Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-02-01
IM SABBATH GUUL.
International Lessen lests For
FcbrHary 2.
Subject: The First Persecution. Acts w.. l-zz
Golden Text. Acts w., l2-Memory
Verses S.l0- Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

I !. "As they spake.' Peter addressed one
| portion of the multitude while John spake
to the Others. That great crowd had
gathered is certain from the large number
OF converts. V. 4. The priests Those
! belonging to some of the twenty-four
| courses among whom the temple services
were divided. l Chron. "a: l-l9; Chron
%: 8. These were the persons who had
shown such hatred toward Christ from
! the BEGINNING. Captain Not a mill
i tary officer, but one who had charge OF
the guard of priests and Levites, who
watched the temple at night.
.. Being grieved.' Sore troubled =
| r. v. The priests believed in the doctrine
| OF the resurrection. but TO have it preached
through Jesus brought His blood upon
them, since they put Him to death:
,. Laid hands on them The Ian
guagc implies actual violence. I'm hold"
\ sort OF house OF detention for the
| jews never punished by Imprisonment as
| the Romans did. Peter had an opnortu-
| nifty to reflect on the words, Lord. | am
ready to go with Thee-into prison
| Luke -: 3S. Next day" 1t was now too
late TO assemble the Sanhedrin. as that
body could not 81! lawfully except by
time" The jews had two evenings
One began at , O'Clock and the other nj q
O'Clock. Peter and .lohn entered the tenn
pie courts at o'clock. the hour OF prayer,
| and the proceedings at this time had oc
| cupsad three hours.
j. Many believed Persecution did
not prevent the truth from prevailing but
1t developed courage and energy and
! made known to the world the noble quail
| ties which Christianity had implanted. and
caused the story of the Saviour. His lie.
| resurrection. love. power and Messiahship
70 be proclaimed all ovcr the land. "Nmm-
ber-was.' Came 10 be."-R. V. The
society OF converts had been increased by
nearly 1000 since the day OF Pentecost
5. Rulers. elders. scrihes,' This was
| regular meeting OF the Sanhedrin. The
| rulers were the chief priests-the official
rulers; the elders were heads OF families;
scribes were teachers OF the law.
been deposed from the Office of the high
priest by the Romans. and Ca;aphas. his
son-in-iaw. was made high priest by them.
But the Jews regarded Annas as ccciesi.
| astically their high priest. He was the
most influential person among the jews
ut this time. Our Lord was taken before
Annas first. John IS: l3. John and
known. but it is certain that they were
men OF influence.
:. In the midst" They placed the
prisoners in the centre of the Sanhedrin.
which sat in semi-circle Power name"
Power is force, name is authority. By
| what magical POWER did you do this, and
t, what right had YOU 10 use such power:
S. Peter filled" According To the
promise of mis- now g,orifed Maser. Matt
10: 20; Mark l3: II. This cmpoWering pen
tecostal spirit now dwelt in TIE apostles
and the others, an abiding gift to man
! ifest himself as each emergency demanded.
9. BE examined" Called 10 account
reminder that it was not for crime that
they had been placed in custody aud were
on trial. Made whole" Is cured OF
| saved. suggesting a spiritual, as well as
physical restoration.
10, BE it known. The testimony
which Peter would give before the Sanhe-
drin he would delight to publish TO all
Israel. and thus eXalt the name OF Christ.
He could preach with as much freedom in
court room as in any other place. when
| filed with the Spirit Jesus Christ OF
Nazareth" Wonders are wrought in the
name OF Jesus: not by repeating it as
charm. but by believing in it as a divine
Jesus. the Saviour: Christ. the Messiah:
the Nazarene. the despisei.' Whom We
crucifed. As an imroster. Whom God
| raised" Thas putting 10 naught mans
power.
IL. set at naught OF YOU builders" BY
your rejection ard cruciiixion OF jesus
Christ You have fulfilled one OF your own
prophecies psalm lis: a2l: and as one
part is literally fulfilled We may rest as
sured the other shall be- This allusion
to the prophecy about the cornerstone is
brief. because they were supposed 70 lie
familiar With it. Peter was assured that
they must remember 20 have heard it more
than once from the Inns OF Jesus
Il: salvation His is the only atom.
ing blood: and His the only arm that can
save. "Name" Name stands for Jesus
Christ Himself. and there is in Him Wis.
dom. power. love. divineness; just rs
mans name to note stands for all \ man
Is. and has: his property. character. abil-
ity. integrity. Among men. l. is sal
ties were not defenders of themselves. hut
sturdy, truthful. uncompromsing Wit
nesses to Jesus and the resurrection.
-. "Bollness.' This speech was a
greater miracle than that of the lame man.
Compare the Peter OF this speech and the
Peter before the resurrection. and tell
what has happened. In himself the mira
Gle had first been wrought. And John"
We have no record OF any word spoken by
| John. yet his boldness OF speech. no less
than Peters. was observed by the council
IA. Misunderstanding" No longer help
less cripple. Ii not unprecedented with the
apostles, the Sanhedrin being an open
court. his presence may have been an ex-
preston OF his faith and thanlfulness. or
he may have been summoned for exaiHina-
ton. Could say nothing" Nothing
against the fact. though they were unwil.
ling to own the doctrine which it tended
so strongly to prove
l.. Go aside Peter and John were
| required 10 leave the council chamber
while the Sanhedrin discussed what should
be done
l6. Cannot deny it," Every one knew
: that it was a genuine case OF hea!ing
II, Threaten them" This is what they
decided to DO in order TO stop the new re-
licion. and this is the way the ungodly still
endeavor to retard the progress of Chris.
! tianity
IS. Called them They were called
back into the council chamber.
10. ".Iudge ye." Cod required them 90
speak; the council forbade them. Which
ought they TO obey: See chap >: -.
%. Cannot hut speak" They could
not obey their rulers and 40 right: neither
can any person when ru,ers command what
God forhids. Which we saw aud heard"
Or. W Concerning Jesus Christ
n. "Recause o. the people" Should
they punish the apostles, they feared the
people would rise against them and give
them trouble for the people "gloritied
God for that which was done