The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-27
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
The Quarterly Review-March IS.
by DAVIS w. CLARK.
Lesson 1: Acts i. ill.,

Lesson L: Acts i, lii
The book of acts is no specimen Of ambitious
rhetoric. 1t is simplicity and brevity itself.
What makes it so fascinating is its series OF
pictures. not their framework. The planting of
Christianity was amid events brilliant. sign:f-
cant. benefcent. Acts faithfully depicts these
scenes. That is it's charm. No frontispiece
could be more appropriate. Christ's ascension
is the true starting point Of ecclesiastical his
tory.
Lesson II: Acts ii, Lib
Pentecost is 'he irrefragable seal to the ascen-
sion OF Jesus. When tie high priest went within
the veil. though the people saw him not. they
knew he was there by the sweet tinkling Of the
golden bells that fringed his robe. They were
assured that he still lived. and performed the
hottest rites of their religion. So this prefer
natural sound, this dazzling sight of Pentecost.
was the token by which the apostles knew, and
all subsequent believers are assured, that the
Eternal Priest of the universal heart. having
entered within the veil, yet lives and pleads.
Lesson III: Acts ii, 32-f7.-
OF the 51 words in this sermon 2S are used
in quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures, SO
Apostle as to carry conviction to the majority.
This masterpiece of sacred oratory. this first
gospel sermon. produced a surprising TRANSITIONAL
ton in the auditors. They began by calling the
apostles drunkards; they ended by calling them
brothers. The lovely and fascinating picture of
the apostolic church, which the closing para
graph of this chapter contains, could never have
the hearts of these hearers. They were
awakened, convicted, .penitent. believing, con-
verted, baptized. A splendid foundation.
Lesson ": Acts ill. lie
The restored cripple is the sinner converted.
The entireness of the cure is beyond question.
He stands. walks and leaps. He enters the tenn
pie. He would have been inhibited on ceremonial
grounds from doing so had he not been entirely
emancipated from his malady. SO, in a sense
in which he never could nave done so before,
the convert enters the church and has COM
Spiritual nature. impotent before. now receives
strength. And this miracle of grace is the one
sufficient, irrefutable evidence OF the divinity or
Christianity.
Lesson V: Acts i. 1-14.-
This circumstance is q history of Christianity
in epitome. AZ a system II crept not into the
world clandestinely. 1t was challenged, criti-
cised, prosecuted. 1t has proven itself a system
Of good deeds. 1t is a stream OF philanthropies.
1t is the divine and sovereign means of uplift-
ing a humanity crippled with sin. This river
OF God. which is rapidly converting a sin
scorched Sahara into a paradise, nonplusses m
ndelity as 'the man healed did the Sanhedrin.
They can say nothing against it," Nothing
that is rational or conclusive.
Lesson VI: Acts iv, %; V, H.
The punishment was Sinaitic in celebrity and
fearfulness. This hypocrite. who braved it TO lie
to God. and, later, his guilty wife, repeating the
ter of divine wrath. This awful penalty was
epochal and exemplary. A frightful picture was
hung on the wall OF the APOSTOLIC ChurCl tndt
day. designed to be a powerful deterrent from
Lesson VII: Acts V. 17-S2.-
The angelic Jail delivery Is first in a series OF
such events. The liberated men went not into
hiding. no clandestine flight of conscious quit.
They went to the most conspicuous place in the
city: and put themselves more in evidence by
publicly addressing the people. Their obedience
and courage are admirable.
Lesson VIII: Acts vi. sis; vii. 54-eO.-
The inhuman and irrational character of re-
ligious intolerance is exemplihed in the martyr
dom of Stephen. He COMPOUNDED his enemies
brains out with stones Luke draws the con-
trast graphically. They gnash their teeth. stop
their ears and set upon the marty IKE wolves.
He. oblivious 10 all, gazes upward at a BEATING
vision. Then. like his Master, commenting his
spirit to God and praying for his murderers.
he .alls on sleep.
Lesson TX: Acts wifi. Ill
The preaching of the gospel to the samaritans
was an eye-opener 10 the Jewish Christians. II
the gospel could be received by the Samaritans.
then no nation was too mean to receive it. For
lowest social notch. II the gospel was for ali.
thus Ssmaria was The first pier in the bridge
world.
Lesson X: Acts viii. 2s-4O.-
Ethiopia is the second pier in the bridge over
which the gospel passed to the whole world.
Philip finds he is called away from a city to
convert an empire without ever setting foot in
IL. The eunuch's chariot becomes a car of sal
walton. rolling a thousand miles into the heart
of Nuoia.
Lesson NJ: Acts tx. Up; 17-20.-
The conversion of st. Paul must ever be re-
corded among the strongest evidences of Chris
tianity. The logical and judicial mind of the
Pauline epistIes could not have been imposed
upon by a cunningly devised fable. The man
who catalogues such suferings could have no
sinister motive in propagating "A lie. The con-
CluSioa is inevitable: the religion which Paul
espoEsed Is divine.
Lesson MI: l Cor. tx. 19-27.-
PauTs favorite description OF the religious life
Is in the figure of the Greek sports. So minute
and accurate IL he that il is affirmed a whole
series OF athletic events could be constructed
from his illusions. In his personal experience
he says: II run in the stadion. not in a waver-
ing line, but straight TO the goal. I box. not
as one striking out In air; l rain blows on my
body. lest. having heralded others. 1 should be
cast out myself
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