Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-03-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson in the International Series
for March 3, Iso2-The Dfsot-
pies Scattered.
THE LESSON TEXT.
(ALts S::3-I3.)

TIE LESSON TEXT.
Oats s:3-13)
8. As for Saul. he made havoc OF the
church. entering into every house. ana
haling men and women committed them
to prison.
4. Therefore they that were scattered
abroad went everywhere preaching the
word.
s. Then Philip went down to the city Of
Samaria, and preached Christ unto them
6. And the people with one accord gave
heed unto those things which Philip spakeS
hearing and seeing the miracles which ne
did.
4 For uncIean spirits, crying with loud
voice, came out of many that were pos
sessed with them; and many taken with
palsIes, and that were lame, were healed
8. And there was great JOY in that city.
9. But there was q certain man. called
Simon. which before-time in the same city
used sorcery, and bewitched the people OF
Samarja. giving out that himself was some
great one:
TO- To whom they all gave heed. from the
| least to the great st, saying, This man Is
| the great power of God.
IL And to him they had regard, because
| that of long time he had bewitched them
| with sorceries.
u But when they believed Philip preach
| ing the things concerning the kingdom OF
God, and the name OF Jesus Christ, they
| were baptized. both men and women.
Is. Then Simon himself believed also; and
7
Philip. and wondered, beholding the mir
acles and signs which were done.
| GOLDEN TEXT. - Therefore they
that were scattered abroad went ev-
ss4.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The Scripture text to be studied in
.luded the first 25 verses of the chap
ter from which the above verses are
| R4l-
lowing Incidents:
The disciples scattered. SO g
| Philip in Sanaria .................Acts S:6-1E
! Simon rebuked ...................Acts S:1S-2Sr
All this occurred A. D. 80 to SO.
The Disciples stephens
trial completely convinced the Jews
that the disciples of Jesus were set
of blasphemers who ought to be
stamped out at once. The chief agent
In the roceedings-resulting from this
conviction was Saul. His method is
most fully described by himself in 90:
Gil, where he tells Agrippa how he
imprisoned them, how he voted to put
some of them to death, and how he
brought pressure to bear by means of
the threat of expulsion from syna-
gogues and in other ways to lead them
to deny Jesus (Acts s:3). Add to these
items the fact that a search was made
from house to house for the capture
of any who were suspected of conuec-
ton with the followers of Jesus. By
telling the story of Jesus life and
work wherever they went, the scat
tered disciples accomplished the thing
for which. so far as we can Judge. God
allowed them to suffer. We are prob
ably not to think of them as gath
ering audiences to whom they might
make formal addresses, but as tell
| ing everyone whom they could get to
| listen to them the story of Jesus life
| and the hope of salvation which they
! cherished. Of course, many would
gather about them in the little villages
or the khans where they met men.
Philip in. Samaria.-After the death
of Stephen, Phil became senior deacon.
Those officers now became leaders in
the work of teaching and preaching,
! since the apostles could not work open
ly for time. 1t was a long step for
ward for a Jew to go to Samaria with
a message of love. Jesus had men,
! toned Samaria explicitly, however
! G:S), and it had the advantage Of be-
ing perfectly secure. In practically all
| Gentle cities were large Jewish col
onies who recognized the authority of
| the Sanhedrin and would endanger
any Christian who sought refuge
there. But no one in Samaria had any
respect for the Sanhedrin. Jesus
work in Samaria John 4:39-42) made
! it possible for Philip, Jew as he was,
to visit the city openly and gain hear
! ing. He was also helped by the power
to perform miracles. There were
| more people to secure there than in
| places where Jesus had visited. Simon
Magus was evidently one of those i'm
posters who in all ages have won
large popular following by their
tricks. Philip appeared in the popu-
lar eye at first as great and success
full rival of Simon, but later the real
meaning of his work impressed them
In view of what happened later, ST.
mons profession of faith must be
viewed as little more than a tribute
to success. though it was no doubt
based on d recognition in Philip of a
power greater than that of any trick
ster The work of Peter and John
was to see what had been done. to give
encoura cement and especially to bring
the blessings of the Holy Spirit. No
instance has been recorded before of
the communication of the Spirit by
the laying on of hands. but such in
stances may have occurred.
Simon Rebuked.-The power Simon
desired seems to have been limited
to the apostles; at least, Philip did
not use it. Simon's offer was based
on an entire misconception of the ma
ture of the gift-a misconception he
could not have cherished had his own
spirit submitted itself genuinely to
God. The motive of the request in
verse "A seems to have been a selfish
desire to escape punishment. Simon
does not declare or manifest any real
penitence.