The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-02-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
February 9.
Subject: The Sin Of Lying, Acts w., 81, " II
Golden Text Eph iv., 25-Memory
Verses. .5-commentary on
the Days Les on.

80. Multitude" The whole 5000 men.
toned in verse 4, and probably many 9th.
ers, who had been converted by the minis
try of sthe other apostles since that time.
"Of one heart" Though of different ages,
dispositions and conditions before they be-
lieved, and perfect strangers to one an
other, yet when they met in Christ they
were intimately acquainted. Neither said
any of them" There was not dissenting
member, No such thing as discord existed
among. them. "All things common There
existed such confidence in each other.
33. with great power With no diff
culties among themselves to absorb any of
their time, the apostles were encouraged
by a spiritual, praying church, to preach
with great vigor, spirit and courage. Wit
ness" The apostles were witnesses to what
they had seen and heard. This Is a most
effective way of preaching. "Of the resur-
rection." All knew Of the death and bur
ial of Jesus. But the enemies Of Jesus,
the Jews, would not believe in the resur.
rection of Jesus
34 "That lacked" This was one rea-
son for their favor among men, for all
could see the self-sacrihcing spirit that
clear that all the owners of real estate
who belonged to the church sold property
''Things that were sold" The language
here expressly avoids saying that these
men sold all they had. They sold some
things, and the sum realized from what
was sold was offered TO the common store
80. 'At the apostles feet" To he dis
posed of as they should direct. They would
be better able to determine where there
was need. Having a relief fund the apos-
ties could draw upon it without making
every case public.
SO. Closes" Or Joseph. He is the we'll
known Barnabas, who is afterward fire.
N nj hp
apostle Paul That he was a Levite is n
remarkable circumstance; we are soon af-
terward told that even many priests be,
heved. Chap. 8: T. The surname Of Bar
nabas, which the apostles gave him, al,
luded, without doubt to an extraordinary
gift of the Spirit which was manifested in
his addresses and exhortations. "Of Cy
prus.' An island in the Mediterranean
Sea. not very far distant from the Jewish
coast. The Jews were very numerous in
that land.
81. Having land, sold it," Gle COM
forted by his gifts as well as his words"
He certainly proved his sincerity.
|. But" The little word "but" is the
hinge on which great issues turn. ana
MAS" The meaning of the word is "Fa-
vored of the Lord" or Jehovah is gra-
cious" "Sapphra." Beautiful" Their
characters were in sharp contrast with
their names. Here is contrast between
hypocrisy Of Ananas and his wife. Pro.
fessors of the gospel, but certainly not true
believers, for all that truly believed were
of one heart and Of one soul.
.. 'Kept back part of the price" While
they pretended to make an offering of all
dhls was lh,ypocrisy, and was called lie.
His wife" This sin was premeditated by
bothparties. They had not set their affections
on the land but the money exercised such
an influence on them that they could not
resolve to resign the whole, and hence
they retained part. They were unwilling
to, acknowledge this circumstance pub
8. 'Filed thine heart" Satan. the
father of lies, liar from the beginning.
Peter traces the sin hacl; to its source
the heart into which Satan had been adj
mitted; his question recognizes Ananas' $
power TO resist these evil influences. Satan
knocked; Ananias opened his heart. "To
lie to the Holy Ghost The apostles dis
claim any power in themselves " is
Christ who works the miracles; the God
of Abraham who gives the power OF heal
ing, and the Holy Spirit who Is grieved
by sins like that OF Ananias.
a. Chime own" lie might have kept
it without incurring the dspleasure of the
apostles or the Lord. "ln thine own pow
er." These questions show that the he
stowment of goods was perfectly volun-
tary and not law, and that the crime was
free and deliberate act. Ananias was
not censured because he had not surren-
dered his entire property, but for false
hood in protesting to have done so when
he had not. Unto God The oifense
was chiefly against God David takes this
same view of his sin in Psa. 81 G. But this
is an important text to prove the person
ality Of the Holy Ghost Peter uses the
terms God and the Holy Ghost ". 81 in
terchangeaby, which shows that the Holy
Ghost is not merely an emanation from
God, but He is God Himself,
g. Gave up the ghost" The immediate
fall and death of Ananas. when Peter had
addressed him. must he viewed as direct
act of God. "Great fear came" This eff
feet on the Christian community is thought
to be the chief design OF so startling a
judgment,
g. young men" The earliest church
was not without Young men and young
women. Acts l2; l3. Carried him out"
Just beyond the walls of the city. That
the body was not taken to his home is in
dicated by his wife's Ignorance of what
had occurred. Buried" In a hot eli
mate, like that of Palestine, burial had to
take place at once, and the graves leaves
with niches) were always open.
7. "After three hours" Probably at the
next hour of prayer Under the shock of
the death of Ananias they had not dis.
persed.
8. Tell me The question was Sap
phira's place for repentance; the Holy
Spirit strovc with her in Peters words.
but she resisted his strivinRs. so much"
Perhaps Peter pointed TO the money still
living where Ananias had placed it. V. 2.
Yea" 1t had been in her power to save
her husband by word OF warning pro-
test; it was now in her power to clear her
own conscience by confession.
0. agreed" Sapphira's answer proved
to Peter that their sin had teen premedi-
tated, and not one of haste or ignorance
She was equal in the sin with her husband.
Peters question gave the first knowledge
to Sapphira that their guilt was discoy-
cred, but her answer was given. "To
tempt" To test, or try the Spirit of the
Lord by attempting to deceive Him, but
God is not Knocked" or deluded
10. "Fell-yielded. Ii was not through
Peters words, nor his prayers. nor through
shame, nor through remorse that this gull
ty pair died, but an immediate judgment
Of God.
II. "Great' fear.' This Judgment an
swered the end for which it was inflicted
a deeply. religious fear occupied every
mind and hvDocrisv and deonntion ,,-aro