The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-03-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH g.
Subject The Disciples Scattered Acts
viii, 3-17 - Golden Text, Acts Will
4-Memory Verses, 3-5-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

4-MemOry Verses, 3-5-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
2 saul made havock" The Greek
word means TO destroy" 'ravage, de-
| vastate." ~ a ferocious animal would de'
/ strov its prev. Saul did his utmost 10
1 ruin the church He was mad against the
/ Christians and set no bounds to his rage
| and cruelty. He did this under the sane
ton OF the rulers. See Acts Y; q; 70: ~
/ This does not prove that stephen mar,
/ tyrdom was not having an effect upon,
Saul. for when conscience Is awakened
/ and the Holy Spirit is pressing His CLAIMS
/ then IL is that men frequently exert them
selves against God. and use every means
10 drive the Spirit from them. Every
/ house" He searched everywhere that
none might escape. Hallng. An o'u
1 English word for hauling. And women.
| His fury knew no bounds. He arrested
/ the innocent women and dragged them
/ forth" the same as the men. TO PRISON.
/ So many we're arrested that It was imnos-
/ sible 10 bring them 20 trial at once; Inc
| Romans alone could infict the death pen
alty but the Sanhedrn could infict any
! uunishment short Of death. St Paul him
/ self saws that some Of them were put to
/ death (ehap. 26), and il this was not done
/ BY Roman authority. then Saul and his as
/ sociates must have resorted to mob law.
! Scattered" Heretofore the work
! had been centralized in Judea but now
| the prosecutions drive them out, and the
| church enters upon new epoch OF eNpan
i sion. "Fvervwhere" Through ,ludea and
/ Samaria. preaching the word" These
/ dispersed Christians we're like so many
/ itinerant preachers. IL il the word -
plain. simple. gospel truth-that reaches
| th" sinner
5. Philip" The deacon. mentioned in
chap. 6. now advanced to the degree OF an
evangelist "Samaria." Our Lord com
| manded them 10 bear witness OF Him in
samaria after Jerusalem. Acts l: 8.
| 9. with one accord" The original
words imply that crowds Of people gave
their faith and consent 90 the new teach
ing. when they heard etc. Or. "
They heard what had been done in other
places and saw what Philip was now doing.
| T. "Unclean spirits-oame out" Hence
Il is evident that these unclean spirits
were not a species Of diseases. as they are
here distinguished from the paralytic and
the lame There Is nothing more certain
than that the New Testament writers
mean real diabolic possessions by the terms
unclean spirits, devils. etc.
8. Great JOY" This Joy arose ~ from
the fact that a large number had been
| healed and (2) that the gospel had been
preached to them A revival Of religion
always produces Joy.
@ "Simon" Much has been written re-
garding this man. although little is known
| about him. He is usually spoken OF as
Simon Magus. "Sorcery." He praetleed
magic. exercising the arts Of the Magi OF
magicians. hence the name Simon Magus.
TO- "They all" Both old and younl
were carried away with his deceptions
"The great power Of God"-See X. V
here They believed him to be the one IN
vested with the power OF God supposinl
that the wonders he performed evineec
his possession OF great supernatural gifts;
II. Had regard" Gave heed. X. V
In the hope that he might be the deliyerei
for whom they had long been waiting
"Of long time" His birthplace was in Sa
maria, and it is most probable that hi
had lived there a great part of his lie.
~. "Believed" Where Gods trutl
arises the kingdom OF lies must wane
When they saw the true light they turneS
from the feeble. worldly light. Philip
walton. hope and JOY. Good tidings X
W Philip preached the gospel" which
means "glad tidings" Kingdom of God.
Defined by Paul Rom. Il: ny as beln,
righteousness and peace and Joy IN thu
Holy Ghost" II is a spiritual kingdom
which Christ sets up in the hearts OF I'm
followers. "The name" They believed
that Christ wa the Messiah Of whom ther'
was some expectation even among the Sa
maritans Were baptized" Thus they
made a public profession OF their faith n
Christ 49,,
49, Then" Simon simply drifted with
the popular tide. Men often profess reh
gon in order to gain better standing ~
the community. Himself believed" II
would appear to be great triumph 70
have the leader Of the opposition speak
out boldly in favor of the truth. but the
narrative shows Tvs. 1920 that bis heart
was untouched by divine grace. lie per
haps believed that Jesus had wrought mir
acles and was raised from the dead, but he
had no thought of renouneing his sorcery
"He likely looked upon Philip as a supe
rior soreerer of whom he might learn. Left
without followers he thought It best to JON
the man who had fairly outstripped
him" WAS baptized" Here is a strong
argument against what is called "haptis
NAL regeneration After Simon had been
baptized by Philip and whatever the
mode it must have been the correct mode
Peter tells him he is in the gall OF bat
terness" V. %. Surely baptism cannot
wash away our sins.
IA. Sent Peter and John" We gather
from this that there was no special pre-
eminence assigned to any among the apos
ties in those early days. They were sent
to assist Philip in the great work that
had so quickly opened up before him Ihe
harvest" the Saviour saw (John 4. 5l
was being gathered. The apostles had
greater authority than Philip and the re
suits show that they were especially need
ed at this time.
Is. Prayer for them" Instead Of at
once exercising their own authority they
seek direction from God. Might re-
ceive" They at once lead the new con-
verts into a deeper Christian experiences.
10. "Was fallen" This expression u
several times apphvu to the Holy Spirit.
1t means that He came from heaven, ana
denotes the rapidity and suddenness Of
| His coming. 'In the name" THE name
of Jesus Christ means the same as Jesus
Christ Himself"
IT, Hands on them" The blessings
came from God through the apostles. RE
ceiyed the Holy Ghost" We have here
as at Caesarea (chap. 10: 4i-tsl and al
Epheseus (chap. 10: SD. a miniature Pen
tecost. While at this time extraordinary
endowments were no doubt conferred, BY
which those upon whom the apostles laid
their hands may have been able to speak
with tongues and perform miracles, It Is
also equally true that they must have re-
| 4 4 4 - 10 ~