Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-01-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON III, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JAN. II.

Text of the Lesson, Acts II, 32-47-Mem-
ory Verses, 80. 30-Golden Text, Acts ii,
39-Commentary by the Rev. u. NJ.
stearns.
30. This Jesus hath God raised up,
whereof we all are witnesses. =" The man
who had with oaths and curses so coward
ly denied Him is the one who is chosen by
the Spirit TO be His mouthpiece to this
multitude. Being flleG with the Spirit
takes away all thought of self and all fear
of man. He first quotes from Joel ii,
2S-32, and says here is fulfllment of the
words of that prophet. He then speaks of
Jesus of Nazareth and the wonders
wrought by God through Him, and openly
them with His death. He then
quotes from the words of David in Ps xvi
His resurrection and continues
in the words of this first verse of our les
son
33. Before He died He said that He was
going back to the Father who had sent
Him, and that He would send down from
heaven the Holy Spirit, whom they now
saw and heard in these disciples (John xvi,
5-S). Here, then, was the evidence that
Jesus of Nazareth was really the one He
blasphemer Here was the evidence that
He whom they crucifled was now alive
from the dead and actually in heaven.
"a, 30. David did not rise from the
dead. He did not speak of his own resur-
rection in Ps. xvi, but of Him of whom he
said in Ps. cx, l, 1.-THE Lord said unto my
Lord, Sit thou on My right hand until
make thy foes thy footstool David as
to his spirit, is certainly in glory, but his
body still sleeps in the dust of the earth
So Peter, therefore, by the Spirit, insists
that the very same Jesus whom they cru
Gifted God has raised from the dead and
taken to His own right hand, thus max
ing Him Lord and Christ and declaring
Him to be the long promised Son of David
to sit on David's throne and the Son of
Abraham in whom all the promises to the
fathers are to be fulfilled
81. The Spirit by His words through
Peter, took hold of their hearts, convinced
them of their sin and led them to cry out,
Men and brethren, what shall we doY'
There was no urging on the part of Peter
that they should come forward to the pen
itent bench, or raise their hands for prayer,
or sign card declaring their intention to
lead new life, however helpful these
methods may sometimes be.
3S. When Jesus was on one occasion
asked, "What shall we do?" His answer
was. "Believe on Him whom God hath
sent" John vi, 2S, 800. Peter says by the
same Spirit, Repent and be baptized, 4"
which is another way of saying, Be
lieve." To believe that Jesus was their
Messiah would be complete change of
mind or repentance on their part, and to
be baptized in His name would be the out
ward confession that they had received
Him. To receive Him would secure the
forgiveness of all their sins John i, -;
John ii, 12).
80. The promise is to all who will come
that they shall in no wise be cast out (John
vi, 80. There were some illustrations of
households being saved, as in Gen. vii, L;
xviii, 80; xix, -; Joshua ii, IS. He calls
all who hear and bids them come without
money and without price. The God who
sought out and restored Adam and Eve,
who sent angels to rescue Lot and his
family, who pleaded so earnestly with
backsliding Israel der. iii, 10, 14), is our
God and the same Interchangeable Jehovah.
40. Perhaps some of the "many other
words He used might be found in lisa. i,
Is; xiii, %; ", 3, A; Eek. xxxvi, 20, for
those are the Spirit 5 own words to sinners.
Peter did not think to save the generation
or race of Jews, but He did expect, like
Paul to save some of them q Cor tx, 22).
Al. Receiving His word they received
Him and thus became children of God
(John l. 10; vi, 60; xvii, s; Jas. t. 2l).
Being baptized, they confessed Him and
had the assurance that lie would confess
them before the Father (AIath. Y, 32). But
think of 1900 doing so! Would not some
evangelists be tempted to make demon.
stration over that? Whoever heard of such
a result from one sermon? This was the
Lord S doing and must have been marvel
Gus in their eyes.
Az. They continued steadfastly, that
is, they believed firmly, for there is no 9th
er way to be established. Compare II
Chron. Xxx, 90 with lisa. vii, 9. This verst
seems TO say that they were instructed
They talked with each other of these
things especially of Him. They common
grated His DEATH They were much il
prayer How sorry they would be that they
had not received Him sooner How they
would long for His return, and with wha
zeal they would testify of Himl
43. The wonders and signs wrought by
the apostles would doubtless be on the lin'
of Mark xvi, 1920, and being such as II,
Himself wrought when He was on eartl
would add to their testimony that lie wa
still alive though invisible, and had al
power in heaven and on earth. 1t was tn
Lord working with them and confirming
the word with signs following Mark xvi
20).
A. One great family bound together b.
His love to them, and their love to Hin
and to each other, having II great desire t.
please Him and that Others might receiv
Him too. They doubtless believed that al
He had was theirs and thus were draw
to share all they had with each other. Tn
Spirit controlled all, and it was u forecast
of heaven upon the earth
45 Earthly possessions lost their at
traction; they We're no use except as the,
could use them for Him by spending then
upon His who were in need. The Spiri
of Him who though He was rich, yet TO
our salles became poor, had taken hold o
them, and they counted nothing so preciou
as His love, and the privilege of showing
some love To Him The first gave thci
own selves 10 the Lord Oh Cor. viii, 81
and then to each other by the will Of God
The same spirit today would fill the treas