The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-04-01
IE SlDBlIHSCH00L LESSOR
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
APRIL 4.
Lesson Text: peter Working Mira
cles.' Acts tx, 32-43-Golden
Text; Acts ix., 81
Commentary.

throughout all quarters, he came down also
to the saints which dwelt at LYDIA" The
last we heard OF Peter he was with John
preaching the word Of the Lord as they re-
turned from Samaria TO Jerusalem, having
witnessed the great work OF the Lord
through Philip in Samaria Chapter Will.
25). In Jerusalem the number OF disciples
multiplied greatly. and a great company OF
the priests believed Chapter vi, y. In all
the land the churches had rest. and wore be-
ing built up, and were multiplying, walking
in the fear Of the Lord and In the comfort OF
the Holy Ghost Chapter tx, 3ll. Peter
seems TO be itinerating "a little and helping
the saints here and there. Notice this name
saints. We are not called to be saints,
but we are called saints (Rom. l., Z, emitting
the italics; also l Cor. l., y by virtue OF our
oneness with Christ. Every believer is a
saint.
IS. "And there he found n certain man
named IEnas. which had kept his bed eight
years and was sick OF the palsy" We would
infer that !Hnas was one OF the saints to
whom Peter came, and finding him in this
helpless condition he had compassion upon
him. Possibly Fnas aud others had been
praying that the Lord would send some one
that way through whom health might come,
remembering Math. xviii, 10. How very
suggestive of the utter helplessness of the
sinner is the condition of this paralytic who
had been eight years in bed.
"a. 'And Peter said unto him, Fuas,
Jesus Christ maketh thee whole. Arise and
make thy bed. And he arose immediately"
Peter was greatly used OF the Lord in
the healing of the body as we'll ms of the
soul. See chapters ill.,, 6, z; v, IS, lG. II
would seem that some were healed even by
the shadow OF Peter falling upon them.
80. "And all that dwelt at LYDIA and
Saron saw Him. and turned TO the Lord"
God saw that this showing forth of His
power through Peter would be the means OF
many turning to Him. He does not heal all
who are sick. but to this day He does. both
with and without medicine, heal many who
are sick. He knows whether it is best for Us
TO abide here or be- with Him ut home. and
whether, abiding here, 1t is best for us to he
sick or well. The great thing is to clority
God that people may turn to Him (Phil. H.,
20; Johp xviii. A..
81. Now. there was at Joppa n certain
disciple named Tabiiha, which by i~nterpre-
tation is called Dorcas. This woman was
full OF good works and aims deeds which
she did" She was n Christian indeed, one
of the kind hat is missed when she goe,
away. All who truly receive Christ are
saved John l., l2). Disciples are those who
live upon His word and follow Him fully n,
any cost duke xvi, 26, 27). Those who are
both OF these and also full Of good works
and Kindness 10 the poor must come sEeci.
ally near TO the heart of Christ. for He, be.
Ing full OF the Spirit, went about doing good
and healing the oppressed.
81. "And il zane to pass in those DAYS that
she was sick and died, whom, when they had
washed, they laid her in an upper chamber
Her workdays over, she is absent from he,
body and present with the Lord; she has de.
parted to he with Christ, which Is far better
(Phil. l., p, %; III Cor. ", 81; she has truly
experienced n great gain. We are not told
II her sickness was long nor II she suffered
much, bu. sho has gone from them. and all
they have of her Is the body in which she
lived and wrought among them. Nc. they
have also her good works and blessed mem.
'~fishgiishT
She wohg sent unto him two men, desir
ing AreJ1at he would not delay to come tc
thefhe' LYDIA was no. far from Joppa. and
the disciples. hearing that Peter was there.
sent thus urgently for him, for they lonced
to have Dorcas with them once more. This
IS the natural longing OF the heart TO keep
! our loved ones with us even though we know
that their departure is their gain.
80. "All the widows stood by him weepin.
anu showing the coats and garments which
Dorcas made while she was with them.'
Fondly remembered by what she hat done
they make us think OF the words: BLESSED
are the dead which die in the Lord from
henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit. that they
may rest from their labors. and their works
to follow them" REV. xiv, 49,.
40. ''She opened her eyes, and when she
saw Peter she sat up" Many miracles OF
healing had been wrought through Peter,
but this is his first case Of resurrection from
the dead. Alone with the dead body, he
poured out his soul to God, DOUBTLESS plead.
ing The promises of God, the commission in
Math. ", 3, tho assurance of John xiv, Il,
and withal asking in complete submission 10
the will OF God (John XIV, ., IA; | John ".
IA, l5). Hemust have received some assur-
anco that his request was granted, for he
turned to the body and said, "Tabitha,
arise" And she sat up, looking upon him.
Al. And he gave her his hand and lifted
her up, and when he had called the saints
and widows presented her alive" There nrt
three resurreciions Of the dead in the Old
Testament, three in the life of Christ. and
this is the first Of three after his ascension
acts xiv, 10, 20; xx., l2). We have no
record OF any utterances OF those who had
been dead and had been brought back to this
world. Paul says 1t was not possible for him
TO utter what he heard in paradise (I Cor.
Kill. ~, doubtless when he was stoned 10
denth at Lystra.
AZ. "And 1t was known throughout all
Joppa, and many believed in the Lord" The
resurrection OF Lazarus led to many believ-
Ing on Jesus (John Kill, 11), and here is an.
other case in which the Lord saw that a res
direction would he the means OF leading
many to Him. 1t does not seem rs II Dorcas
would have been sent from paradise back to
earth without her consent. She may have
been informed OF the results that would fol-
low. and for the sake of winning these souls
10 Christ for Christ's sake she doubtless came
back cheerfully for His pleasure. We do not
know OF any results from the resurrection OF
tie many who rose when Christ did (Math.
xvii, 81. 53), but there was q reason for |
their resurrection, and no doubt the result
which God intended. Think they went with
Christ to'glory, while the nine previously re. |
ierred to probably died again.
AZ. "And 1t came to pass that he tarried
many days In Joppa with one Simon, a tan |
ner." And here we will find him In our next |
lesson. Preaching the gospel, healing the
sick, raising the dead or just tarrying with |
Simon, he is about his Masters business and |
doing as occasion serves him, knowing that |
God Is with him Il sam. r., D.-Lesson |
Helper.