The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-05
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LesSos COMMENTS
FOR MARCH 9.
jubj-c.: The Disciples scattered. AetA
will. 81: - Golden Text. Acts will.
4--Mruory Verses. j-5-C"inmentary
ON the Days Lesson.


4--Mrmory Verses. I-5-C"rnrncntary
on the Days Lesson.
3. Saul MADE nsvoci;." The Greek
word mean, 10 destroy. 'ravaSe, dc
vastute." i. a icroriou. anima! would de-
stroy its prey. Saul did his utmost to
ruin the church. He WI, mad against the
Christians and SET no bouHds to his rage
and cruelty He did this under the sane
ton OF the rulers. See Acts -: 4; ID: III.
This does not prove that Stephens mar.
Saul. for when conscience is awakened
and the Holy Spirit is pressing His claims,
then it is that men frequently exert them
selves against God. and use every means
to drive the Spirit from them. Every
house" He searched everywhere that
none might escape 'Haling.' An old
English word for hauling "And women
His fury knew no bounds. He arrested
the innocent women and dragged them
forth the same as the men. TO prison.
So many were arrested tnat 1t was impos'
sib!e to bring them to trial at once; Ihe
Roman, alone could inhict the death pen.
atty. but the Sanhedrin could infict any
punishment short of death. st. Paul him-
self says that some of them were put to
death (:iIap. 26l. and II this wds not done
by Roman authority. then Saul and his as.
sociates must have resorted to moo law.
I. Scattered" Heretofore the work
had been centralized in .Judea. but now
the prosecutions drive them on.. and the
church enters upon new epoch OF expan,
sion. "Everywhere" Through Judea and
dispersed Christians were like so many
itinerant preachers. II is the word" -
plain. simple. gospel truth-that reaches
the sinner.
:. Philip" The deacon. mentioned in
chap. 6. now advanced to the degree OF an
evangelist. "Samara" Our Lord COM
manied them to bear witness of Him IN
Samaria after Jerusalem Acts l: 3.
6. With one accord. The original
words imply that crowds OF people gave
their faith and consent to the new teach.
ing. When they heard" etc. lR W
They heard what had been done in other
places and saw what Philip was now doing.
!. "Unclean spirits-came out" Hence
it is evident that these unclean spirits
were not 4 species OF diseases. as they are
here distinguished from the paralytic and
the lame. There is nothing more certain
than that the New Testament writers
mean real diabolic possessions BY the terms
uuclean spirits. devils, etc.
s. Great joy" This JOY arose Il; from
the fact that large number mad been
preached to them. A revival OF religion
always produces Joy.
Q. Simon Much has been written re-
gardirg this man. although little is known
about him. He is usually spoken OF as
Simon Magus 'Sorcery" He practiced
magic exercising the arts OF the Magi or
magcians. hence the name Simon Magus.'
TO- They ALL Both old and young
were carried away with his deceptions.
- t.l
here. They believed him to be the one in
vested with the power OF God. supposins
that the wonders he performed eyinccd
his possession OF great supernatural! gifts.
H. Had regard" Gave need" r. V.
Tn the hope that he might be the deliverer
for whom they had long been waiting.
"Os long time" His birthplace was in "a.
maria and it is most probable that he
had lived there great part OF his life.
i2. Believed" Where Gods truth
arises the kingdom OF lies must wane:
When they saw the true light they turned
from the feeble. worldly light. Philips
teaching met their needs and brought SAL
vation. hope and joy: Good tid,ngs TX.
w. Philip preached the gospel, =. Gh1 Ghicn =
Defined by Paul rom. IL: IN as being
righteousness and peace and JOY in the
Holy Ghost" 1t is a spiritual kingdom
which Chris. sets up in the hearts OF His
followers. The name. They believed
that Christ was the Messiah of whom, there
was some expectation even among the Sa.
mar,ans. Were baptized Thus they
made public profession OF their fa,tn IN
Christ.
10. Then Simon simply drifted with
Cion in order to gain a better standing in
the community. Himself believed 1t
would appear to be n great triumph to
have ;he leader OF the opposition speak
Oh, boldly in favor OF the truth. hut the
narrative shows Tvs. 1921 that his heart
was untouched by divine grace. He per
haps believed that Jesus had wrought mir.
acies and was raised from the dead. but he
had no thought OF renounclng his ~orcery.
He likely looked upon Philip IL Il supc.
rior sorccrer OF whom he might learn. Lett
without followers he thought il best to JOIN
the man who had fairly outstripped
him" Was baptized" Here il a strong
argument against what is called "baptis-
mai regeneration After Simon had been
baptized by Philip - and whatever tine
mode il must have been the correct mode
Peter tells him he is in the gall OF bit.
terness. V. % Surrey baptism cannot
wash away our sins.
IL. Sent Peter and John. We gatner
from this that there was no specla! pre-
cmincnce assigned TO any among the apos-
t.cs in those early davs. They werc sent
to assist Philip in the great work that
had so quickly opened up before him. The
harvest the Saviour saw John !: 81!
WAS being gathered. The apostles had
greater authority than Philip and the re-
suits sho that they were especially need
cd a. this time.
u. Prayer Tor ti:em Instead o: at
onre exercising their own authority they
seek direction from God. Might re-
rrive'' They At once lead the new con-
vcrts into Il deeper Chrl.,iaa experience
l6. Was fallen" Th;. EXPRESSION -
several times applied IN the Holy spirit;
" means tina. lie came from heaven. and
denotes the rapliIty and -i:dicDness oi
H., cor,ing In the name. Tie name
oi .Ie-u. Chris: means the sine L" Jesus
CHRIST Himself.
II Hand. on them The blessings
came from Goi through the ano,tics. Re.
eyed he HOY i;hos,." We have here
as 4. CaeSlrea (chap. -: 1853 and at
Ephc,cu. lcl,ap. 10: 81. miniature ren-
tccn,t. While a: this tim" c"trLprdInary
indictments were no ioub; conferred. by
which those upon whom the apo,t!c> laid
cher hands may iiavc been ao!c To sDeiS
with tongues and perform miracles. It IS
also equally true that they must have re-
.ciyed spiri;ua! blessing. - well. The
HOY S,irit would purify 'rhsr. -: ~.
enrich. rnighten and fully cluip them ior
NIL the events OF lie. bringing them into
Fellowship with al! believers regardless OF
race
Am.rienn Fruit Abroad.