The National tribune., 1897-02-18
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
A Study Of the International Sunday
School Lesson'gAppointed for Feb

School LeSSonsAppOinted lor Fen
%, 1897. a'o
Subject: The Disciples Driven from Jeru-
salem, Go tn Samaria. Acts, 8: LIZ.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.I
INTRODUCTION.
Starke says of the Book of Acts: "a witness
Of apostolic doctrine and primitive Christian
ity; a rule and guide for the government, the
discipline and the order OF the Church; an
armory which furnishes the Church with
weapons in its conflict with Antichrist; re-
postory that offers a remedy for every soul
destroying disease engendered by errors in the
faith and ofFenses in tho life and conduct Of
men; a storehouse which abundantly nourshes
faith, patience, and hope; mirror and stimu-
lus promoting love and its appropriate works;
a treasury, Astounding in learning and sound
doctrine"
In this day, when much is said about the dis.
crepancies between the Bible aud Science, it is
pleasant TO read in New York Tribune editorial,
Dec 90 1896: Holmes said that man has
three distinct personalitics-himself as he
thinks himself, himself as his neighbors think
him, and himself as he really is. So there are
three Bibles--the Bible as some overzeaious
friends expound it. the Bible as some under
scrnpulous enemies describe it, and the Bible
as it really u.s. Between the last-named and
true Science there is no conflict. On the con-
trary the greatest researches and results OF
Science merely confirm and elucidate tho
Scriptures"
DISCIPLES SCATTERED.
Acts. STA.
Fall of A. d. 81.
Preliminary.
st. Stephen had been stoned to death, and the
murdcrers returned from the place of execu-
ton, which was outside the walls of the city Of
Jerusalem. 1t is thought by Lange that the
Jews wero under great excitement, and were
encouraged, by their success in getting rid OF
st. Stephen, to 60 OIL in murderous opposition
to Christians. Under such influence they be-
gan and conducted the great persecution"
referred to in s: ].
Whitby says: at is very ancient trali.
ton that our Lord assigned IL years after His
ascension for the conversion Of the unbeliev-
ing Jews in Judea, saying to His Apos les, Go
We out into the world after I2 years 1t shows
the reason why the Apostles continued at
Jerusalem, while the rest of tho Disciples were
sea tered abroad"
We notice V. says, Except the Apostles"
They aust have remained at great risk. But,
if under directions to continue in Jerusalem
for II years from the date of the Resurrection,
they could not flee. A special Providence
would preside over their lives. They were abb
solutely needed at the Capital. We may put
the Resurrection A. ID. 80. Hence, there were
five years longer time for them to remain in
jerusalem, provided the tradition mentioned
by Whitby be true. erk
Chapter is Immediately connected with V.
60 of Chapter Z. aaf
1t was not without some advantage to the
Church that the Christians OF Jerusalem were
scattered into other parts. Each was witness
Of Christianity and carried the light with him.
Since it is said noS. 4 that those who fed
went everywhere preaching" it has been
thought we are to understand that the laity
were not among th0se who scattered. In those
days. however, it is likely that every Christian
carried the good news of salvation through
Christ everywhere he went.
1t is thought thatthose specially were in
clined to leave Jerusalem who were there only
temporarily, as Cyrenians, Alexandrians. Cilic-
ians, ETC., (see 6: 81 some of whom became
converts. 1t is supposed SITS. Stephen and
Philip tho Deacon were Grecians as to resi-.
dence. 1as.sss
We would not class those who fed as cow
ards. Selfprotection is duty. Many times. in
cases where it is not possible TO live In peace
and safety in community, it would be obliga-
tory to remove.
We must admire the bravery of The Twelve,
who, notwi outstanding the dangers besetting
them, kept the post of duty, though all the
time they saw associates, not Apostles, escaping.
ST. Paul must nave known that st. Luke
wrote the words in s:l4. They were not
complimentary to st. Paul. and yet he per-
mtted their publication. But we notice that
in his own speeches, the Gentle Apostle speaks
Of himself very harshly when telling how
cruelty he treated the Christians before he be.
came one of their number.
81. Paul (Saul.
/. Native of Tarsus, Cilicia, Asia. Acts,
22:3.
g Born cir. A. d.
g. Named Saul till he became Christian.
A. A Jew-born in Gentle city. 22:3.
5. Tribe Of Benjamin. Phil. 3:5.
g. Father q Pharisee. Acts, %: e. Himself
Pharisee.
T. A Roman citizen. 22:2a
8. Skilled in Greek language.
9. tent-maker. Acts 1873
10. Brought up at Jerusalem. Acts, 90.
II. Student of Gamalief. 22:S.
~. Very opposed to Christianity. Acts, s:3;
%: 4; Phil, 3 g.
IL. Converted A. d. 81 Acts. o.
IA. Taken into the church at Damascus.
IS. Made three missionary tours.
10. In prison,
a. At Jerusalem. A. D. So.
b. At Caesarea. A. ID. 50.
C. At Rome. A. ID. 60. Again
A. d. IS.
II. Wrote Ia EpistIes.
~. Said to have been beheaded at Rome, by
Nero. A. d. 81.
10. Anniversary. Jan. 25.
Words and Phrases.
/. Consuming. l. Saul stood by at the ex-
ecntion, holding the outer garments of those
stoning st. Stephen. 7:5S. He uttered no
word against the cruelty. His conduct shows
he approved. 1t is not said he expressed in
words his consent. He certainly did not op-
pose.
2. Persecution. /. This is word used from
the Christian standpoint. Those guilty of
stoning st. Stephen did not consider their con.
duct as persecution. The general idea Of per-
secntion is that it is an unreasonable, prejudiced,
cruel treatment of good persons.
3. Church. !. 1t is not likely there was
then an organized sort of Christian hierarchy.
We can. however. eeshints of organization in
the fact of electing deacnns. Preachers were
probably more or less distinct from the laity.
Plans were matured, for work. They of the