The true northerner., 1897-01-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON ~. FIRST QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JAN. ~.
Text of the Lesson. Acts n. 32-45-Mem-
ory Verses. 10. 3e-Goiden Text. Acts Il,
3s- Commentary by the Rev. ID. M.
stearns.

82 "Tbis 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 fillec 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 "a fulflllment OF the
words of that prophet. He then speaks OF
Jesus Of Nazareth and the wonders
wrought by G.d through Him, and openly
charges them with His death. He then
quotes from the words of David in Ps xvi
concerning 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
professed to be, and not an impostor or
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, 1, 1.-The Lord said unto my
Lord, Sit thou on My right hand until L
make thy foes thy footstoOl David, as
TO his spirit, is certainly I'm glory, but his
body still sleeps In the dust of the earth.
36. 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
20 sit on David's throne and the Son of
Abraham i'm 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 60 CRY out,
Men and brethren, what shall we dor"
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 29) Peter says, by the
same Spirit, Repent and be baptized,
which is another way of saying, BE
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 j. 12; /
John ii, 12).
80 The promise is To all who will come
that they shall in no wise be cast out John
vi, 3) There were some illustrations of
households being saved, as in Gen. vii, /;
xviii, 10; xix, 10; Joshua ii, 49, 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 (Jer. iii, IL, l4) is our
God and the same Interchangeable Jehovah.
40. Perhaps some of the "many other
words He used might be found in Isa. i,
1S; xiii, %; lv, g. 4; Eek. xxxvi, 26, for
those are the Spirit = 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 I Cor. tx, 22).
Al. Receiving His word, they received
Him and thus became children of God
(John i, IL; vi, 63; xvii, 8; Jas. i, 2l).
Being baptized, they confessed Him and
had the assurance that He would confess
them before the Father (Math. x, 32). But
think of 5000 doing sol Would not some
evangelists be tempted TO make demon
stration over that? Whoever heard Of such
result from one sermons This was tho
Lord 5 doing and must have been marvel
Gus in their eyes.
AZ. "They continued steadfastly, that
is they believed firmly, for there is no 9th
IN, no
Chron. Xxx, 90, with Isa vii, o. This verse
seems to say that they were instructed
They talked with each other of these
things, especially of Him. They commem-
grated His death. They were much in
prayer. How sorry they would be that they
had not received Him soonerl How they
would long for His return, and with what
zeal they would testify of Him!
Az The wonders and signs wrought by
the apostles would doubtless be on the line
of Mark xvi, 1920, and being such AS He
Himself wrought when He was on earth
would add to their testimony that He was
still alive, though invisible, and had all
power in heaven and on earth. 1t was the
Lord working with them and confirming
the word with signs following Mark xvi,
2O)
A. One great family bound together by
His love to them, and their love to Him
and to each other, having a great desire to
please Him and that others might receive
Him too. They doubtless believed that all
He had was theirs and thus were drawn
to share all they had with each other. The
Spirit controlled all, and 1t was foretaste
of heaven upon the earth.
40. Earthly possessions lost their at
traction; they were no use except as they
could use them for Him by spending them
upon His who were In need The Spirit
of Him who though He was rich, yet for
our sakes became poor had taken hold of
them, and they counted nothing so precious
as His love, and the privilege OF showing
some love to Him The first gave their
own selves TO the Lord (II Cor. viii, 81,
and then to each other by the will of God
The same spirit today would ell the treas
uries of the mission boards and put many
workers in the field.
46. With one accord, with gladness and
singleness of heart This described their
daily life of service unto Him whom they
had received as Saviour and coming King
1t is the third time we have met the phrase
with one accord. See /, IA; ii, l.
AZ. Praising God is good way TO draw
people unto Him, and tinIs they will be
.AH 20, fIo -, L., -.