The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-05-22
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 26.
Subject: The Holy Spirit Given, Acts H.,
Ill - Golden Text, John XVII, 13 -
Memory Verses, IA - Commentary on
the nav,a Ieaaon.

Subject: The Holy Spirit Given, Acts H.,
Memory Verses, IA - Commentary on
the Days Lesson.
l. "Day of Pentecost." The meaning of
Pentecost is 't6ftieth." 1t occurred fifty
days after the Passover, and was the sec.
ond of the three yearly feasts held by the
Jews. The resurrection was upon Sum
day and Pentecost was the fftieth day
from the resurrection; therefore it was
began at the previous sunset. and this
would suggest an hour on the fftieth day.
They knew great blessing was to come
upon them, but how or when they did not
know. Thus they were best led to watch
and pray, to open their minds to the truth,
to be bound together in love, and to seek
the Lord with. all their hearts, trusting
Him for the fulflment of the promise.
all" Probably the l2O spoken of in
Chap. /: Is, who were altogether at the
election of Matthias. "With one accord"
There was no person uninterested, none
unconcerned, none lukewarm; all were in
earnest, and the Spirit of God came down
70 meet their united faith and prayer. "In
one place." The upper room. Acts /: 13.
At the time of Hadrian's visit to Jerusa-
lem, hen for the most part in ruins, there
was still entire the upper church of the
apostles in which Cyril of Jerusalem min
have His people meet together in Ills
name (Heb 10: 25; Matt. ls: 10, 2O), and
those who through negligence, or other
wise, absent themselves from the company
Of the saints Will suffer great spiritual loss.
2. Suddenly" Unexpectedly, in mo-
rise. "a sound" The suddenness,
strength and diffusiveness of the sound
strike with, deepest awe the whole COM
pany, and thus. complete their preparation
for the, heavenly gift. Wind was famil-
John 5: s; 20: -: But this was not =
rush Of actual wind. It was only sound,
"as of" it. "It filled all the house" The
sound was heard by all. To an upper room
the Spirit came, plain unfurnish he'd
room, where there was no ritual, no priest,
40 burnt offerings, no smell Of incense.
8. "There appeared" After. the audi
Bile sign Immediately follows the visible.
"Cloven tongues" The tongues of fire
parted themselves off like streams from
one source or like branch hes from one root,
This was the. baptism of fire which John
had promised Matt. 3: ny; the fire on
earth which the Lord Himself longed to
see kindled. Luke II: 40. The tongues
were the emblem of the languages they
we're to speak. The cloven tongues point
ed out the diversity of those languages,
and the fire seemed to intimate that the
whole would be spiritual gift and be the
means of bringing light and life to the
souls who should hear them preach the
iIIas like as Of tRr" ire" The fire indicated: /:
The penetrating power of the word of
God. 2. The old symbol of zeal and en-
thusiasm. 8. Leaping, triumphant, trans
forming energy. 4. The resistless puri-
flying which consumes the errors and burns
up evil. S. All the comfort, warmth,
cheer, life,, JOY. blessing; which the Holy
Spirit could impart. 1T sat-" There
were as many flames as there were persons
and they sat upon them for some. time to
show the constant residence, of the Holy
Spirit with them. The Spirit henceforth
was to abide in the church, and hold His
throne and seat there, as the Shekinah in
the Holy of Holes of old, and as the spirit
of life abides in our booles, the organizing,
controlling, lfe-giving power. :,
4. "Were all filled" Not only touched
or made aware of the presence Of the Holy
Ghost, but filled, made full. The whole
nature was filled with the love and power
of God. The same measure and the same
gifts of the Spirit were not bestowed on
receiving the same measure of the Spirit
which corresponded to his capacity. with
The HOLY Spirit" (R. W The Holy Spirit
was not now for the first time given to
men, for the Old Testament repeatedly
makes mention of His influence on the
minds of the prophets and others (eom-
pare, also, Luke /: Is, Al, 81; but He is
now given in abundance and power, thus
ushering in a new dispensation. At this
time the hearts Of the disciples were pnri-
sea speech RS that iaatn publishes the glad tdings
should be tongue of fire. He who speaks
the gospel coldly has not himself felt its
power. When the preachers heart IS
kindled his words will burn. Enthusiasm
instead of being a blemish in a Christian
is his normal condition. "Fervent in
spirit. serving the Lord" these two have
been Joined together by the word OF God,
and they should never be put asunder IN
the practice of men. The difference be-
tween one man and another is the the, dli1er- m
enee Of fire. with other tongues" Their
tongues were new with respect to language
as well as to thoughts. "Gave utterance.,,
Furnished them with the matters as well
as the language. >, MT
manent residents and pilgrims, who had
come up to the feast, are probably includ-
ed, verse 10. At this time there was
scarcely a commercial nation under heav,,
en- where the Jews had not been scattered
for the purpose of trade, merchandise, ETC.,
and from all these nations, it is said, there
were persons now present at Jerusalem.
The wide list of countries mentioned IN
cludes all the lands to which the Israel
ties had been banished. Representatives
from all the twelve tribes listened TO
Peters sermon (Acts 2: 1885, carried
back the gospel to their different, homes,
and were afterward confirmed IN the talth
hy the epistle of James, addressed to the
twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,
or are in the dispersion. -,
6. "When this sound was heard" (R.
W The sound that came from the upper
room. "Confounded." Perplexed, failing
to understand what it all meant. See "
70 Gown language" Or dialect; they
heard even the different dialects. See
v. s.
7. "Galileans." Persons wholly unedu-
Gated and, consequently, Ignorant; OF those
languages which they now speak SO Hu-
o. "Parthians." For an explanation of
the names in this and the following verses
see dictionary.
10. "Proslytes." Heather who had ac-
cepted the Jewish religion.
II. "Wonderful works" Concerning
Jesus; His death, resurrection and ascen'
sion and His power to save men from SIN.