The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-02-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII, FIRST QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, FEB. is.
Text of ihe Lesson. Acts v, 2o-42.
Memory Verses, 4O-42-GoIden Text,
Matt. v, 1O-Commentnry Prepared
by Rev. ID. N. stearns.

% Behold, the men whom We put in
prison are standing in the temple and
teaching the people" This was the mes
sage which was brought to the high
priest, council and senate Of the children
of Israel as they waited to receive the
prisoners whom they had arrested the
evening before. Multitudes of men and
women were believing, and multitudes OF
sick and demon possessed people not only
in Jerusalem. but also from the cities
roundabout, were healed. The work was
going so grandly that the high priest and
Sadducees simply could not stand it and
so put the apostles in prison. God, whose
they were and whom they served, sent
an angel by night and released them from
prison and sent them TO the temple 10
continue their ministry, and there they
are found teaching, instead of in the prls-
on under the power OF the authorities.
They belonged TO God.
2G-2S. Behold, We have filled Jerusalem
with your doctrine and intend TO bring
this mans blood upon us" The high
priest reminds them that they had been
forbidden TO teach in the name of Jesus
and then adds this word, unintentionally
giving good testimony 10 their zeal. but
evidently forgetting that the people had
cried His blood be on US and on our
children" Matt. xvii, %.
20-32. I'VE ought to obey God rather
than men" Thus replied Peter and
again accused them to their faces of be-
ing the murderers of Jesus. whom God
raised from the dead and exalted with
His right hand to be "A Prince and a Sa-
viour 10 give repentance and forgiveness
of sins even to such as they were. That
it is not possible TO please God and to
please the world lying in the wicked one
is seen in Gal. i. 10; Luke xvi, 13; JAS.
iv, 1. These apostles were III conscious
partnership with the Holy Spirit. who
was in them. and He. the Spirit, was the
speaker through their lips. even as Jesus
had said. 1T is not We that speak, but
the Spirit of your Father which speaketh
in you" Matt. Y, 20).
So when they heard that, they were
cut to the heart and took counsel to STAY
them" Not only was the blood of Jesus
upon them but they were ready To bring
upon themselves the blood of the apostles
also. Before they killed Jesus they de-
sired to Kill Lazarus. whom Jesus raised
from the dead (John xii, l0l. The truth
OF God when not meekly received makes
manifest that 'the carnal mind is enmity
against Cod (Rom. viii ~.
"a, 81. 'Ye men of Israel, take heed to
yourselves what ye intend To do as touch
ing these men" The apostles. being sent
out of the council for little while. CANA
liel, a learned and honorable member. at
whose feet Saul Of Tarsus had been edu-
Gated tchapter xxi. -. thus begins to adj
dress his brethren. He seems TO have
had something of the spirit of Joseph and
NicOdemus. who also were M one time
members of the council Mark XIV. 10;
John vii, 50). We do not know that he
ever received Jesus as the Christ. but
from the wisdom and spirit of this adj
dress and on the supposition that Saul
would seek the welfare of his teacher we
may hope that he did.
SO. 81. Before these days rose mp
TheudaS. Boosting himself 10 be some
! body" He quotes two cases of deccivers
who for a time had quite following. but
in each ease the leaders persisted. and
! their followers were dispersed The
mark OF n deceiver is that ''he boasts
himself to he somebody" while IA true fol-
lower of the Lord seeks to glorify God
only. The antichrist shall do according
TO his own will and shall exalt himself
and magnify himself dan. xi. 36), but
the Lord Jesus Christ sought neither His
own will nor His own glory Dohn vi,
SO; viii, 50D. and Paul, the great apostle,
determined 10 know nothing but Jesus
Christ and Him crucfied," his notices
being Not |. but Christ" Not |, but
the grace Of Cod IL Cor. H. >; XIV, 10;
Cal. ii, 2O).
SO. IF this counsel or this work be Of
men, il will come 10 naught." He may
have remembered these words, "The Lord
bringeth the counsel of the heather to
naught, He maketh the devices OF the
people OF none effect" Ps. xxxiii. 10:
see also lisa. viii. o. 10. for very strong
words in this connection. It is a great
comfort to the true believer TO know that
they that war against him shall be as
nothing and as thing of naught and
that no weapon formed against him can
prosper lisa XII, 10; liv, 10.
! 80. IF it be of God, We cannot over
throw it, lest happy We be found even to
fight against God" Ii is written that
every purpose VI the Lord shall be per-
formed" and The Lord of Hosts hath
sworn. saying. Surely as | have thought.
80 shall il come 10 pass, and as | have
pun pOS'u' ~ Sidli IL anu. again,
The counsel of the Lord standeth for
ever, the thoughts Of His heart to all
generations" der. Ii, 20; lisa. xiv, "a;
Ps. xxxiii, III.
40 They commanded that they should
not speak in the name OF Jesus" With
the repetition OF this ungodly and rebel
lious command they are beaten and let
go. How the devil hates that name at
which every knee shall yet bow and con-
corning which every tongue shall yet con-
fess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father! Phil. ii. 10, III
Jesus had told His disciples that they
would be delivered up to councils and be
scourgcd and brought before governors
and kings for His sake Matt X, II, 49,.
Al. Rejoicing that they were counted
worthy TO suffer shame for His name"
What a glorious reality is the Lord Jesus
10 those who can take such treatment. not
only without resentment. but even joyful
Is! Backs scourged and bleeding. full of
pain physically, but full OF joy nwardly-
how great is the grace of Cod They
were already tasting that which Paul
was afterward told concerning the great
things he must suffer for Christ's sake
tchapter tx, 16).
d.. And daily in the temple and in