Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-02-04
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson for February ;. Iss7
True and raise aIving-Aets 4:3a, ell.

True and raise Giving-Acts 4;32, 6;It.
lArransed from Pe.oubets Notes.l
GOLDEN TENT.-Man looketh on the
/ outward appearance. bat the Lord look
eth on the heart.-Sam 1871.
IIME.-A. D. So-3S. 1t Is impossible TO
ten exactly when this event occurred, but
probably within two or three years after
the founding OF the church at Pentecost
EXPLANATORY.
The Church Beautiful. = Us. 50, 90
We have here a repetition cf the picture
CT the church given in chapters 2:4I-47,
81. ''Of one heart" the seat of affec-
ton, and of one soul" the PERSONAL
", the sum of the faculties. Although
they had increased to five thousand,
they We're still unity, not necessaril,
IN opinions, but in love, in affection. in
purpose, in devotion.
SO. with great power" Bestowed
by the Holy Spirit OF power, making
their witness effective in leading the
people 10 believe Gave the apostles
Witness" Testimony of what they
had seen and known. "Of the resur-
reetion:" Because that was the essen
tial keystone of the Christian arch, as
Paul says in l Corinthians 15:13-16.
The Church Bountiful.-Ns. 34-37.
The poor of Jerusalem. and the many
who had come from distant lands, aud
were now learning the Gospel truths.
and being filed with the Gospel spirit,
in order to carry it home with them,
lad 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.
30. "Joses:" Another form of .Io-
| 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 we'll as his words.
a New Danger to the Church.-Vs. l.
2. /. But" In contrast with these
other noble men. 'Ananias:" Favored
OF the Lord. or the Lord is gracious
sold a possession" He sold it ostensi-
bly, 70 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 IS generously as Barna-
bas 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. His wife also be-
ing privy to it," This shows that this
was not 2 sudden overwhelming tempta-
ton attacking them unawares, but a
| 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. B. But Peter said:" The spirit
must have revealed it to him. This was
more natural from the heart of Peter
being clarified and quickened by the.in-
dwelling spirit. why hath Satan
filled thy heart?" 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 flied with Satan, so that there was
no room for the Holy Spirit. 81 . lie to
the Holy Ghost:" 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 direct falsehood addressed to
Him.
4. while it remained, was it not
thine own?" There was no compulsion
on him to sell it. But it was necessary
that he should tell the truth Thou
hast not lied unto mem" Because they
had no right to question the ac- Ii
was not against them, but unto God
5. "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 herr" Her
inquiry shown by her looks or the fact
of her coming. Tell me whether We
sold the land for so much 2" Implying
'and 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 lie spoken.
9. 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
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 at the door" AS the
cemeteries are always at some little dis
lance outside the cities, the space of
three hours would not be az all a long