The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-01-15
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
- FOR JANUARY 10.

Subject: The Early Christian Church, Act,
H., 37-47-Golden Text, Acts xi., a.
Memory Verses, 37-3o-Colnmentary ON
the Days Lesson.
81. "They were pricked." These ear
nest words delivered by the apostle
"pricked" in their hearts. This word de
notes to pierce or penetrate with a needle,
and thus to pierce with grief or acute
pain of any. kind. They were stung with
Temorse and alarm; convicted Of sin and q
This was esyS an Expression. denoting 10TH affection.
ate earnestness. "What shall we do"
How can we escape the wrath that seems
certain to fall upon us because of having
cruciied the Messiah? This is. the ques.
tion asked by every penient sinner. See
Acts 8: 6; l8: 80. They had sense ot
guilt and danger and readiness to yield
to the claims Of God. Every door Of hope
seemed shut in their faces, but great
deal is done when men begin to inquire
So. "Peter said" Peter does not act
Spokesman for all of them. Repent"
Evangelical repentance is, first, contrition;
second, reformation. :. u i+,:.,i5sla
? 80. "For the promise" The promised
influences Of the Holy Spirit, and Of par:
don and salvation through repentance and
faith in the Redemer. "Unto You" Even
the murderers of Gods Son were included
to the invitation to come and repent, and
openly confess Christ, and live for the
glory Of His name.
40. ''Many other words" Thus we see
Peer ieas this asssuTe is sP tf fSsg fsSsgs
word is translated Charge" in / Tim.
5: q, and might be so rendered here. He
bore witness to the promises of Christian.
ity; to the truths pertaining to the danger
of sinners and to the truth respecting the
character of that generation. "Exhort."
Entreating them by arguments and prom.
ises. "Save yourselves" Do those things
necessary to your salvation. Forsake
your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ. "This crooked generation" (R.
~ They were to save themselves from
wicked and backslidden nation, (which
had upon it the guilt of special crime, and
doom of special destruction" Many g
man has lived in crooked generation and
has kept straight.
IL. "Then." Immediately, at the close
of the sermon. A prompt acceptance OF
the worlds the beginning of true conver.
sion. "That received His word" (E: W
While GLADLY" is omitted in the R. ",
vet it is true that those who come to
Christ should come gladly, rejoicing in
the privilege of becoming reconciled to
Coo" "Were baptized" As sign that
"The same day" While 5000 were added
to the number of Christians in one dav, il
does not say that this number was bap-
tized in one day. Three thousand" This
was a glorious beginning for the infant
church; the disciples would be greatly en-.
couraged. Souls" Persons. This was
the first effusion of the Holy Spirit under
the preaching of the gospel, and it shows
that such scenes are to be expected in the
church, and that the. gospel is fitted to
work rapid and mighty change in the
hearts of men. This was an amazing
draughts Of fishes on the part Of Peter
severance is the result Of fixed purpose.
Peter was definite in his preaching. The
people were definite in their decisions.
'In the APOSTLES doctrine" In the doc
trine taught by the apostles, which they
received Of Jesus and preached under the
inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Any at:
tempt to edify without instruction and
doctrine as the basis, is neither in accord.
ance with the example and command OF
Jesus, nor with the practice and princi-
pies Of the apostles, and is therefore I'm.
evangelical. "And fellowship" The
Spirit united them in the bonds of peace.
'1n breaking of breadi In token Of their
love and unity as the family of God, the
United prayer strengthened the tie, Of
Christian brotherhood. and kept them
baptized into one Spirit. -
49,, "Fear came" Awe and reverence
took the place Of human philosophy. No
frivolous conversation had place among
them, but rather a pious. devotional atti.
tude possessed them. 'tMany signs and
wonders were DONE" Not human expe-
riments, but divine operations through
men devoted to the service Of Cod.
A. "All things common. Themselves
and all they had belonged to God, to
whom also belonged their poorer brethren, /,
and they held what they possessed IN trust
for God and His saints. There was no
community of goods absolutely and univer.
sally enforced as necessary and perma.
nent arrangement of the church. This is
plain from Acts s: 4; 9: SO; IL: II; 81:
is: Heb. 10: "a; l3: 2. 5, l6; i Cor. l6: 2.
As. Possessions" Lands, houses;
Goods" Personal property. parted"
Indicating that the sale and distribution
took place from time to time as called for.
"Had need" They did not sell all their
possessions or relnquish their title to all
their property, but they so far regarded
all as common as to be willing to part with
it if it was needful to supply the wants OF
the others. It is still the duty. OF the
church to supply the needs of its poor
members.
4s. "In the temple" This does not
mean that they were continually in the
temple, but they did not forsake the tenn
ple services and were present at the hours
of prayer-at 9.o'clock in the morning, at
noon. and at 8 in the afternoon. Break
ing bread at home" (R. W This may
mean that select companies ate together
at their lodgings when they returned from
public worship. This was probably an or
dinary meal, eaten together: and closing
with the Lords supper. Meat. ,, Ihls
sans ;oseina This is one of the effects of the
grace of Cod Gloom cannot exist in
heart where the HOLY Ghost dwells. "Sin-
pieness of heart" This means with a sin.
cere and pure heart. They were satisfied
and thankful. There was no deceit or hy-
Il. @Praising God" Their hearts were
full of praise. At is as natural for Chris
tians to praise God as to breathe; HAY,
ing favor" The common people heard
them gladly: They were esteemed tor for
their simplicity and charity. and for 1I the
purity ana loVenness oI tnelr AFSs'. LIZ
Jewish leaders had not yet entered into
systematic opposition to them. 1.-The Lord
added" It is the work of the Holy Ghost
to save men and bring then, into the
church. "That were being saved (R. W.
Only saved men are fit subjects to DE re-
reiyed into the Christian church. When a
church becomes filed up with unsaved,
worldly people, it ceases to be church
and sinks to the level of mere social in
stitution.
Pearls tho Tombs OF Worms.