The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-03-13
Sabbath School
NOTES BY X. s. HOLMES.
lesson XI. March Il, 1909
AENEAS AND DORCAS.
(Acts Q: 52-43)


(Acts Q: 32-43)
Golden Text: And Peter said unto
him. "Acneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee
whole; arise and make thy bed. And
he arose Immediately" Acts 9: -
Here are two beautiful stories OF
Christian achievement by the great
apostle, and OF trustful resting upon
Jesus. and OF the power OF sweetly
helpful life.
Aencas trusted and acted and was
healed.
Dorcas had made her little world
love her. so beautifully helpful had been
her life.
The early Church was wonderful in
its way.
II would be a great thing Tor the
world il the Church day was as sim
pie and strong.
Chapter eight left Peter and John in
Jerusalem after their return from Sa-
maria. Chapter nine begins with the
story oi Saul's hostility and savage per
secution oi Christians and his sudden
conversion This is omitted IN order
TO finish what the writer OF The Acts
has To say about Peters work, and N
the next quarters lessons a return IS
made to chapter nine Then begins the
wonderful story oi Saul-Paul. The
present lesson follows Peter driven
from Jerusalem no doubt by pcrSecu-
lions. though he returned there later
and saw this very Saul. the prosecutor.
Peter went from place To place. no
doubt always preaching the same Cos
pei. He came at length to LYDIA
This was an old town on the main road
from Jerusalem to Joppa II was -
miles from Joppa. That there should
be saints there To whom Peter was
known may not mean they were al
ready disciples OF Jesus, but it surely
does mean they were people OF devout-
~ religious lives. and il is probable that
some we're believers. There can be no
question that they knew about Jesus
and the recent happening, in the capt
tai
THE LESSON
". n The preceding note has
practically III cus>cd this verse. But,
in brici. this j. PLAIN ul Peter was
going here and there away from Jcru,
salem. perhaps. Ia avoid death nj the
hands at Saul 81 God was evidently
watching over him, protecting him ior
the work ne must vet do go He was
true to the Gospel lie lost no upppr-
tunity T." say hi, word ior jesus, 90
John was not with him - LYDIA
was a town IN which were dcyout souls
who wor>hippcd God
W. a. "Nrd there he found. etc.
Some people have a genius inr finding
the SICK This \cncas was a pltiiul
case Eight wears in bed Is long time.
Paralysis or palsy is fierce Joe. The
misery that had been crowded into
those eight years is not told in this
verse. but il must have been very
great Peter. remembering the man
at the gate "Rcautiiul'', must have been
glad Ia see this opportunity that God
had made known Ia him. Now he
could once more cNalt the name of
Jesus
vs.. ~. Peter said To him. Ncucas.
Jesus Christ. ctc" There had per.
hapS been conversions between these
two men Peter had learned the facts
OF the mans history. II would he I'M
like Peter not to have told him about
Jesus No doubt it vas all carefully
prepared See with what confidence
Peter spoke. Not "Jc,uS Christ can
make thee whole" or will make thee
whole. If but "Jc>u, Christ makcth
thee whole What confidence there
was IN Peter He was absolutely sure.
His confidence inspired the man. no
sooner WAS the direction given. Arise,
etc than lie nhcycd There was new
lite in those paraly2ed limbs Ills faith
was equal la the demand OIL IT, Rise.
was the order | viii, was the answer
his soul made
VS. 55, "\nd AL saw, etc" 1t was
not done III corner, Such things
cannot be kept secret The effect was
marvellous. They all turned To- the
Lord. There was a great stir in l.ydda
and Saron, The story went from
mouth Ia mouth all over the region.
To turn to the Lord was to accept
Jesus Christ a> Saviour Of the world
Probably some scoffcd. They do still
But the majority saw Acncas and be
lievcd. Physical sight is a great con
yincer, But spiritual sight is lar bet.
ter. Tina, converts.
vs. 90. Now there was Al Jnppa.
Joppa still exists. but is called now
Jaffa. y railway connects it with Jcru-
salem. It is un the Mediterranean
Sea. and was port from which Tor
centuries ships had sailed the great in
land ocean Jonah started from there
on his famous voyage The verse
makes us acquainted with woman
who was So widely known in the city
that She had name for each oi the
two sorts 81 inhabitants. The Hebrews
called her Tabitha The Greek speak
ing people knew her as Dorcas. She
was one ni those phenomena persons
whom everyone calls good She was
the one person Of the city whose heart
had regard for all OF Gods suffering
ones. and her whole lie. and property,
apparently, was spent in helping others.
VS.. ~. 1t is the old story Sick
ness. death. and the preparation for