The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-09
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL -.

Subject: Peter. Eneos ana Dofceo, Acss
H., ss-l3-Golden Text: Acts h, 81
Memory Verses, <o-l2-Commeatas5
on the Days Losson.
80. Peter" The history now turns
from Saul to Peter. "All quarters" he
did not confne his labors TO Jerusalem.
but went TO other places visiting and en-
couraging the churches, as in chap. 8: IA
Game down." From Jerusalem.
Saints" The Jews who had been convert.
ed to Christianity. The Gentiles were not
rs yet visited by the apostles. This word
means pious, separated and holy persona
some eminent individuals, as Saint Peter
and Saint John, but to every sincere
Christian believer. Psalm ll6; Is; Rom.
!: 7; Is: 26. LYDIA" A city Of Judca,
called in the Old Testament Lod. Ezra 2:
80. Il was located in the plain Of Sharon,
twenty-five miles northwest from Jerusa'
lem, and ten miles from Jopps. It was
J the seat of q very famous schooa:
%; Found a certain man" I5e pt!1;o LSEo
to the eunueh: This did not come by
therefore be no doubt cast on the miracr
ious nature of his cure. PALSY" This 10
a contraction Of the word paralysis" II
is disease which deprives the parts affect
ed of sensation, or the power OF motion, OF
both. The term was used by the ancient
physicians in a much wider sense than IN
our day. including cramps and lockjaw.
"a. "Maketh thee whole" The apostle
had used similar language in chapter 3: @
| Peter did not heal him in his own strength,
but by the power Of Jesus Christ. De was
Gods chosen instrument, the healer was
Christ. He was restored TO perfect nen,tn
! Immediately. Make thy bed" This
| would show that he was q paraiytic no
longer. He was at home, and therefore
was commanded not to take up his bed,
as in the case of the .paralytic recorded ia
Luke s: "a, but he was ordered to make
! il. He was commanded to help himself
and to prove bis faith by his works
AROSE Immediately" This showed the
! completeness and reality of the miracle,
and the faith and strength Of the man.
IS. "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. isa 30;
2; Cant. 2: !. Saw him." 1t must
have made q great impression upon the
neop,e to see a man who had been in bed
e;ght wears with an incurahle disease, sud
denly restored to health and walking about
the streets perfectly well. Turned to the
Lord" They believed that Jesus was the
Messiah It 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
40 in the background that but little atten.
tion was paid to him. The glory wa gwen
to God.
90. "Joppa." 4 port or town on the
coast Of the Mediterranean Sea, shirty
miles from Jerusalem. "A certain d,sc,.
ple." Dorcas is called q disciple that "
NAV be seen that under the gospe! there
ia no distinction between male and female.
Gal. 8: q. "Tabjtha-Dorcas." The Syro-
J Chaldaic and Greek names for IN antelope
or aazelIe, which from its loneliness was
frequently employed as proper name TOR
women. This disciple was IN amiable, IN.
dustrious and beautiful Christian charae'
ter. AS Luke was writing this book for the
Greeks he translates the Hebrew and Sy'
rinc proper names into Greek. Tabitha
was her Hebrew name and Dorcas her
Greek name. Full OF good works. Es'
pecialiy in making coats and garments for
widows, who in that country. were most
unfortunate class. Good works come from
q running stream, not from stagnans
pool. and the only way to keep always full
(which she did" She is praised not only
! for the aims which she gave, but Tor
"almsdeeds which she did" The emphasis
mrst be laid not upon what she purposed
doing. but what she did. The doers are
blessed in the deed. Jas. !: ..
81. ''Was 81 L." Thus We see that good
people are sometimes sick. Died. Death
comes to all alike. Sometimes the death
OF Gods saints makes known their virtues
and .hey become a power and example for
good beyond what was possible while hv'
ing. Upper chamber" Instead OF bury
ing her Immediately as was customary In
! the East
ss. WAS nigh" About 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 life, but they had healed some.
"Desirine him" "Intreatins him r.
v. It Is not said that they expected a
miracle. It was natural that they should
desire his presence and sympathy at such
30. widows" Whom she had clad or
fed. Shelving" etc. They were not
! ashamed to acknowledge that they were
, indebted to Dorcas for the rsiment they
but also her industry. This brings out her
| character as the excellent woman Of Prov.
10. "Put them all forth" BE did this
in order to ascertain the will of God in
/ this matter. He put them forth that he
! might not be disturbed or hindcred BY
their lamentations and unbelief. ia.
! hitha, arise" During his prayer he un.
| doubtedly felt assured that she would be
! raised when he should speak the word to
| her Gfeless form. He said these words in
Jesus name. "shc sat up The graphic
minutencss of detail here imparts to the
] S:.1 of char rrnin0 reality
Al. Presented her alive" In the man.
ncr Of performing the miracle Peter follows
the example of Jesus in raising Jairus's
! daughter. at which miracle he was one
4o. Many believed" This miracle, as
we'll as the one at Lydia. strengthened
the faith of the disciples, and added many
to the Lord. Thereby the church was
greatly edited aud built up.
49, MANY days" In cvangc.istic work:
There was great field in Joppa. Simon,
in tho New Testament. "A tanner" A
trade regarded by the Jews as half.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 OH at some distance from towns:
accordingly. Simon's house was "by the
seaside" Chap. 10: 0. Peter lodging
there shows him to have been already, to
some extent. above Jewish prejudice. 1t
would also show ID that there ia no re.
spect Of persons vita God and t2) would
give Peter n chance to help thoee who
n.ost needed help. The traditional house
is still shown at Jaffa. and tanneries are
still in operation near the town.
Skin OF . whale Shark For Museum.