Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-12
International gesson.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON III, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, APRIL 20.

Mc"OTy NSFsSrs
Acts Z. 34-Commentars Prepared
by Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.
Copyright. 1902. by American Press Asso-
ciation.1
"a. IS. OF a truth I perceive that God is
no respecter Of persons.
As in Gen. l and ii and Rev. xxi and
xii SO throughout this whole Bible the
story Is that Of God working out His
eternal purpose (Eph. Iii, III notwith-
standing the opposition Of the devil
and of sinful men controlled by the
devil. The special story Of he Acts
is that of the beginning of the gather
ing out from the gentiles people for
His name (xv. 14), and this work be-
can in the home Of Cornelius under
Peter, as recorded in our lesson. Al
though the Lord had commanded be-
fore His ascension that the gospel be
preached to every creature and unto
the uttermost part of the earth (A1ark
xvi, 15; Acts |. s.. the preaching had
up to this time been to the Jews only
xxi, 19), and Peter had to receive a
special vision to teach him that God
was no respecter Of persons.
ss-3s. Preaching peace by Jesus Christ.
These glad tidings were for Israel
first duke xiv. Al; Acts l. 8. but in
order that Israel might reach out to
the gentiles. which they were slow to
do. God made the sinleSs one to be
sin for US that we might In Him be
made righteous before God Oh Cor. ",
2I, and apart from Him there Is no
Righteousness, no salvation. however
devout or prayerful man may be-.
Even Nicodemus had to be born from
above In order to enter the kingdom
Of God, and Peter had to bring to Cor
nelius the message by which he and
his house might be saved xxi. III. for
there is no salvation apart from the
reception of Christ and faith in His
atoning blood (Acts iv. -; Lev. xvii,
1D.
80. We are witnesses.
A witness does not need to get up
his little speech or make up anything.
He simply tells truthfully what he
knows, and the redeemed Of the Lord
are continually on the witness stand
proclaiming something concerning Je-
sus Christ. If all the redeemed were
true witnesses, what glorious testi-
mony would be ever going forth con-
cerning Him who Is altogether lovely!
4o-42 He commanded US to preach unto
the people and to testify that 1t Is He
which was ordained Of God to be the
Judge Of quick and dead.
In all their preaching these witnesses
fail not to declare that although the
Jews killed Jesus God raised Him
from the dead and showed Him open
" to chosen witnesses, and now Peter
declares, as Paul afterward does xvii,
81, that He is. the God appointed
Judge Of all mankind.
49, To Him give all the prophets wit
ness.
On the way to Emmaus as He talked
with those two that resurrection day
He expounded unto them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning Him.
self and taught that all things concern
ing Him in the law, the prophets and
the psalms must be fulfilled duke
xiv, q, AZ. The Spirit Of Christ was
in the prophets, and the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit Of prophecy Il Pet. l,
10, II: Rev. xix. 10). and the uniform
testimony Of all in whom the Spirit
speaks is that the first great essential
is the forgiveness Of sins. and this can
be had only in Christ by His precious
blood.
"A. While Peter yet spake these words
the Holy Ghost fell on all them which
heard the word.
The message was not Peters mes
sage, but the Lords own message
through Peter. and Cornelius so rec
ognized it, for he had said to Peter,
"We are all here present before God
to hear all things that are commanded
thee Of God" (verse 33). AS the word
was spoken the Spirit wrought, their
opened hearts received Him Of whom
Peter in the power Of the Spirit spake,
and the Spirit Himself came in power
upon them at the same time.
IS. 49, They heard them speak with
tongues and magnify God.
1t was as at Pentecost (chapter II, ~,
except that there was no waiting, for
the Spirit having come as our Lord
promised there is no longer any need
to wait. but where the heart is open
and the Lord truly received there may
be also the filling Of the Spirit. While
there is no need to wait any definite
time to be filled with the Spirit, there
may be q need to wait because Of the
unreadiness Of the believer to receive.
There came with Peter six Jewish
brethren from Joppa (Acts xi. 12), who,
although believers, were astonished
when they saw the Holy Spirit given
to these gentiles. 1t Is to this day diff
cult for some believers to think that
any people can be blessed outside Of
their so called churches. but they need
to learn that God is no more respect
er Of denominations than of persons.
Al. 4s. He commanded them to be bap-
tized in the name Of the Lord.
Here is something helpful for those
who make baptism with water essen
tial to the new birth, for behold in this
company in Cornelius house some saw
ed and Spirit filled people who have
not yet been baptized with water and
are thus baptized after they have been
saved and have received the gift Of the
Holy Ghost. On the other hand. we
have in Acts xix, 1-6. some disciples
who, having been baptized, had not