Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-01-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for January "a, 1877
The Lame Man Healed-Acts 3:I-1o.

GOLDEN TEXT.-His name, through
faith in His name. hath made this man
strong.-Acts 3:1S.
THE SECTION includes the lesson, with
q view of the remaining verses of the chap
ter. the connecting link with the next les
son.
TIME.-Some afternoon in June, A D.
so. or later, not very long after the day OF
Pentecost. Sitter thinks 1t was some
months or year.
EXPLANATORY.
Scene I. Two Apostles on the Way to
Church. V. i. Now Peter and johns"
Two chiefest among the apostles. and
most advanced in the knowledge of
Jesus. Widely different in character,
they were the closest Of friends. alike
in principle, devotion and purpose.
Went up:" Better, as r. V, Were
going up, ascending the terraces on the
highest of which the temple stood.
Into the temple:" Because they were
true Jews as we'll as Christians, and
they could gain the most help and do
the most good by continuing their
usual methods of worship. AT" so as
10 be there at ''the hour of prayer"
Scene II. A Lame Man at the Gate
Beautifully. 2. 'And a certain man
lame:" All we know OF his history is,
% that he was born with the cause of
his lameness, making the cure more
wonderful; (2) that it was caused by a
weakness of the feet and ankles (v. ID;
90 that it was so bad that he could not
walk, but had to be carried; "a that he
was poor; (5) that he was over 40 years
old (4:22). AT the gate of the temple
which is called Beautiful" There
were ten gates belonging to the temple,
and it is not certain which one is re-
ferred to. ITO ask aims" Aims is sim
gular number, and in early times was
spelt almesse. THAT entered into the
temple:" Not the building, which only
priests could enter, but the inner courts
where the religious Jews worshiped.
Scene III. The Divine Gift of Heal
ing.-V. 3. ''Who, seeing Peter and
john" AS these were well-known men
frequenting the temple, where this man
was wont to be brought, it would seem
that he must have known something
about them. About to go into the
temple:" From the noisy court of the
Gentiles into the inner courts with the
worshipers.
4. "And Peter, fastening his eyes
upon him." With intense gaze, as if to
see into his very soul, whether he was
one in whom faith could be awakened,
and to whom it would be wise and safe
to impart the blessing of healing.
6. 'Peter said: Silver and gold have
I none:" He was not a rich man, so that
giving silver and gold was not his
means of doing good. But such as
(what) I have" Faith in Jesus, and
the power OF Jesus working through
him. "Give I thee" with this he ac-
complished far more than if Christ had
assigned to him the revenue of king
dom. 'fIn the name:" The
name expresses the whole being, his
character, powers and heart. ''Of Jesus
Christi" AS the efficient cause, as the
real living giver. Christ healed in His
own name, the apostles in Christ's
name. This one, so despised by the
Jews, proves Himself to be the Mes
siah, and to be now living, by doing now
the same work He had done when in
the flesh
Scene ". The Restored Many. s.
And he leaped up stood" His act
shows his faith. He obeyed, encouraged
by Peters hand, and as he obeyed the
healing came. He first stood holding Pc
ter's hand, land" then walked" an act
hehad never done before. Entered into
the temple" i. E., into the tof wom-
en-, upon which the Beautiful Gate
opened. 'tPraising Cod" His first
thought was returning thanks to God
for his great deliverance. This shows
that he was cured in soul as we'll as in
body.
Scene Y. Peter Preaching in Solo
mons Porch.-Vs. 1916. IL. when Pc
ter saw it," The rush of the crowds in
to Solomon's porch. HE answered.
the wonder of the people. "Why mar
vel We at this (man) 2" When you I'M
derstand, you will see that such a cure
is just what you ought to expect from
such Saviour. "As though by our
own power" Peter proved his SINGER
ity and true piety by leading the people
away from himself to the Saviour.
ID. 1.-THE God of Abraham" in whom
all the Jews believed. Peter presented
no new religion, but only the workings
of the same God who had done wonders
for their ancestors. Hath glorified
his Son (servant) Jesus:" By working
miracles through Him, by raising Him
from the dead, and making Him liv-
ing Prince and Saviour, by the transfer
nations Of character in his disciples.
Whom ye," as nation of whose spirit
the people were partakers, delivered
up" when even PLATE, the Roman,