Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-02-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Session in the international series ger
February. 2, 1O02-The First
Persecution.
THE LESSON TEXT.

priests, and the captain of the temple, and
the Sadducees. came upon them.
z Being grieved that they taught the
people, and preached through Jesus the
resurrection from the dead.
3. And they laid hands on them, and put
them in hold unto the next day; for it was
now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard
the word believed; and the number Of the
men was about 5000.
5. And it came to pass on the morrow,
that their rulers, and elders, and scribess
s. And Annas the high priest. and Gaia
phas, and John, and Alexander, and as
many as were of the kindred of the high
priest, were gathered together at Jerusa-
lem.
Z. And when they had set them in the
midst, they asked, By what power. or by
what name, have ye done this?
g. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,
said unto them, Ye rulers of the people.
and elders of Israel,
9. If we this day be examined of the good
deed done to the impotent man, by what
means he is made whole;
10. Be it known unto you all, and to ali
the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom We cruel
fed, whom God raised from the dead, even
by Him doth this man stand here before
you whole.
IL This is the stone which was set at
nought of you builders, which is become the
head Of the corner.
Il. Neitheris there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under Heaven
given among men, whereby we must be
saved.
GOLDEN TEXT.-There is none other
name under Heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved
Acts 4;12.
Boldness Through the Holy Spirit
The Sanhedrin was the august coun-
ell of the Jews, before which few men
could stand without awe and trepida-
L d.
Jesus was tried by it, so weakened in
its presence, though he was in an outer
court, that he denied his Lord three
times.
Arrest of Peter and John.-The
priests were angry at the apostles be-
cause they were teaching in the tenn
pie and accusing them of numbering
Jesus; the captain of the temple guard
was stirred because there was so great
excitement in the sacred porch; and
the Sadducees hated to have anything
said about the resurrection. The
priests belonged to the Sadducee
party, and probably majority of the
Jews court, the Sanhedrin, also be-
longed to that sect. The imprison-
ment over night was necessary, be-
cause the Sanhedrin was forbidden to
meet in the night. The 1000 believers
who had been added since the day of
Pentecost included, of course, those
who had been coming day by day (2:47),
as well as those whose conversion was
due to Peters talk after healing the
lame man.
Their Trial.-The meeting described
in verses 5, 6 was a session of the San
hedrin. Annas was not really high
priest, though the high priest did what
Annas told him to. "In the midst is
literal description, the members of
the Sanhedrin usually sitting in a
semicircle with the prisoner in the
center. The shrewdenss of Peters
opening sentences is worth noting.
Such honorable shrewdness is one of
the results of the presence of the Holy
Spirit with men. The chief character
istic of Peters words is their holiness.
1t was this feature of them that espe.
cially impressed the Sanhedrin. Peter
bore his testimony to Jesus every
where. The truth of verse IL was for
Sanhedrist and outcast alike, and he
stated it to all as he had opportunity.
"UnIearned and ignorant" do not have
here the full meaning which we ordi-
narily give them. It is meant that Pc
ter and John were arguing, and hold
ing their own in argument, with men
who were very much better trained in
the schools than they were. ''Took
knowledge" means very much the
same thing as recognized" The dis
ciples who accompanied Jesus would
be remembered by many Jews when
anything called special attention ia
them. The problem before the Sam
hedrin was perplexing, as their discus
sion shows Tvs. 16, ~. Their course
was wise from their standpoint. The.
authority of the Sanhedrin 10 forbid
teaching had never been disputed until
John the Baptist and Jesus came. Peter
and John disputed it, however, yet
were released with no pledge of any
sort, even though they frankly an
nounced their intention to disobey the
Sanhedrin's command.
Their Report.-The apostles knew
Een enough that they were entering
On contest with the Jewish authori-
ties, which would not be settled easily.
They prayed therefore for GOODNESS as
their greatest need, and the new gift
of the Holy Spirit brought them this
grace.
The Sadducees.-During his minis
try the principal opposition that Jesus
had to encounter was from the Phari-
sees. After His death and ascension
Christianity had its chief foes in the
Sadducees. The reason for that ap-
pears in our lesson. Their hostility
was aroused by the fact that the apos-
ties were constantly preaching OF
the resurrection of Jesus-a doc
trine which to them was abhorrent.
On the contrary, it was a doctrine
which was a vital part of the creed of
the Pharisees, so that we sometimes
see them moved by it to take part with
the disciples (5:34-4O; 23:6-1O).
PRACTICAL APPLICATION.
One can testify for Jesus now with
out danger, but think at what cost that
privilege has been obtained!
No such heroism is required as in the
early days, yet there are many who
shrink from witnessing.
The most joyful doctrine that can be
preached is that of the resurrection