The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-02-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lssson for February -. 1897
Ths Disciples Disperssd-Aets s;l-i1'


tho Word.-Acts So
THE SECTION includes the ehaptee
through Verse p.
EXPLANATORY.
l. A Great Persecution.-Ns. Ia. i.
.And Saul was eonsenung unto his
death" The word implies hearty ap-
proval. He probably voted against him
and spoke against him in the Sanhe-
drim-besides being among his muir
derers. AT that time" The original
literally implies on that very day (aa
in the r. w; Immediately after the
stoning. There was a great persecu7
ton against the church," The severity
and the variety of suffering may be inn
agined from James description (Jas.
2:6. %, and PALS in 2 Cor. ll:23-2S.
sand they were all scattered Abroad:
Not every member, but the active ones
those who taught the doctrine of Ste
phen. as a farmer scatters his seed
broadcas. They went as far as Phe-
nicia, Antioch and Cyprus (l1:l9). The
enemy scattered the good seed, and by
scattering increased the harvest. "Ex-
cent the apostles:" These remained
"a because as leaders of the church
they would rather suffer with those
that remained, as long as it was possi-
BILE.
5. saul, he made havoc of the
church," He rayaged. devastated tho
church as a wild beast does a vineyard
or an invading enemy peaceful coun-
try. He did this under the sanction OF
the rulers (e6:10). Entering into
every house" i. e.. making his search
everywhere. that none should escape.
III. One Example of the Work Done:
/ Philip, the Evangelist.-Ns. SIS. 8.
"Philip:" Not the apostle of that name,
but the evangelist, che of the seven dea-
cons chosen to aid the apostles (6:5).
The capital Of the district of Samaria.
"And preached" proclaimed the
..Christ." the Messiah, unto them"
Simon was the leader of the opposition
O. ~. but apparently Philip took no
direct notice of him.
c. 1.-The people with one accord gave
heed" 1t is quite possible that Philip
may have reaped harvest from the SEED
sown by Jesus Himself nearly ten years
before John A. in city of the same
region The seeds Of truth often spring
IN after lying dormant for years.
clearing" the gracious words of eter-
nal life. and OF the effects of the Gospel
upon those who had embraced it at
Jerusalem. Seeing the miracles:" The
signs OF their divine authority. of their
power for help. of the loving, helpful
nature of the Gospel they preached.
S. and there was great joy Bc-
cause so strong and deep, and much Joy
(R. w because it was SO universal.
The natural effect of the Gospel is JOY.
III. One Strange Result: Simon
Narus.-ys. 9-l3: 1925. We have here
the first collision Of the Gospel with
imrosture and occult powers of the
world. Q. ~ certain man, called ST.
nom" Little is known of him. Mean
der identifies this Simon with one men-
: toned as living from ten 10 twenty
! years after this by Josephus. and as
having been employed by the procura-
: tor Felix to tempt Drusilla TO leave her
husband liking Azizus) and live with
him. which she did (Acts 2i:24). Simon
> is there called "A jew. born in Cyprus"
USED sorcery:" Practiced magic.
10. ..Is the great power of Cod" II.
r.. that power of God which is called
great. The one in whom divine power
was manifested. One of the wizards 50
!. numerous throughout the east at that
time. and multiplied by the general
expectation of n great deliverer. and
y the spread of the Messianic notions o<
the Jews.
e IL. ITO him they had regard:" In
S the hone that he might be the long
: looked-for deliverer.
4 10. but when they believed Philips:
: When they saw the true light, they
I turned from the feeble worldly light
e THAT had attracted them before ~
4 Philips teaching met their needs,
! broupht forgiveness and salvation, hope
I and Joy. CD Philips works were not
n only more wonderful, but more gra-
a cious. more loving, more divine; and
c they were such that all possibility OF
4 deception was removed.
-. "Then:" following the popular
tide. "Simon himself believed also: "
The sequel shows that it was mere in
: teIlectual belief in Jesus. He believed
the facts. lie believed the miracles were
. the result of divine power. He wa
a baptized" Thus making public pro-
/! fession Of his faith. Perhaps he wa
y sclf-deceived. and thought that he pos
y scssed the same faith as the Others, and
: knew all about religion. "And won
r dcred:" Showing the kind OF belief he
!, had.
d ". The Samaritan Bridge Between
Jews and Gentiles.-Vs. 14-l7. IA
d. .Vben the APOSTLES heard that
le Semaria had received ETC.: The Holy
u Spirit had led the way toa fuller under
ie standing of the Gospel spirit and thu
OF Gospel field. IL he approved by con
" verting the Samartans, Christians could
~ do 10 less than to approve by receiving
C them. We note here one OF the steps
4 by which the Gospel became alien
rk bracing. "Sent~ Peter and John:
er AS leading apostles who could be Who'll
nc " trusted. The minds of the Chris
ed tians were open TO the leadings OF God
ie. John once would have called down de
he stroying fire upon the Samaritan