The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-20
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JANUARY 81.
Lesson Text: "The Boldness Of Peter
and john" Acts w., 1-14-
Golden Text: Acts w.,
1-14-Commentary.

l. "And as they spake unto the people the
priests and the captain OF the temple and the
Sadducees came upon them" Thew spake
OF Jesus. His life, death, resurrection and re-
turn to restore all things Of which the proph-
cts had spoken: that He and all things
concerning Him had been foretold by the
prophets, and that now. being raised from
the dead He was ready to bless Israel first
In all the prophets the Spirit had said that
through Israel all Nations OF the earth should
be blessed, and He spoke through them OF a
great Deliverer who would do this and make
Israel the chief Of all Nations.
2. "Being grieved that they taught the
people and preached through Jesus the res
direction from the dead" They would be
grieved that men, In their eyes unlearned
and ignorant Cverse 13), should dare to teach.
The priests were to teach the people (Mal.
H., z; Lev. K, li). While resurrection was
plainly taught in the Old Testament Dob.
xix, 25-27; Ps. xvi, 10; Eek. xxxvii., IL, 49,
hos. vi, p, the Sadducees believed not in
any (chapter xiii, 81, so that anything on
resurrection would grieve them. That Jesus
Of Nazareth, whom they crucifed as male
factor, should be risen from the dead would
prove that they were guilty and that He was
what He said He was.
8. "And they laid hands upon them and
put them in hold unto the next day, for ii
was now eventide." They had been taught
to expect this. and therefore may not have
been surprised at it, though the first time
that even predicted event happens Is often
q surprise CJohn xv., 10; xvi. l. 2; Math. Z,
1920. The enmity against God and His
word, even on the part OF those who like
the priests, are professedly His people, Is still
very marked, and shall continue to be
throughout this age.
f. "Howbeit, many of them which heard
the word believed, and the number OF the
men was about five thousand" II these are
wholly in addition to those OF chapter IL. Al,
then there are already over eight thousand
followers Of the Lord Jesus Christ In few
days, and apparently through two sermons
and miracle. What contrast to the hun
dred aud twenty Of chapter l., ID, and what
an illustration and proof of His WORDS,
"Greater works than these shall he do. be-
cause 90 unto My Father (John XIV, 12).
5, 6. "And it came to pass on the morrow
thar their rulers and elders and scribes.
were gathered together at Jerusalem. This
was a council oirhe highest religious body, or
as we would say OF the church authorities,
and, therefore, one to be feared by ordinary
men.
z. "And when they had set them In the
midst they asked, By what power or by what
name have ye done this2" The phrase ''in
the midst" makes us think of the invisible
Christ, who was truly In the midst unseen by
the religious dignitaries. Peter and John
we're there in His name, on His business. and
He was surely with them in the midst (Math.
xviii, 20).
said unto them, ye rulers OF the people and
slders OF Israel" The Holy Spirit is the key
to the whole business and the one great
secret OF every victory in the Christian life.
he spake and wrought every word and act
through Christ, and He Is given to every be-
lever to do the same in each one-tnat Is, 10
speak and act through US.
O. "If we this day be examined OF the
good deed done to the impotent man, by
what means he Is made whole" The man
was certainly utterly helpless, trul y impo-
tent man. and it is on and In such that the
gracious Lord loves to work. II we knew
how helpless we are to save ourselves or to
do any good thing when we are saved, we
would stop trying and trust our mighty Sa-
vlour to work in US both to will and to do OF
His good pleasure All our doing tends to
exalt ourselves, and this is wong; but His
doing exalts Him. aud that Is right.
10. "By the name Of Jesus Christ OF Ma
zareth doth this man stand here before you
whole" The crucified and risen Christ, the
! despised NaZarene. still lives and has all
power, and He manifests it through His fol-
lowers to His glory that His name may be
known. The devil and the world and
worldly church hates to have His name
made known Oversees II, 18). but q true be-
| lever will say with Peter and John, 1--WE
| cannot but speak the things which we have
seen and heard" (verse 2O). The apostles
took no credit to themselves, but gave all
glory to Christ, saying, "He did it."
II. "This Is the stone which was set at
h,,;I5 ia hpnOunp
head of the corner" This would or should
have carried their thoughts to PJ. cxviti., ~;
Isa. viii, IA; xviii, 16; Gon. Xix, "a, and
| other texts where Israel's Messiah is COM
pared to q stone. Some OF these very men
| may have remembered His own words to this
| effect also. See Math. xxi, %, 42-44. Some
| day, when the Nation shall see Him coming
| in His glory. they will think of these things,
| and with true penitence they shall make the
words Of Isa. ILL.,, their own. See Zecn,
| xiii, 10.
Il. 'Neither Is there salvation in any
other. for there Is none other name under
heaven given among men whereby we must
be saved" Whether it be for Nation or
for an individual Dob XxXlv.. 29), there is
no salvation apart from Jesus Christ. In
Him is life, and he that hath the Son hath
| life, but he that hath not the Son OF God
hath not life John l., A; John ", IL, 12).
lQ6y tOOh huOWiOubO VI thoA! S4N
they had been with Jesus" An unlikely in
strument, humanely speaking, when con.
trolled by God brings glory to God. The
utterance and the fearlessness OF these men
before this great council convinced them
that some great mind or power was controll-
ing them They probably remembered the
boldness Of Jesus and saw in these men His
Spirit. He had told them while yet with
them that when brought before councils for
His sake they were not to be anxious as to
what they should say, for the Spirit OF God
would speak through them (Math. Z, 1920.
IA. "And beholding the man which was
healed standing with them they could say
nothing against it." An 1ncurable sick per-
son made whole, a wicked person made
righteous. profane or violent person made
meek and gentle, worldly person made to
be devoted to the Lord Jesus Chrlst-these
evidences of the work OF Christ cannot be
spoken against. II while we profess TO be
the Lords the old life is still continually
manifest, there is no convincing testimony,
and the name Of the Lord is dishonored;
but, filled with the Spirit, there cannot but
be convincing testimony for Christ.-Lesson
Helper.
SWISS EXPOSITION FAILURE.