Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-12
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
April lS
Subject Peter. Eneas ard Dcreas. Acts IN.
J2'i3- Goiden Text: Ats iS.. "a Mem
,ory Verses. 49-42-C Commentary on
Tic Days Lessen

Tic Days Lessen
81 Peter" The history now turns
from Saul to Peter. "All quarters lie
did not contine his labors 10 Jerusalem
but went to other places visiting and en-
couraging the churches, as in chap. 5: H.
Came down. From Jerusalem.
Saints The Jews who had been convert
cd to Christianity The Gentiles We're not
as yet visited by the apostles. This word
means pious, separated and holy persons
1t is applied in the Scriptures not only to
some eminent individuals, as Saint Peter
and Saint John, but TO every sincere
Christian believer. Psalm ll6; -; Rom.
/: :; Is: %. LYDIA" y city OF Judea,
called in the Old Testament Lod. Ezra 2:
49, 1t was located in the plain OF Sharon,
twenty-five miles northwest from Jerusa-
lem, and ten miles from Joppa. 1t was
the seat of a very famous school.
49, Found certain man." The Lord
led Peter to this man as he had led Philip
to the eunuch. This did not come by
chance. Eight years" There could
therefore be no doubt cast on the miracu.
lous nature of his cure. Palsy This Is
a contraction of the word paralysis" II
is a disease which deprives the parts affect
ed of sensation, or the power of motion, or
both. The term was used by the ancient
physicians in a much wider sense than IN
our day. including cramps and lockjaw.
81. ''Maketh thee whole" The apostle
had used similar language in chapter 5: 4.
Peter did not heal him in his own strength.
but by the power of Jesus Christ. He was
Gods chosen instrument. the healer was
Christ. He was restored TO perfect health
Immediately. Make thy bed" This
would show that he was paralytic no
longer He was at home. and therefore
was commanded not to take up his bed,
- r al l.. 1n1 IN,
Luke 5: "a, but he was ordered to make
it. He was commanded to help himself
and to prove his faith by his works
AROSE Immediately" This showed the
completeness and reality of the miracle.
and the faith and strength OF the man.
81 ''Saron.' Sharon. This probably
has reference to the district OF which
LYDIA was the chief city. The plain was
noted for its fertility and beauty. lisa 81:
.: Cant. .: |. Saw him." 1t must
have made great impression upon the
people to see n man who had teen III bed
eight years with an incurable disease. sud
denly restored to health and walking about
the streets perfectly well. Turned to the
Lord They believed that Jesus was the
Messiah. 1t can hardly be supposed that
all of these people became truly converted
at this time. Especial attention should be
called to the fact that Peter kept himself
so in the background that but little atten-
ton was paid to him. The glory was given
to God.
SO. "Joppa." a port or town on the
coast OF the Mediterranean Sea. thirty
miles from Jerusalem. ~ certain DISC
pie Dorcas is called disciple that Il
may be seen that under the gospel there
is no distinction between male and female.
Gal. 3: IS "Tabitha-Dorcas.' The Syrc-
Chaldaic and Greek names for an antelope
or gaelic, which from its loneliness was
frequently employed as proper name for
women. This disciple was an amiable. IN
dustrious and beautiful Christian charac.
ter. As Luke was writing this book for the
Greeks he translates the Hebrew and Sy-
riac proper names into Greek. Tabitha
was her Hebrew name and Dorcas her
Greek name. Full of good works Es-
pecially in making coats and garments tor
widows. who IN that country were 4 most
unfortunate class. Good works come from
a running stream. not from stagnant
pool. and the only way 10 keep always inil
(Which she did" She is praised not only
for the aims which she gave. but. fer
"almsdeeds which she did The emphasis
must be laid not upon what she purposed
doing. but what she did The doors are
blessed in the deed Jas. /: %.
81 WAS sick" Thus We see that good
people are sometimes sick. Died. Death
of Gods saints makes known their virtues
and they become power and example 10:
good beyond what was possible while lv-
ing Upper chamber Instead OF bury
ing her Immediately IS was customary IN
the East.
50. "Was nigh" Abon: ten miles
away. ''Sent unto him.. They probably
sent unto Peter before she died. Up to
this time the apostles had not raised any
one to lie, but they had healed some.
Desiring him" 'lntreating him." X.
V II is not said that they expected a
miracle. 1t was natural that they should
desire his presence and sympathy at such
80. .wido-:s.'' Whom she had clad or
ashamed to acknowledge that they were
indebted 20 Doroas for the raiment they
wore. This praised not only her charity.
but also her industry. This brings out her
character nc the excellent woman OF Prov
4O Put them all forth" He did this
in order to ascertain the will of God in
might not be disturbed or hindered by
their lamentations and unbelief TIA
bitha, arise During his prayer he UNI
doubtedly felt assured that she would be
raised when he should speak the word to
her lifeless form. He said these words in
Jesus name. She sat up. The graphic
minuteness OF detail here imparts to the
narrative an air of charming reality.
Al. Presented her alive" In the man.
ner OF performing the miracle Peter follows
the example of Jesus in raising Jairus's
daughter. at which miracle he was one
one of the admitted spectators.
az. MANY believed" This miracle. as
we'll az the one at LYDIA. strengthened
the faith OF the disciples, and added many
to the Lord Thereby the church was
greatly edited and built up.
43. 'Many days" In evangelistic work
There was great field in Joppa. "Simor =
Eight persons of this name are mentioned
in the New Testament. "a tanner a
trade regarded by the Jews as hali-un-
clean and consequently disreputable. from
the contact with dead animals and blood
which was connected with it, For this
reason even by other nations it is usually
carried on at some distance from towns
accordingly, Simon's house was 'by the
seaside" Chap. 10: g. Peters lodgine
there shows him to have been already, to
some extent. above Jewish prejudice. II
would also show "a that there is no re-
spect of persons with God. and (2) would
give Peter chance to help those who
most needed help. The traditional house
"a ctin chnu.,, Tam, anI