The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-02-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for February % 1907
True and False Giving-Acts ASA, Sill.

etl on the ncdTl.-Sdm. 1911.
TIME.-A. ID. 1898. III Is impossible 10
tell exactly when this event occurred. but
probably within two or three years after
the founding of the church at Pentecost
EXPLANATORY.
The Church Beautiful. = VS.. 80, 30.
We have here repetition of the picture
Of the church given in chapters 2:41-47
80. "Of one heart" the seat of affec-
ton, land of one SOUL" the PERSONAL
ty, the sum of the faculties. Although
they had increased to five thousand.
they were still n unity, not necessarily
in opinions, but in love, in affection, in
purpose, in devotion.
80. "With great power:" Bestowed
by the Holy Spirit of power, making
their witness effective in leading the
people TO believe. ''Gave the apostles
witness:" Testimony of what they
had seen and known. "Of the resur-
rection:" Because that was the essen
tial keystone of the Christian arch, as
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:13-1G.
The Church Bountiful.-Vs. 34-37.
The poor of Jerusalem, and the many
who had come from distant lands, aud
were now learning the Gospel truths.
and being filled with the Gospel spirit,
in order TO carry it home with them.
had all their necessary wants supplied.
"a. "Possessors of lands or houses
sold them" For the need was greater
than could be supplied by their income.
SO. "Joses:" Another form of Jo-
seph. "Surnamed Barnabas:" Bar,
son, and nabuah, prophecy, pouring out
words as from fountain, the impelling
force being the divine inspiration.
"Son of consultations" or exhortation.
81. Having land, sold it," He COM
forted by his gifts as well as his words.
A New Danger TO the Church.-Vs. /,
2. 1. But" In contrast with these
other noble men. "Ananias:" Favored
of the Lord, or the Lord is gracious.
"Sold possession:" He sold it ostensi-
bly, to give to the poor.
2. kept back part of the price," i. e..
while at the same time they professed
to be bringing the whole sum into the
common fund. They desired to have
all the credit the church would give
them for acting as generously as Barna-
has did, and yet, while getting credit
for unselfish and unstinting liberality.
to be able to enjoy in private somewhat
of that which they were believed to
have surrendered. Ills wife also be-
ing privy to it," This shows that this
was not sudden overwhelming empta-
ton attacking them unawares, but
deliberate plan. Laid it at the apos-
ties feet:" Apparently at some public
religious service, where they could be
seen of men.
The Danger Strangely Averted.-Vs.
$40. 3. but Peter said:" The spirit
must have revealed it to him. This was
more natural from the heart of Peter
being clarified and quiclcned by the in
dwelling spirit. why hath Satan
filled thy hearth" This is the exact OPP
posite of the case of the apostles. They
were filled with the Holy Ghost, so that
there was no room for Satan. Ananias
was filled with Satan, so that there was
no room for the Holy Spirit. "To lie to
the Holy Ghosts" They lied to the
Holy Ghost, because the offering was
made, not TO the apostles, nor TO the
church, but TO God, and the act was
thus a direct falsehood addressed to
Him.
4. "While it remained, was it not
thine own?" There was no compulsion
on him to sell il. But il was necessary
that he should tell the truth. Thou
hast not lied unto mem" Because they
had no right to question the act. 1t
was not against them, but unto God
s. "Ananias fell down and
gave up the ghosts" His death was the
direct act of God, and in no sense the
act Of Peter and the apostles. Very
probably they were as much astonished
as anyone.
Z. About the space of three hours:"
She waited thus long anXiously for her
husbands return with the news of the
praise and honor received for their large
gift. Then, weary and puzzled at his
absence, "his wife =. came in" to
learn the reason.
s. peter answered unto hers" Her
inquiry shown by her looks or the fact
of her coming. Tell me whether yc
sold the land for so much?" Implying
land no more" pointing at the same
time to the pile of gold Ananias had
presented, or naming the sum. "Yea,
for so much" The lie in action leads
to a lie spoken.
0. agreed together" Showing that
the sin was deliberate, and therefore
without palliation or excuse. ITO
tempt the spirit of the Lord" to
tempt God is to dare Him, to put Him to
the test whether He will see the sin and
punish it or not, so that God and His
government must be put into a false
light before the world, or He must take
notice of the offense. Behold, the
feet of them which have buried thy
husband are st the door," AS the
cemeteries are always at some little dis
tance outside the cities, the space of
three hours would not be at all long
time for those engaged in the burial to
be absent.
The Evil Compelled to Work Out
Good.-Vs. 11-16. IL. "Great fear came
upon all the church," Not fear of man,
but great awe in the presence of God;
great reverence for the Holy Spirit,