The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-03-04
The SlBBA1H-scROOL LESSON.
INTERNATIONAL LEsSUN FOR
MARCH :.
Lesson Text; "The Ethiopian Con-
vert" Acts WILL, 26-4O-Golden
Text: Acts will. 4-Com-
mentary.

20. ARISE and go toward the south"
thus spake the angel OF the Lord to Philip
while he was In the midst OF this great
work in Samaria. He Is sent from what
seems to be a very great work out into the
desert, and he Is not told why he is sent,
Simple and whole hearted obedience Is the
one thing required of a servant or a soldier
Angels that excel in strength do His COM
mandments, h~earkening unto tho voice OF
HIS word. They do His pleasure Ups. GILL,
70. 2l). III we are good servants and sol.
diers, We will hold ourselves according to
IL sam. xv., 10; Chron. xviii, 81; ii Sam.
ILL.,, sc.
"a. "And he arose and went, and, behold.
a man OF Ethiopia" Phillip sees what may
De the object OF his mission. ono man, an
Ethiopian, the treasurer OF Queen Candace.
who bad been TO Jerusalem to worship. The
tim will yet come when Ethiopia shall
stretch out her hands to God, when from be-
yond the rivers OF Ethiopia supplian,s shall
bring an Offering to the Lord (Zep. ILL.,, 10:
rs. xviii, 3D. But, whether a nation or an
individual, God regards all who truly seek
Him Ooh. xxxiv., 29).
~. sitting In his chariot, read Esaias the
prophet What he had heard or seen at
Jerusalem we are not told, but We NAV v ell
imagine that he had heard somewhat con.
corning those who Ind filled Jerusalem with
their doctrine and concerning Him OF whom
they spake. He must have been an earnest
seeker after light, for God sent Philip all the
way from Samaria to DO his teacher and to
lead him TO Christ.
20. Then the Spirit said to Philip. Go
near and join thyself TO this chariot" What
ever Philip may have thought he now knew
the object OF his mission. His trained ear
heard The message of the Spirit, and withou.
hesitation or question no obeys. l believe It
Is possible to live always and fully under the
control OF the Spirit and have God working
In us both TO will and to do OF His good
pleasure. II this is our whole-hearted do
sire, He will fulfill the desire Of them that
fear him FPS. cXlv., 19).
~. "Understaniest thou what thou read
est!' With this question Philip introduced
himself to the man In the chariot, having run
to him as soon rs he was commanded by the
Spirit. When the Lord sees any ono intent
upon understanding His word Ho will take
pains to instruct him. The marginal reading
OF JOB ~. =, Is very suggestive, Chime hands
took pains about me-" Gabriel was sent
from heaven to Daniel to make him under.
stand and to show him the truth (Dan.
X, IA. 81; XII, q. Tho Holy Spirit has been
gwen TO every believer to teach and to guide
into all truth (John XIV, 20; xvi, 49,.
81. How can |, except some man should
guide me!" Thus g~raciously answered the
treasurer, and he invited Philip 10 step into
the chariot with him. How smoothly oyery-
thing goes when the Spirit is working!
Philip, sent by the Spirit, finds one in whom
the Spirit has been working, and therefore
one ready to DO taught. The Spirit might
have taught the unuch Himself without the
help OF any man q John H., 27), but He saw
it to use human instrumontality, He is
blessed to be used of God! Only be willing,
and Ho will use you.
~. 80. she wns led rs q sheep to tho
slaughter" Thus he read in what we would
eau Ism. liii., 7, ., concerning Him of whom
Moses and all tho prophets did write, Jesus
of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph (John l., 45),
but he knew Him not. Tho whole chapter
will doubtless bo the general confession Of
Israel as n nation after they shall have looked
upon Him whom they have pierced Czech,
xii, 10Y in the day wher they shall say, "Lo.
this Is our God! We have waited for Him
and He will save us" lisa, XIV, o..
81. II pray thee. of whom speaketh the
prophet this?' Whether tho prophet was
speaking of himself or OF some other man,
the eunuch could not make out. The
prophets were types Of Christ and did in
their lives foreshadow In some measure the
suflerings OF Christ. Isaiah and his children
were signs in Israel (chaptcr Will, 1877, and
Jeremiah says of himself, az was like n.lamb
or an OK that Is brought to the slaughter"
der. xi.. 19).
80. Philip began at the same Scripture and
preached unto him Jesus. He would prob
ably 20 back 10 the Passover lamb OF Elk. Kill,
and to the daily burnt Offering, and possibly
to the coats OF skins OF Gen. ill.,, 81; then on
to the Lamb OF God. OF whom John tho Bap-
fist spake. He could easily find In lisa. ILL.,,
the sufferings, death, resurrection and future
glory OF Christ. But whatever line he took,
he must certainly have shown Christ to he
tho only Saviour OF sinners and the fulnll.
ment OF every type and shadow.
SO. The treasurer evidently took il all in
ana received Jesus Christ as his Saviour. for,
coming 10 water. he asked for baptism. HAY.
ing received Christ, he would as quickly rs
possible confess 1t before all who journeyed
with him, and doubtless he would preach
Christ to many, for he could not keep the
good news 10 himself.
81. III thou %belieyest with all thine
heart, thou mayest." This is the one only
essential to salvation, tina, Christ be- truly
received in the heart. al thou shalt con-
Tess with thy mouth tho Lord Jesus and shalt |
believe In thine heart that God hath raised
Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved"
(Rom. K. y. To believe on Him is to re.
ceive Him (John l., l2), and II He be not
truly received there Is no saving faith q
John W, l2).
3s. The driver Of the chariot and other Mt.
tendants may nave overheard and under.
stood the whole conversation. They Ger.
tainly now beheld that which tho treasurer
could more fully explain to them as they
went on their way. Whether the one bap.
tized was immersed or had the water poured
upon him does not clcarlyappear. II those
who think that immersion is the right way
cannot love and bear with those who think
pouring or sprinkling suficient-there is
more grace ready for them il they will have /!
1t.
80, 40. The eunuch goes on his way rejoic.
Ing, and Philip, caught away by the Spirit.
Is found at Azotus, and breaches the gospel
In all the cities from there to CRsarea. The
Joy OF tho eunuch was due TO his faith In
Christ N to the fact that now he was nc.
cepted in tho Beloved, justified from all
things and u joint heir with the man at Coda
right hand (Eph. L., 6; Acts xiii, 3s; Rom.
will, l6, ~. He believed and was thus filed
joy and peace (Rom. XIV, 1e). God had
other work for Philip, or rather more of the
same work In other places, and sent him on
II. II no never saw the eunuch again on
sarth, he certainly met him long ere this In
glory. Lesson Helper.