6. The word which Philip spake was
followed by miracles which God did by
him, God thus working with him by the
Holy Spirit MARK xvi, 2O). Philip sought
only honor and glory of God through
Christ, and the power of the Lord was
manifested in the people giving heed with
one accord to what was spoken.
z, 8. There was great JOY in that city as
they saw the lame and the palsied healed
and evil spirits cast out, and receiving
Christ as Israel's Messiah, and their own
personal Saviour had the assurance of eter-
nal life as a present possession. 1t is the
will of God that His people be full of joy
(John XIV, II, xvi, pa; xvii, 49,. But there
Is no way to be full of JOY except by beliey-
ing (Rom. XIV, 49,.
9. 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, IL, IL; Rev. xiii, 11-15)
is now introduced to Us as being among
the believers. He had exalted himself be-
fore the people as being some great one,
but he saw in Philip the work of d 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 Rev xiii,
8, ~, of satan filled man clarifying him
self and doing his will that he himself
may prosper. See Dan. XII, So. How shall
we know whether we are to give heed to or
beware of one who doeth wondrous works?
10. 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.
If Christ is magnifed, He will to this day
draw people INTO Him.
IS. 1t must have been a wonder to all
people when the great sorcerer himself be-
lieved and was baptized He continued
with Philip, wondering at the signs and
great miracles (margin) which he saw.
Whatever of sleight of hand or of the real
power of the devil there had been in the
sorceries with which he had bewitched the
people-and doubtless there is much of
each in the spiritisms of today-here Were
works such as Simon had never seen, much
less done. Here was indeed the power of
God
IA. The apostles continued at Jerusa-
lem. They heard that the word was be-
ing preached and received in Samaria and
sent Peter and John to see. These men
who had been appointed to serve tables
were being nightly used of God One
had been honored to be the first marty n
the early church. and one was being hon
Ored to win many souls in Sanaria, while
from Jerusalem nothing special is heard
about this time, though doubtless many
were still being added to the Lord (chap-
ter V, 14). Let us be willing to serve the
Lord in any capacity and He will lead us
into all He has for us Oil Sam. XIV, 15).
Is, Is. When any one truly receives
Christ, such a one is truly saved John i,
IL; iii, 16, Sc; V, "a; vii, 81, At, etc. }.
Baptism is the public confession that
Christ has been accepted, although neither
baptism nor the Lords supper nor join
ing the church adds whit to our safety,
but are acts of obedience, bringing increased
fellowship with God to the obedient be-
lever. Every truly penitent and believing
soul receives the Holy Spirit upon believ-
ing.
IL. "Then laid they their hands on
them, and they received the Holy Ghost. -
They were saved before, but are now spe-
cially qualified for service. Simon, not
understanding, offers money that he may
receive the power which he saw in Peter
and John. Peter severely rebukes him,
but in verse "a Simon seems sorry for his
misunderstanding and asks to be prayed
for. Peter and John bear witness to
Christ and return to Jerusalem, preaching
as they go. If we are fully yielded and
ready for any service we shall be filled.
SHORT WHEEL NOTES..
There are about so, 900 bicyclists in
Connecticut.
- n L