Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-04-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON.
Reflections of an Elevating Character
wholesome Food for Thought
Studying the Scriptural Lesson Ir'
te1ligeutly and Profitab1y.
Lesson for April A.


thee whole. Acts o: "a.
This lesson has for it's subject Peter
working miracles, and is found in Acts 8:
32-43. We return to the narrative at the
point where we left it after the conver-
sion of Saul. The teacher should prob
ably review briefly the circumstances con-
nected with that event, and should take
up the incidents in Acts 8: 21-31; Sau's
preaching in Damascus, the plot against
his life, his escape in a basket let down
over the wall, his experience in Jerusalem,
introduction to the apostles. preaching in
Jerusalem, and departure to Tarsus. The
important events of Saul's life during the
years covered by these few verses in Acts
will be more fully reviewed when we be-
gin again to study about him; they are
learned from scattered references in his
epistles, especially Galatians. 1t is suff-
cient now to say that his journey to Je-
rusalem mentioned in Acts o: 26 was three
years after his conversion, that is, in 80
or 40
During those three years he had spent
n considerable time in retirement in Ara
bia. The persecution which began with
the attack on Stephen continued during
the most of these three years, as appears
from 8: 81; but mt the close of the period.
''the church throughout all Judea and
Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edi-
fed; and. walking in the fear of the Lord
and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was
multiplied" During all this period Peter
had been one of the leading men at Jeru-
salem: he and James seem TO have had
great authority there, and ii was to see
Peter and become acquainted with him
that Saul had gone to Jerusalem. 1t is
not for some five years more that we hear
much about Saul. and during those years
Peter is still most prominent in the Acts,
as he presumably was in fact.
Explanatory.
"As Peter passed throughout all quar-
ters": apparently on journey of apostolic
visitation of the churches. as well as evan
gelzation.-"Lydda" This town was in
the coast plain, a short distance southeast
of Joppa. Near the ancient site is to-day
one of the stations on the Jaffa and Jeru-
salem railway. ''The saints which dwelt
Mt LYDIA of course includes all Chris
tians there; for the New Testament use
of the word saint is not restricted to
men of conspicuous piety, but is applied
TO all disciples.
"Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: it
may be fanciful to find in this an advance
in Peters character. When he was about
to heal the lame man at the Beautiful
Gate (Acts 3: ~ he said, "Look on u.s."
Here he sinks himself out of sight and
calls attention to the power of Christ in
the miracle. The cure was immediate
and complete Was this man a believer
before his cure? If we are to infer that
he was from the very fact of the miracle.
we must remember that the benefits of
miraculous power were not invariably re-
stricted to believers. But we can hardly
doubt that Eneas believed after if not
before his cure.
Joppa was and still is the principal sea-
port of Palestine. 1t has not u harbor
however, that permits the landing of large
vessels, and passengers and freight are
conveyed to and from the shore in surf
boats and small launches. The modern
name is Yafa Uaffa).- -'Tabitha": this
is the Aramic. and Dorcas the Greek. for
"gazele." Whether the name was asso-
ciated with marked beauty and grace.
Lydia was nigh to Joppa': about ten
miles. Peters fame was evidently spread
throughout the region.
Teaching Eiats.
There was nothing unusual about the
to teach it as typical miracle; an act
that illustrates the twofold nature of most
of the New Testament miracles; their OBJ
ject being to display the beneficent power
of God for the advantage of suffering
or needy men, and thereby to attest the
message of those who performed them.
The evidential value of miracles is GER
tainly important, but il is not their only
value.
The character of Tabitha, or Dorcas.
though so slightly sketched in this brief
narrative. is one that has had its inhu-
ence on Christian womanhood even in
our day. Free from the cares of house
hold, apparently, she gave herself to a
self f-sacrificing ministry to the poor,
ministry of the most practical sort, provid-
ing for the bodily wants of widows and
children. If she had lived to-day, she
might have spent part of her time in
friendly visiting for n charitable socie-
ty or in raising money for philanthropic
purposes. As il was, she did what she
could. and received the reward of grateful
affection. The word is better for such
lives. and not many such fail of some
human recognition, though il may be of
humble sort.
Peters ministry was broadening grad
ually as he travelled through Judea.
preaching to Jews but coming more or less
in contact with Gentiles and witnessing
their need of the gospel. He was being
prepared for the reception of the great
truth, which he never grasped quite so
strongly as Paul that Christ stands ready
to save all men on the same terms. ''for
there is no difference" The following
lessons give further steps in that training.
Next Lesson-'Conversion of Corne-
lius. Acts 10: 30.44.
Eternal Love.