The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-05
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY 9.

5uDJects Inc SIN or Lying, Acts W., oS;
", IL - Golden Text, Eph. w., 25
Memory Verses, a-b - Commentary
on tho Days Lesson.
80. "Multitude." The whole 5000 men.
toned in verse 4, and probably many 9th.
ers, who had been converted by the minis
try of the other apostles since that time.
"Of one heart" Though of different ages,
dispositions and conditions before they be-
lieved, and perfect strangers TO one an
other, yet when they met in Christ they
were intimately acquainted. Neither said
any of them" There was not dissenting
member. No such thing as discord existed
among them. "All things common" There
existed such confidence in each other.
3S. "With great power" With no diff.
culties among themselves to absorb any OF
their time, the apostles were encouraged
by spiritual, praying church, to preach
with great vigor, spirit and courage. wit.
ness" The apostles were witnesses to what
they had seen and heard. This is a most
effective way Of preaching. "Of the resur'
rection" All knew Of the death and bur.
ial of Jesus. But the enemies of Jesus
the Jews, would not believe in the rasur'
rection of Jesus.
"a. "That lacked" This was one rea
son for their favor among men, for all
actuated them. "Sold them" 1t seems
clear that all the owners, of real estate
who belonged to the church sold property
Things that were Sold" The. language
here expressly avoids saying that these
men sold all they had. They sold some
things, and the sum realized from what
was sold was offered to the common store.
IS. cat the apostles feet" To be dis:
posed of as they should direct. They would
be better able to determine where there
was need. Having relief fund the apos'
ties could draw upon it without making
every case public.
SO. "Joses." Or Joseph. He is the well
known Barnabas,. who is afterward. fire.
ouently mentioned as an associate of the
apostle Paul. That he was Levite is a
remarkable circumstance; we are soon at
terward told that even many priests be-
lieved. Chap. 6: 7. The surname of Bar.
nabas, which the apostles gave him, al.
luded, without doubt, to an extraordinary
gift of the Spirit which was manifested in
his addresses and exhortations. "Of Cy.
prus." An island in the Mediterranean
Sea, not very far distant from the Jewish
coast: The Jews were very numerous IN
that land.
81. "Having land, sold it" "He com:
forted by his gifts as we'll as his words
He certainly proved his sincerity. ., =,
Put The little word .'1u ~but" a.aD is the
Mas" The meaning of the word is "Fa.
vored Of the Lord" or Jehovah is gra.
cious." Sapphire" Beautiful" Their
characters were in sharp contrast with
their names. Here is a contrast between
the honest Hberality of Barnabas and the
hypocrisy of Ananias and his wife. Pro-
fessors Of the gospel, but certainly not true
believers, for all tina. truly believed were
of one heart and of one soul.
2. "Kept back part of the price" While
they pretended to make an offering of all.
This was hypocrisy, and was called lie.
"His wife" This sin was premeditated by
both parties. They had not set their affections
on the land, but the money exercised such
an influence on them that they could not
resolve to resign the whole, and hence
to acknowledge this circumstance pub
licly. -,
8. "Filled thine heart" Satan, the
father of lies, a liar from the beginning.
Peter traces the sin back to its source.
the heart into which Satan had been ad-
mitted; his question recognizes Ananias's
power to resist these evil influences. Satan
knocked; Ananias opened his heart. 'To
lie to the Holy Ghost" The apostles dis.
claim any power in themselves. 1t is
Christ who works the miracles; the God
of Abraham who gives the power of heal.
ing, and the Holy Spirit who is grieved
by sins like that of Ananias:
4. "Thine own" He might have kept
it without incurring the displeasure OF the
apostles or the Lord. "!n thine own pow
stowment of goods was perfectly volun-
tary and not law, and that the crime was
free and deliberate act. Ananias was
not censured because he had not surren-
dered his entire property, but for false
hood in protesting to have done so when
he had not. "Unto God" The offense
was chiefly against God. David takes this
same view of his sin in Psa. 81: 6. But this
is an important text to prove the person.
ality of the Holy Ghost. Peter uses the
terms God and the Holy Ghost ": 81 i'm
terchangeabiy, which shows that the Holy
Ghost is not merely an emanation from
God, but He is God Himself.
5. "Gave up the ghost" The immediate
fall and death of Ananias. when Peter had
addressed him, must be viewed as direct
feet on the Christian community is thought
to be the chief design cf SO startling a
judgment.
s. "Young men" The earliest church
was not without young men and young
women. Acts u: l3. Carried him out"
Just beyond the walls of the city. That
the body was not taken to his home is in.
dicated by his wife's Ignorance of what
had occurred. Buried In hot eli.
mate, like that of Palestine, burial had to
take place at once, and the graves leaves
with niches) were always open.
7. CATER three hours" Probably at the
next hour of prayer. Undet the shock OF
the death Of Ananias they had not dis
persed.
s. "Tell me-" The question was Sap
phira's place for repentance; the Holy
Spirit strove with her in Peters words:
but she resisted his strivings. $50 much:
Perhaps Peter pointed to the money still
lying where Ananias had placed it. V. 2.
"Yea." 1t had been in her power to save
her husband by a word of warming pro:
test; it was now in her power to clear her
own conscience by confession.
9. agreed" Sapphira's answer proved
20 Peter that their sin had been premedi
tated, and not one of haste or ignorance.
She was equal in the sin with her husband
Peters question gave the first knowledge
to Sapphira that their guilt was discov
cred, but her answer was given. TO
tempt." To test. or try the Spirit of tho
Lord by attempting to deceive Him, bui
"God is not mocked'' or deluded.
10. "Fell-yielded" 1t was not through
Peters words, nor his prayers. nor through
shame. nor through remorse that this gull.
ty pair died, but an immediate judgment
Of God.
II. "Great fear" This Judgment sn
swered the end for which it was inflicted;
a deeply religious fear occupied every
mind. and hypocrisy and deception weri
banished from this holy assembly.
Buried Wealth.