Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-01-18
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
international Lesson Comments Fer
January 10.
Subject: The Early christian Church, Acts H.
37.H-Goiden Text. Acts xi, H-Mem.
DRY Verses. O-cOmmentary
On the Days Lesson.

nest word, deu cred by the apostle
'p-icked IN ,heii hearts TINS word de
notes TO pierce ue unuc.rate with a needle,
md thus 10 pierce W'ith grief or acute
pam OF any, kind The, were stung with
remorse and alarm .oUvicted OF SIN and
deeply distressed. Men tnd brethren
This was an eXpress.,n dcnotiuc affection
ltc earnestness "Nhst shall we do"
How can we escape III. wrath chat seems
certain to fall upon Us aeatase of having
,rrclhed the Mes>iih: Ihl- tie qucs-
ton asked by every penien sinner See
Acts 9: 6: is: -. They h. sense of
guilt and danger and read.a-s Fl, Weld
- the CLAIMS OF God. Every daa- ~ i1;.
seemed shut in their faces. b. .-.lt
Zeal Is done when men begin | n,re
the Way.
s. Peter said Peter docs
as superior TO the Other apostles.
spokesman Tor all of them 'Rcp,
Evangelical repentance is. first. contritiou.
second. reformation
50. For the promise" The promised
influences of the Hoiv Shirt and oil par
don and salvation through repentance and
faith in the Redemer. Unto Won" Even
the murderers OF Gods Son were included
to the Invitation 10 come and repent. and
openly confesS Christ. and live for the
glory OF HIS name.
30. MANY other words" Tins we sec
that this account Is only brief report of'
tlIt = GIHfnuEHt. tN-ANN. ne sumo
word j. translated charge in ! Tim
:: ~. and nigh; he 50 rendered here. He
bore witness 10 the promises OF Christian
itv: To TIE truths pertaining to the danger
Of sinners and 20 the truth respecting the
character Of that generation. ''Exhort."
Entreating them bv arguments and prom
ises. 'Sayc yourselves" Do those things
necessary 10 your salvation. Forsalie
Your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus
Chris This crooked generation" (R
W They We're Ia save themselves from
the condemnation pronounced against that
wicked and backs,idden nation. which
had upon It the guilt of special crime. and
a doom OF special destruction" Many n
man has lived IN a crooked generation and
has kcpt straight.
~. Then" Immediately. ct the close
OF the sermon. \ prompt acceptance OF
the word is the beginning of true CONVEX
sion. That received His word" Or. VI
While gladly il omitted in the X. V,
vet II IS true that those who come to
Christ should come gladly. rejoicing in
the rrviiege of becoming reconciled to
Cod Were baptizei" As sign that
thev had accepted Christ as their Saviour.
The same day While 3000 were added
to the number OF Christians in one dav. it
does not say that this number was hap-
tized in one day. Three thousand" This
was glorious beginning for the infant
church: the disciples would be greatly en-
oouraged Souls Persons This was
the first e'fu>ion Of the Holy Spirit under
the preaching OF the gospel, ard it shows
that such scenes are to he expected in The
church. and that the gospel is fitted to
work a rapid and mighty change in the
hearts of men. This was an amazing
draueht of fishes on the part Of Peter.
-. They continued steadfastly. Fer
severance is the result Of fixed purpose
Peter was deiiuite in his preaching. The
Ia dos, IN. .I.ss,. u
I'm the apostles doctrine" In the doc
trinc taught by the apostles. which they
received of Jesus and preached under the
inspiration Of the Holy Ghost ANY at
tempt 10 cdifv without instruction and
do-irine rs the basis. Is neither in accord
Jesus. nor with the practice and princl-
pies q the apostles. and Is therefore I'M
evangelical And fellowship The
Spirit united them in the bonds oi pslce.
In breaking al bread" In token o. their
love and unity a. the family al God. the
brethren OF one Parent. In prayers.
United prayer strengthened the tie of
Christian brotherhood. and kept them
baptized into one Spirit.
~. Fear came Awe and reverence
took the pace of human philosophy. No
frivolous conversation had place among
them. but rather pious. devotional att.
tade Possessed Jesse. , them; M MANY H signs and
riments. hut divine operations through
men devoted to the service OF God.
~. "All things common" Themselves
and all they had belonged TO God TO
whom also belonged their poorer brethren.
and thew held what they possessed IN trust
community OF goods absolutely and uuiver-
sally enforced as a necessary and perma-
nent arrangement of the church. This Is
plain from Acts ;: 4: .: IS; II: II: II:
lG: Heb. 10; b: Is: ,. 5, Ii: Cor. 10: ;.
Is. Possessions. Lands. houses;
Goods Personal property. parted"
Indicating that the sale and distribution
took place from time to time a. called for.
Had need" They did rot sell all their
possessions or rehnquish their title 10 MI
their property. but they 50 far regarded
all as common as 10 he willing To par: with
it if it was ncedful to supply the wants o.
the others. II is still the duty OF the
church to supply the needs OF its poor
&C. In the temple This does not
mean that they were continually in the
temple, but they did not forsakc the tenn
pie services and were present at the hours
of prayer-at o'clock in the morning. at
noon. and at 3 in the afternoon. Break
ing bread at home" Or. W This may
mean that Select companies ate together
at their lodgings when they returned from
public worship. This was probably an or
binary meal, eaten together: and closing
with the Lords supper. Meat" THIS
means food of any kind .'G!adncss." Re
joicing This is one OF the effects OF the
grace of God Gloom cannot exist in a
heart where the Holy Ghost dwells. Sin
gleness of heart" This means with sin.
cere and pure heart. They were satisfied
and thankful. There was no deceit or hy-
pocrisy.
AZ. "Praisng God Their hearts were
full of praise. 1t is natural for Chris
tians to praise God as TO breathe. HAY.
ing favor The common people. heard
them gladly. They were esteemed for
their simplicity and charity. and for the
purity and l6veiiness of their lives. The
Jewish leaders had not yet entered into
systematic opposition to them. The Lord
added" 1t is the work of the Holy Ghos,
to save men and bring them into the
church That were being saved Or. w
Only saved men are fit subjects to be re.
ceived into the Christian church. When a
church becomes filled up with unsaved.
worldly people it ceases to be church
and sinks to the level OF mere social il.
stitution.