The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-04-10
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
April l3
Subject: Peter, Eneas and Doreas, Acts TX.
Sz'S-dcIden Text: Acts ix., 4-Mem.
ory Verses, 40.iz-c Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

80. Peter" The history now turns
from Saul to Peter. "All quarters" He
did not con6ne his labors to Jerusalem,
but went to other places visiting and en-
,e,ouuraging the churches, as in chap. 8; IA.
Saints" The Jews who had been convert.
ed to Christianity. The Gentiles were not
as yet visited by the apostles. This word
means pious, separated and holy persons.
II 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; Is; Rom.
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 very famous school.
80. 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
q contraction of the word paralysis" 1t
is 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 much wider sense than in
our day. including cramps and locEjaw.
"a. "Maketh thee whole" The apostle
had used similar language in chapter 3; o.
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 a paralytic no
longer. He was at home, and therefore
was commanded not to take up his bed,
as in the case of the paralytic recorded 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
completeness and reality of the miracle,
and the faith and strength of the man.
80. "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 So:
2; Cant. 2: l. Saw him" 1t must
have made a great impression upon the
people to see man who had been in 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. "a certain disci-
pie" Dorcas is called disciple that it
may be seen that under the gospel there
is no distinction between male and female.
Gal. 3: 2S. "Tabitha-Dorcas" The Syro-
Chaldaic and Greek names for an antelope
or gazelle which from its loveliness was
frequently employed as a proper name for
women. This disciple was an amiable, in
eustrious and beautiful Christian, oharec-
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 for
widows, who in that country were a most
unfortunate class. Good works come from
a running stream, not from a stagnant
pool, and the only way to keep always full
of these is to be always giving them out
(Which rhe did" She is praised not only
for the aims which she gave, but for
"almsdeeds which she did" The emphasis
must be laid not upon what she purposed
doing but what she did The doers are
blessed in the deed. Jas. J. %.
81. "Was sick" 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 they become a power and example for
good beyond what was possible while liv-
ing. Upper chamber" Instead of bury
ing her Immediately as was customary in
the East.
3s. "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.
Desiring him." "Intreating him." r.
V. 1t is not said that they expected
a
desire his presence and sympathy at such
time.
80. widows" Whom she had clad or
fed. Shelving" etc. They were not
ashamed to acknowledge that they were
indebted to Dorcas for the raiment they
wore. This praised not only her charity,
but also her industry. This brings out her
character as the excellent woman of Prov.
81: 1922.
40. "Put them all forth" He did this
in order to ascertain the will! of God in
this matter. He put them forth that he
might not be disturbed or hindered by
their lamentations and unbelief. "Ta-
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
81. 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
well as 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. "Sin.on."
Eight persons of this name are mentioned
in the New Testament. "a tanner A
trade regarded by the Jews as has-un.
clean and consequently disreputable, from
the contact with dead animals and llood
which was connected with it, For this
reason even by other nations it is usl.ally
carried on at some distance from towns;
accordingly, Simon's house was "by the
seaside" Chap. 10; O. Peters lodging
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 a chance to help those who
most needed help. The traditional house
ia still shawn nt .Taffa and tannaria, ara