The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-08
Church and Sunday-SChool

Learned men had not yet begun their disputes
| about doctrine. The apostles with much asstir.
F, ancc gave testimony concerning the rcsurrec.
| ton OF Jesus, the cardinal TRUTH and this caused
| all disciples to rejoice as members Of one great
| brotherhood.
| COMMON GOOD. (Nerscs 81 to 3D. This spir.
| ituIl unity found expression in secular matters.
It completely broke down the love of personal
| property which IS universal, so that no one
| claimed to own anything in his own name and
| right What each had, whether by descent OF
| earning, was counted as belonging to all. Out
| OF common store the needs Of the congregation
| were supplied. Houses and lands were sold and
| the proceeds were offered !or the general good
| CActs ii:i5). This was done without any Scrip.
| tural direction, even in the face OF that whole.
| some teaching which society rests zen. Xx:O).
| It was an extreme outcome Of brothcrly love and
| of religious devotion. Among those who thus
| generously consecrated their wealth was Barni.
| bas, formerly of Cyprus. who aftcrward became u
jealous missionary (Acts xii:D. The mention Of
| this good man here prepares for the account Of
| his conservation ten years later
| FEIGNED CHARITY .-(Verscs I and y. Many
people desire to be thought better than they are.
| to receive credit Tor virtues which they do not
possess. This is an ugly fum OF spiritual pride.
! Such persons. unable or unwilling TO conform TO
| the practices OF their associates. are more I'M.
| willing to meet the feared criticism which m'y
| arise through failure to conform. They Therefore
| resort to deception, This was the course pur.
| SIZED by Ananias, member of the church. at the
| time when under the prompting OF love Tor each
| other and for the cause of Christ, the people had
| cast their all into the hands OF the apostles,
| Ananii5 sold piece Of property. retained Il pai!
| of the price for himself, and brought the ra
| ma.nder, pretending that he had given MI. He
expected in this way to receive the paiitlit OF his
| brethren, as liberal and devoted follower n
| Christ, one who anxious TO be rcckCned
among those who were by their worldly mean.
| advancing the interests of the church. OF cour,t
| he had no thought of detection.
DESERVED REBUKE.-Werses 8 and y. Bat
| Peter knew the facts in the case of Ananas
! Whether by that peculiar insight which enables
holy man to discern The thoughts Of The un
| godly or by conjecture as to the value of Tic
| property sold. or by report of some who knew. q
by revelation of Gods spirit-,hc narrative say
| nothing OF the source Of his information Aud
| Peter confronted and ,cbukcd the offender li'
assumed that Ananias had been in the power o
| Satan duke NXii:0 and declared that in keep
| Ing back part of the price he lied against the
Holy Ghosta most fearful change. But tnc
apostle raised question TO the reason tor tI'
| terrible decd. desisred to awaken reflection al.
move the conscience. Peter proceeded to SHOW
| the guilty man that there was no good reason III
such Il faIschood The property was his own a.t
, the proceeds Of the sale also. lie WAS under IL
| obligation to give it TO the church. There Wa
no rule which he had to obey. Every such BE-
quest voluntary on the part Of those wig
do it.
SprEDy JIrnCNENT -vnrscs ! and a. IT.,
| words of patc, v.rc scarcely snoken wien til,
hNpocrticll AnanaS fcll down the place where Et
was standing and instantly ,xpircd and IN,
Young men bore linn awn,. for burial. This sud
den death mu, have rr.ultpd from one of sry.la
| cnusas mr. rrn,n ,l,csa ,,us.s conbincl The m,r
| tiGrotion cynrrirnrcd hv tris 'nub,,c p>Dos,,r,
soucht in mi wax. ihn oood oniuior Of his ;,..o
ciytns and Tho cnpscienco ro,. novc made .icr
and earnest accusation au,in,t thc sin. 50 enoT
| mans and ,udrr t,,c circumstances 50 rnnorIou
able The.r tv, Influences youll nro,rcc Il ire
| men,,ous shock mon ilo ucryo,,s system n,t
he1rt f,i,rr mirhl rc.nlt # * uuitr pron,blt
th.t ,hnrc was dircc, Divine ipAirt;on Il, i.
| ,ho ems, nf ,,r,n'. sons uoy. x.I..). go That fin
dcotl ,vos ,n,,o. thc soutauc,, ,.,d nnp,lt,. nj Tin
| ,lmiahtv :, Indictment oo,iu.t sin
! Cu.IJTv p,pr\rp ,yr,sn. -tm GrncrIr
Iv ., man. v,ifr r,.t,oins lin, iron, evil, As i
i nat hor orlino,v rpri to initiate Il co,rsc a
| ,oti,n I, j. a L,.t.r iuIuc ~, IL, ,uo,,I ouoii,,.
and i. b.Iicycd T., H., more -..,.irnti,,. les H.,
hIr to tIo.n t,nnf,tion, ,hJ hlinI onn ,o ,h
cn,co,,,, ,c.s ,f hoods But in mi. Instance San
| min, yo. tny,lycl win hcr ro,.bunl II na,
hn tI,,t slc v,s tho mara o,,il., of t, i,yn Il,
shc c,red NOR, for ,Lo ,yucct,d corueutnt q,
Nnn,i,,. v.,s r,yricd ant she stnd II, gorc Peter
r,Ir ounetinn yn. o.ArL vhr,hcr tho land wa
,old t thn ,micr first stated niy,np opn,rt,lnit,
,or tur, f.r no,,,enc. onI cnpycss;,n u,r =;
mm,iivr showrL - tycI n,,r,,.,r to lIl.igy IT.,
rnnri,,,,,,1 ~, pe,o, sL,t, ~, f,,Iny,I Il, :.
,I,, nj hr,. hm.l,arJ ami yn,oh h,,rIoI ,In,cl ,h
.cnnc Two n,,nrs ,nonins and s,nn,lr,,, w,r
.t,irkcn frou ihc rII,rrh r,lI
coon Rrs,.,r -vc,.c IN II may IN
thonc,l Inv sonc-il Lu, becu 80 dpclmrl-lhp
thn La,th ~ tho.r t,yo ncrsnrs WAS ,,ot IL,
mau,,aI L,. ,l, ,,.t,,ro ~ ihoi, nG,,.,. tI,t ,r
nmi,Inncni v,,. h,sty onI cyh,mc 'rhlt yi,y
nmsr he ,,i,,,loncI hy nil WHO consider thnf thr
Mo1 oi,le, ,n."", tI'n "ynitcmcnr of thc hnur ~