The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-01-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Prepared by III, c. Lonington.1
THE LESSON TENT.


Kingdom of God
4. And, being assembled together with
them, commanded them that they should
not depart from Jerusalem. but wait Tor
the promise OF the Father, which, saith He.
| ye have heard of Me.
8. For John truly baptized with water,
but ye shall be baptized with the Holy
| Ghost not many days hence.
8. When they therefore were come to-
gether. they asked OF Him. saying, Lord
wilt thou at this time restore again the
kingdom Ia Israel?
| Z. And He said unto them. II Is not :ot
| you to know the times or the seasons
which the Father hath put In His own
| power.
s. But ye shall receive power. after that
| the Holy Ghost Is come upon you: and We
| shall be witnesses unto Me beth IL Jeru-
salem. and in all Judea. and In Samara.
| and unto the uttermost part OF the earth.
.. And when He had spoken these things,
| while they beheld. He was taken up; aud q
| cloud received Him out Of their sight
TO- And while they looked steadfaStly to.
ward Heaven as He went up. behold. two
men stood by them In white apparel;
| II. Which also said. Ye men of Galiiee.
why stand ye gazing up Into Heaven? this
same Jesus, which is taken up from YOU
! INTO Heaven. shall 50 come IN like man
! ner as ye have seen Him so into Heaven.
GOLDEN TENT.-WhiIs lie blessed
fhcn,' lie was parted from them, a Il
Carried UP into heaven.-Luke 2i,5I.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
| with this lesson we begin series of
| lessons in the book Of the Acts of the
Apostles. 1t is study Of the birth
| and early development Of the church.
| In the first two or three>lessons of the
quarter we study the power that
brought about the wonderful religious
movement almost Immediately follow
ing the ascension Of Christ. In sue
ceeding lessons we study the results Of
the working Of the power. Study the
entire first chapter OF Acts. in con-
nection with this lesson. The chapter
may he studied with the following
brief outline in view:
| The work begun. vs.. 1-3.
commandment and a promise VS. IS
| Ascension and second coming, vs.. oil.
new apostle chosen. vs. 1926.
The Work Begun.-The book of Acts
is merely continuation or sequel Of
the Gospel according to Luke. Luke
says that in his Gospel he indicated
what Jesus began both to do and to
when His bodily presence left the
earth. He was to continue the work
in the hearts Of men and do even a
| greater work because of the throwing
off Of human limitations.
A Commandment and a Promise
On Thursday, May IS, A. D. 30, or
| just 30 days after the resurrection
OF jesus, there was eetinrestnihe
disciples (not alone the apos,.e
with their Master in Jerusalem.
From the city lie led them out to the
Mount of Olives near Bethany. The
commandment Of Jesus was that the
disciples wait in Jerusalem "for the
promise OF the Father" The promise
was the gift Of the Holy Spirit. Why
was the Holy Spirit given? The gif,
Of the Holy Spirit meant power for the
disciples in extending the kingdom.
Ascension and Second Coming
After making the promise OF the Holy
Spirit and indicating the line OF their
work witnessing at home and abroad
wherever they should go), "He was
taken up, and cloud received Him out
of their sight" After Jesus departure
two angels in the form of men stood
with the assembled company who
called their thoughts back to earth and
present duty, and this promise was
given to comfort them: "This same
Jesus, which is taken up from you in
to Heaven, shall 20 come in like man
ner as We have seen Him go into
Heaven"
A New Apostle Chosen.--While
awaiting tho fulfllmsnt Of the prom
Use, word began TO be circulated about
the city that Judas had committed sui.
eide. There were at least two rumors
anoat and perhaps more, so profound
was the impression II had made. Mat
thew says the traitor hanged himself;
Luke, in the chapter We are studying,
says he fell and burst asundsr. One
thing was sure: he had come to his
end by his own hand. The traitor
could find no happiness in the accursed
30 pieces of silver. His tragic end made
profound impression upon the other
apostles. They had been associated
with this man for at least q year or 4
year and half. They had seen their
Lord betrayed and srrsiAed. Now he
had come TO his Ysward-a sad and i'm
pressivc warning to all. Peter sus-
gested that another be named to fill
out the round number Of II apostles.
The choice Of those present. fell be-
tween two: Justus and Matthias.
just what Justus and Matthias ever
did is not recorded. They were no
doubt earnest and dsvout men, but
the fact that these men were chosen
and accomplished no notable work
while Others who were not thought of
lid great service for the early church
suggested the fallbility OF the human
Judgment. The man little esteemed
~ W. often surprises lis when il comes
o bringing things to pass, while the
nan we look TO as great often fails at
The critical moment.
Tersc and True.
The best way to help others is to
holm Curgplvpz Ia la mn. hos,