The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-02-20
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
r
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY %.

1-15-GoIden Text, Matt. X, %s-Mem-
DRY Verses, :, S-Corn'nentary on the
Days Lesson.
]. I'm those DAYS TINS phrase was
used to mari, an indefinite period. In
Matt 9: it implies a number OF years
while in Acts l: Is it nlarss period OF
only Few days. The events of this lesson
occ~rred lust before the death OF Stephen,
which was only short time before. th9
conversion of Saul. Was multiplied, >,
Was becoming numerous. VA murrurlnG.
A complaint. The ground for the com
plant was that partially had been shown
in the distribution of the common fund.
:. THE twelve The apostles. Mat
thias was now one of their number. 1t
seems that up to this time the apostles
had attended to this matter; Called the
multitude" As soon as they. were IN
formed of the complaints they immediate,
" called the whole church together and
proposed plan by which these temporal
interests could be conserved. Not rea-
SON. at is not fit" R. Y. 1t is not the
proper thing to do. "Forsake the word OF
God" r. W To leave the higher f9nc,
tions to which we have been called. And
business duties of the church.
3. Look We out" Choose. Here we
see an organized working church. The
apostles took the wise course In order to
allay any suspicion that they were show
ling partiaity or desired to control the at
fairs of the church. From among you"
(R. W That is, from among the Gre
clans and Hebrews, that there may be JUS
tice done. and no further cause OF COM
plant. Seven men," Seven was sa-
cred number among the Hebrews and de-
noted completeness.
4. Continually to prayer" The orig
inal expression here used denotes intense
and persevering application to thing, or
unwearied effort in it. Even apostles could
not live without prayer Ministry of the
word" The preaching of the gospel. 1t
is by "the foolishness of preaching that
the world is to be saved. The minister
who does not pray much will be failure
spiritually.
s. THE saving pleased" There was no
whole body Of the disciples rejoiced that a
remedy had been proposed. "SteDhen. ="
A man in every way qualified to fill the
office. He nobly defended the cause of the
Lord Jesus and had the honor of being the
first Christian martyr. ''Phihp." In chap
ter 8: ) we hear of Philip as preacher in
Samaria; and he is probably the, same as
ter q: 8. OF the other five nothing is
known outside of this passage. Nicolas"
That Nicolas was the founder of the sect
mentioned in Rev. .: Is a conjecture
without proof.
| g. "Set before the apostles" The peo-
pie chose the. men, but the apostles con-
frmed the selection. This implied veto
power. prayed" The apostles prayed
for these persons that they might be qual.
fled to fill the position to which they had
been called Laid their hands" This
was symbol of the importation of the
gifts and graces which they needed to
qualify them for. their Office.
1 -
widely spread now that the apostles were
freed from secular cares, and eft to give
themselves unto the ministry of the word.
The prosperity referred TO shows that per-
feet harmony had been restored "a great
company" etc. This was the browning
triumph Of the gospel.
| g. and Stephen" Very little is
known OF the history of Stephen. 1t is
thought that he was one of Peters con.
verts on the day OF Pentecost. Full OF
grace and power" (R. W He was filled
with the Holy Spirit and had power, %
as great resoner and (2) to work mira
cles Did" He was man OF deeds"
Wonders" This is one OF the words
used in the New Testament to denote mir
acies. Miracles Signs" K. V. He
wrought miracles, principally, no doubt,
| in cases OF sickness and suffering.
8. There arose certain" Stephen ex-
cited the envy and jealousy of the unbe-
lieving Jews, not only by the wonders and
miracles which he wrought. and which
won distinction Tor him, but also by his
| gifts of knowledge and e.0quence which
ne employed in bearing witness for Christ.
| They became excited, addressed him per
Isonally, and engaged in discussion or de-
bates with him. They were He!Ienistic
Jews, and had previously known Stephen,
who was very probably Hellenist him
self. ''Libertines" - Freed men" Ro
kr hoI taa, r,iU fho,r lib-
erty. Many OF these had returned to Ju-
dea and they had synagogue OF their
| own in Jerusalem 'Tactus speaks OF
| 10000 Libertine jews" The Talmudists
cay there were $50 synagosues in Jerusa-
lem. "Cyrenlans.' Cyrene was the CHIEF
city in North Africa, aud great jewish
colony. Numbers .oi Jews We're settled
there, and are said by )osephus to have
been fourth part of the inhabitants OF
the city. These Jews also had syna.
gogue. "Alexandrians." The Talmud
specially mentions the synagogue OF, the
Jews who came from Alexandria, in which
city about 100000 Jews resided. They
were the most earned of their race: 81,
licia." Paui's native province. Asia.
This was the Roman province in Asia Mi
nor, and not the grand division
To- mot able to resist" Not that they
owned that they had failed to sustain their
position. and thereby submitted to the
truth, but that they could adduce no ar
guments possessing any force in opposi-
ton to the wisdom and the Spirit where
with he spalle.
H. "Suborned mem Privately bribed
and instructed. Against Moses" Ste.
phen taught that the Old dispensation was
in decay, and that the tempe must pass
away Against God" This must refer
to the supreme dignity ana authority
which Stephen claimed for Christ.
-. They stirred up the people" AT
this time the whole Jewish people were III
: state OF ill-suppressed frenzy and most
sensitive jealousy for the honor OF the Mo-
sale Notwithstanding which broke out
in constant revolts against the Roman
power. This accusation was therefore the
most likely one they could have pitched
upon to stir up i'll will, Caught him."
Without law or form of justice the people
and magistrates rushed on the good man,
seized him and brought him to council
that was ready for every evil work. The
council" The Sanhedrin.
10. False witnesses" Their faiseness
consisted in the perverted turns which
they gave to the words of Stephen.