Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-19
International gessol'.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON ", SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, APRIL 81.

Memory Verses, 7-o-Gotuen iFA'
Acts Z, 43-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. d. NJ. Stearns.
JCopyright, 1909, by American Press Asso-
ciation.]
/. The gentiles also received the word
Of God.
The apostles and brethren that were
in Judna heard this, and it is plain
from the context that it did not fill
them with JOY. How unlike our Lord
Jesus the most of His disciples are! At
one time some Of the apostles felt like
burning q town because the people
would not receive Christ, and now
they seem to feel somewhat like burn
ing Peter because through him some
uncircumcised people had received
Christ. We receive Christ when we re-
ceive the word of God concerning Him.
1t is a simple and most reasonable
thing to receive with meckneSS the
word OF God, yet comparatively few
do 1t. Those who do give joy to our
Lord Gas. /, 81; John xvii, 81.
O., 8. When Peter was come up to Jeru-
salem. they that were Of the circumcision
contended with him.
Though they had been for years with
Jesus and had been filed with the
Spirit. they had not learned the sig
nificance Of "whosoever" nor that "in
Christ Jesus neither circumcision avail
eth anything nor uncircumcision, but
q new creature" John Ill, 16; Gal. vi.
15). The feeling still exists in some
quarters that it would be wrong to Of
ficiate or take the communion outside
of ones own denomination.
40. Peter rehearsed the matter from the
beginning.
About the sixth hour Peter felt led
to 20 on the housetop to pray and. be-
ing hungry. would have eaten, but
while they made ready he fell into
trance and saw this vision *, 8, 1O).
At that very time the messengers from
Cornelius were near to Joppa, and 1t
was necessary that Peter should be
ready to receive them and 60 with
them, which he certainly would not
have done but for this special vision.
It is beautiful to see God preparing
His servants for the good works which
He has prepared for them.
Ii, Il. The Spirit bade me go with them.
While Peter was considering the sig
nificance of the vision the messengers
from Cornelius were at the gate In
quiring for him. and. instructed by the
Spirit, he called the men in and lodged
them, and the next day he and six 9th
ers started with the messengers for
Cesarea and the home Of Cornelius.
This book might we'll be called the
acts Of the Holy Spirit in the name of
the Lord Jesus. In 1t we see God and
angels and men all working together
that men may know the riches of Gods
grace and His wonderful love.
13, IA. Who shall tell thee words whereby
thou and all thy house shall be saved
As Cornelius told Peter why he had
sent for him, this Is what he said that
the angel said Peter would do: there
fore at the time Of that vision neither
Cornelius nor his house. however de-
yout, was saved, and Peter had to
come from Joppa to tell them the good
news concerning Jesus Christ that they
might be saved. How few seem to
feel as Paul did when he said, Il am
debtor both to Greeks and to barbara
ans, so, as much as In me Is. | am
ready to preach the gospel" Rom. !, IA,
15).
Is. And as I began to speak the Holy
Ghost fell on them as on US at the begin
ming.
Chapter <. a. says. while Peter yet
spake these words the Holy Ghost fell
on all them which heard the word" So
it was while Peter was still speaking
and Just at the beginning Of his dis
course that God wrought so marvellous
ly. There was nothing in all this got
up by man, neither the discourse nor
the results. All was from God. 1t Is
my increasing conviction that If we
preach the preaching which God bids
that God pleases Qsa. ", III.
16. Then remembered the word Of the
Lord, how that He said. John indeed
baptized with water, but ye shall be bap-
tized with the Holy Ghost.
These ascension words (Acts /, 81 had
therefore only fulfillment at Pente-
cost. Here is another fultillment, and
so it goes on and will until the great
fulfllment, or tilfullment, Of Joel II, 2S-
80, in the near future. Jesus had told
them that the Spirit would bring to
their remembrance what He had said
unto them John xiv. 26), and He Is
now doing this with Peter.
II. Forasmuch then as God gave them
the like gift as He did unto us. who be-
lieved on the Lord Jesus Christ. what was
I that could withstand God?
Peter was in the hands Of the Lord,
the Lords messenger, the Lords serv-
ant, and it was the Lord who wrought
all this, as they might have expected
He would had they believed what He
commanded concerning giving the gos-
pei to every creature and the prophecy
Of Joel concerning pouring out His
Spirit upon all flesh. Before Peter and
the other six Jewish brethren God did
for the uncircumcised gentiles just
what He had done at Pentecost for
circumcised Jews.
IS. When they heard these things, they
held their peace and glorified God, saying,
Then hath God also to the gentilcs grant
ed repentance unto life.
The promise to Abram was that all
families Of the earth should be blessed
in him (Gen. XII, 81, and it was written
by the Spirit through Isaiah that Israel