The Yale expositor., 1909-02-12
The Apostles
Imprisoned
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. II, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
| Matt. $40.
TIME.-Immediately after the last les
son. The exact date is unknown, but be-
/ tween A. ID. 30 and 33.
| PLACE.-Jerusalem the preaching was
In one of the porticos of the outer court
of the temple. The trial was I'm the hall
of the sanhedrim. on the temple hill 'be-
tween the portico and the temple.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
After the experience of the apostles
with Ananias tour last lesson), there
was such an increase in the numbers
and influence of the church, so many
| good deeds were wrought, so many OF
the sick were healed, so widely pre-
vailed the new teaching, that the
whole community was stirred, and
even the rulers felt the power and the
danger to their position and influence.
Their reasons for opposing the Cos.
pei were all reasons why they should
have favored it, /. The lessening of
their influence and the loss OIL prestige
was what ought to take place when
the rulers ruled for themselves and
not for the people.
2. The teaching they opposed was
the very salvation of the nation.
g. The apostles filled Jerusalem
with their teaching" Their success
brought joy, salvation, peace, fresh
life to great numbers.
4. The apostles and the church were
bringing healing to the people, lessen.
ing suffering, giving to the poor, re-
ducing crime and vice. giving reality
to the angels song of Peace, Good
viii to Men," they were doing what
every good ruler seeks to have done
for his people.
V. 10. But the (R. ", AM, angel
Of the Lord" One Of the "ministering
spirits sent forth to minister for
them who shall be heirs of salvation" 4"
Heb. 1:14). I'm this Book of the Acts
he word angel occurs 20 times"
The ministry of angels" Il believe
hat angels wait on us as truly as ever
they waited on Abraham, or Jacob, or
Moses, or Elijah, or Mary, or Jesus
himself. The medieval painters were
fond of filling the background of the
infancy with countless angels; the rep
-esentation, though literally false, was
morally true. ! believe that angels are
encamping around them that fear the
Lord."-George Dana Boardman, ID. ID.
Opened the prison doors" Silently,
without the knowledge of the guards
(v. 23), who were asleep or had re-
Iaxed their vigilance, being confident
If the strength of their prison
Reasons for this Intervention. 1. The
apostles and the church were still in
training for greater battles and harder
work. Hence by this deliverance they
were taught faith in God and courage,
and assurance that their bold, defiant
course was approved by God.
2. 1t was a great advantage to the
cause, as they went on preaching the
gospel, impressing the people that it
was Gods cause, and the apostles were
his messengers, speaking his truth.
8. 1t was a direct refutation of the
Sadducees' doctrine, blow at their
position.
4. II tended to impress the minds
of the enemies OF the apostles with
respect for them as under Gods spe-
cial protection, and probably suggest.
ed to Gamaliel ". 34-39), his fear that
by opposing the apostles the rulers
might be opposing God himself
5. Hence, it influenced the result
of the trial, and made the escape from
prison a type Of their greater deliver
ance from the power and wicked de-
sires Of the rulers
V. 21 "The apostles obeyed, and en-
tered the temple early in the morn
ing" r. ", about daybreak," as soon
as the gates were opened Called the
council" "the sanhedrim" together,
and" better "even" "all the senate"
Peters argument. Critics have no.
ticed the structure of Peters brief de-
fense as one of the finest specimens
| of pleading on record, clear. direct
true, personal, an argument without a
flaw. OF course only the barest out
lines are given in this report. See
Peters previous address.
The charges against the apostles. %
Disobedience to and defiance of the
national and lawful authorities. CD
Hence disloyalty, almost treason, to
their country. (3) Charges to them
seemingly slanderous, against their
rulers, that they themselves were dis
obeying their God in whose name they
ruled. These charges were not mere
ly serious, but, to a Palestinian Jew,
overwhelming.
The boldness and courage OF the
apostles was very great
Threefold Victory Of the Apostles.
First. The arraignment OF the apostles
gave them an opportunity to preach
the Gospel faithfully to the rulers, who
could not easily be reached in any 9th.
er way.
Second They were released from
their bonds, and were free to continue
their work with all the more power
because OF the outcome of the efforts
to put stop to it.
Third. They themselves received a
new inspiration of power. They re-
joiced in their sufferings for Jesus
sake, and in public and in private, in
/ the tox,nla cotrfa aud From, houan A.