The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-26
TIE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
Fer MARCH 80.

Topic: Tho Power OF God-summsry
of the Preceding Lessons.
Introduction I'm the lessons this quarter
| we see very clearly what God Is able to
| do through His people. At the very begin.
| ming Of the new dispensation they received
baptism of fire and power which enabled
them to triumph over every foe. Miracles
| were wrought, hypocrites were discovered
and punished, and even in the midst of
persecution and death His name was mag.
nifed and His glory revealed, so that
even the snfferings that they endured
tended to the Advancement OF the cause.
Thousands were brought to believe in
Jesus.
The supreme promise Of prophecy and
the climax Of gospel fulflment IS the
bestowment of spiritual power. This is
the central thought Of the lessons of the
quarter. About this thought they may be
grouped as follows: Power promised, les
son l. Power possessed, lessons 2, 8.
Power exercised, (a) in blessing, lesson 4;
| (b) in punishment. lesson 6. Power op-
posed, lessons 5, I, 10. Power prevail.
ing. lesson II. Power practiced, lesson II.
Summary.-Lesson !. Topic: The com.
ing kingdom. Places: Mount Olivet and
Jerusalem. Luke the author Of the Acts;
Jesus about to leave the disciples; they
and wait for the promise Of the Father;
they ask Jesus il He will restore again
the kingdom to Israel; He promises the
Holy Spirit to them; they are to be wit
nesses in all lands; Jesus ascends to
heaven; angels appear to the disciples;
they return to Jerusalem and continue in
earnest prayer.
II. Topic: The pentecostal outpourins.
Place: In an upper room ct Jerusalem.
At the feast OF the Pentecost; fifty days
after the Passover; the disciples assembled
in an upper room; with one accord; sud.
denly sound from heaven; tongues like
with the Holy Ghost; spake with other
tongues; the multitude heard the sound
and came together; Joel had prophesied
concerning this outpouring.
III. Topic: The effect Of gospel preach.
ing. Place: Jerusalem. Peter continued
his sermon begun in last lesson; showed
how great q person Jesus was: the peo.
pie were pricked to the heart; they saw
their sin in crucifying Christ; Peter calls
upon them to repent; they were promised
the gift of the Holy Ghost; three thou.
sand believed in Christ and were added
to the church; the apostles did many signs
| and wonders; those that believed sold their
possessions and had all things in COM
mon, they continued daily in prayer in the
temple.
~. Topic: The power Of Jesus Christ.
Place: At the temple in Jerusalem. Peter
and John going into the temple see a
lame man; he rs ks an aims; they ask
him to look on them, they do not give
him money, but command him to rise up
and walk; the man was healed and went
lcaping and praising God; the people came
together in Solomon's porch; they were
filled with amazement; Peter preached to
the people; asked them why they mar.
| vcled; said God had glorified Jesus whom
they had killed; and had raised Him
from the dead.
stone. Place: Jerusalem. While Peter
and John were preaching the authorities
came upon hem; they were grieved be.
cause they preached Jesus and the resur.
rection; the apostles were arrested and
put in prison; many that heard the
word believed; the next day the rulers
assembled and Peter and John were set
in the midst; Peter spake to them and
| again preached jesus; the Sanhedrin con.
sidered the case and decided to threaten
them and let them 60; Peter and John
would not promise that they would stop
preaching in the name Of Christ.
VI. Topic: The trials Of the early
church. Place: Jerusalem. Those who
believed were united; they sold their pos
sessions and had all things common; no
one lacked anything; Barnabas sold his
land and laid the money at the apostles
| feet; the apostles witnessed Of the res.
| direction of Jesus with great power; An.
an;as and Sapphira sold their possessions; !;
they tried to deceive the apostles and kept
back part Of the price; the Lord is not
mocked, and az punishment for their sin
they both fell down dead at Peters feet;
| fear came upon the church.
VII. Topic: The impossibiiity OF sup.
pressing the gospel. Place: Jerusalem.
| Such great numbers were added to the
church that the rulers and Sadducees dc.
termined to stamp out the new religion ;
the apostles were arrested and brought
before the council; Peter preached Jesus
to them; they were cut to the heart ana
speech saved their lives.
VIII. Topic: Choosing the seven dea'
cons. Place: Jerusalem. The number
OF the disciples was large and the apostles
could not properly attend to all the
worthy poor; a general meeting was called
and seven men were chosen to attend
to that business.
IX. Topic: Stephens death. Place:
Jerusalem. Stephen still before the San.
heGrin; makes long address IN winch he
shows that their charges are false; they
cried out against him; cast him out OF the
city and stoned him; Saul consented to his
death.
X. Topic: Preaching to the Samaritans.
Place: A city in Samaria. Saul perse'
cuted the church greatly; the disciples
were scattered abroad ard went every:
where preaching the word. Philip preached
in Samaria; many were healed; unclean
spirits were cast out and there was much
joy in the city. Simon the sorcerer pre-
tended to be converted.
N. Topic: Salvation through Christ.
Places: GAIA. Caesarea. Azotus: Philip
il directed to 60 south OF Jerusalem INTO
GAIA; he draws near to a man OF Ethiopia
who is reading the Scriptures; Ph'lip
asked him ii h. understood the passage
he was reading: the man did not. where
upon Philip was invited into the chariot; !;
the place lie read was Isalal, S; Philip
preached Jesus to the cunuch.
XII. Topic: The godly walk OF the
Christian. Place: Rome. Christians
should wall; in love. avoid all uno!ean::
ness. covctor.ncss. foolish jestinG and
idolatry: lave no fellowship with the TN
| fruitful worl:. of darkness: repTovc sin;
walk in the light; awake from spiritual
ietharuv: hc rot drunk with wing: re
! filled with the Spirit: Ei"e thanks to God;
submit to one another.