Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-05-18
international gessoa,
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VIII, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, MAY 26.
Text OF the Lesson, Acts ii, Ill.
Memory Verses. 1-i-Goiden Text.
John xvi, 13-Commcntary Prepar-
ed by the Rev. d. NJ. Stearns.

|
ed by the Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.
copyright, 1901, by American Press Association
1. "And when the day Of Pentecost
was fully come they were all with one
accord in one place" In the feasts of
the Lord which He gave to Israel there
was foreshadowing Of future events
concerning the Lord Jesus both in His
humiliation aud eXaltation. The Pass
over lamb ever pointed onward 10
Christ our Passover sacrificed for u.s.
Il Cor. V, ~ On the morrow after the
Sabbath they were to bring a shcaf OF
the first fruits Of the harvest unto the
priest and offer q he lamb without
blemish for a burnt offering with his
neat and drink offering. This pointed to
he resurrection of Christ from the dead,
the first fruits Of them that sleep uev.
xiii, GA; Cor. XIV, 20, 23). After 5O
days they were to offer a new meat Of
fering unto the Lord, first fruits with
leaVen which had to be met by sin Of
fering LEV. xiii, 1919, and this typi-
fes the gathering of the church by the
coming of the Spirit 30 days after the
resurrection Of Christ.
2. "And suddenly there came a sound
from heaven as of a rushing, mighty
wind, and it filled all the house where
they We're sitting" They had been since
His ascension continuing with one ac-
cord in prayer and supplication, and now
they were with one accord in one place
Il, IA; ii, y. Compare the lone accords"
for Him in chapters ii, 46; iv, "a; viii. 6,
etc., and contrast the lone accords'
against Him in vii, 81, etc. If those who
meet in His name to worship Him would
indeed do it with one accord, who can
tell what He might do for such unity Of
purpose? We may not be able to bring
about this union in the church, but we
can each pray, "Unite my heart to fear
Thy name" (Ps. lxxxvi, 1D. They had
been told to tarry until endued Iuke
xiv, 49). but whether they thought pos
sibly it might be on the day Of first fruits
or not we know not.
3. 4. "They were all filled with the
Holy Ghost and began to speak," The
| promise Of the Father. the promised
Comforter. came as Jesus had said He
would. for every promise Of His is as
good as fulfilled when made, for He is
faithful who promises II Thess. '. 2).
| He had said that when He returned to
the Father He would send the Holy Spi"-
| it John xv, 20: xvi. y. They had seen
Him ascend. and now the Spirit came as
He said and filled them to be their
teacher guide and comforter as He
Himself had been when with them
When, at His baptism, the Spirit came
specially upon Him, He came not as
l,,t
there was nothing in Him that needed
purifying or consuming: but there IS
much in us. as there was in the disciples.
to be consumed and purified. If we were
ever filed with the Spirit. for these men
were filled again and again Gv. 8. 81.
He would speak through us purifying
| words for the benefit Of others. 1t is
thought by many that the coming Of the
| Spirit at PentecoSt was fulhlment Of
Acts i. II. and that then Jesus Himself
came, but such do not consider that the
heavens have received Him until the
times Of restoration Of all things which
| God hath spoken by His prophets. nor
that Jesus said He would send another
Comforter. and another" cannot mean
'the same iActs. iii. 81; John xiv, 1G).
| 5, G. Devout men out Of every nation
under heaven heard them speak in their
own language. The countries from which
they came are mentioned in verses Oil,
and in all these different languages the
disciples spoke. for all languages are
equally easy to the Holy Spirit. and it
was the Spirit who took control of them
and spoke through them, not because they
were specially good or holy. but for His
sake whom the Spirit would glorify
through them (Ezck xxXvi. 90; John xvi.
14). Our Lord had said to them while
yet with them as He sent them forth. "1t
is not We that speak. but the Spirit o.
your Father that speaketh in you"
(Math. Y, 20). and He still says to us as
He said to Moses. Now therefore go. and
l will be with thy mouth and teach thee
what thou shalt say" (Ex. iv, 12). Mis-.
sionarics have often longed for this spc-
cial gift of the Spirit. but | have not
heard Of any one being able to speak a
foreign language without much study.
though | am personally acquainted with
more than one missionary who. relying
upon the Holy Spirit. has been able to
make such progress in the study Of the
language that what would ordinarily take
a year has been accomplished in five or
six months.
I, s. Behold, are not all these which
speak Galileans. and how hear we every
man in our own tongue wherein we were
born?' In their estimation nothing good
or great or wonderful could come from
Gallce John vii, 52). and to hear an un.
educated fisherman frCm Galilee speak
the language that was theirs by birth
was truly ali amazing thing, and they
did not know that God, the Creator Of all
things. the Lord God of Israel, was deal.
ing with them that they might know Him
and His Son whom they had crucitc'l
In Gen. ri a rebellion against God lei tn
| the confusion of tongues, but now. not.
withstanding great rebellion against
Him. He would by this great work Of
the Spirit magnify His Son and if possi,
BILE draw them to Him. He had iaiscd
from the dead the Prince Of Life whom
they had killed. and, although they had
denied Him and desired murderer in
His stead. yet He would forgive them
and unite them to Him if they would let
Him (ActS iii. II, 10.
Oil. eve do hear them speak in our
tongues the wonderful works Of God
Peters sermon. which follows, also Ste
phcn's sermon in chapter vii. and PauIs
in chapter xiii. give good idea OF the
wonderful works of God which they de-
clared, but after speaking of His past
| uon1rouS works in His dealings with Is