The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-03
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR MARCH IL.

Subject: Aeneas and Dorcas, Acts 8:
32-43-Golden Text, Acts 9:34
Commit Verses 40, 41-Com.
mentary on the Lesson.
TIME.-4O A. D. CD PLACES
LYDIA, Joppa.
EXPOSITION.-I. A Great Revi.
val in LYDIA and Sharon, 1886. Stel
by step God was leading Peter on to.
ward the opening of the door to the
Gentiles - LYDIA, Joppa, Caesarea.
Aeneas is the only citizen of LYDIA
whose name is mentioned in the BIZ
BILE. The only great thing about him,
apparently, was his great need. But
there is nothing more likely to attract
Gods notice than, need duke 1850.
Aeneas was apparently not even a
spoken Of as "a certain man" comp.
v. 20; Oh. 3:2; 1911; 1913; 9:10).
There did not appear to be much hope
for this man. That day opened as all
others had for eight years. 1t closed
differently from all others. because
the day he met a. man who knew
Christ and brought the mighty power
Of Jesus Christ into his life. Doubt
less Peter had met with many aflict-
ed ones in his Journeys from place to
place, but God had not spoken the
word to him and so he had not spo-
ken it to them. But now God did
speak it to Peter'sever-listening heart
and with unhesitating faith. Peter
said unto him, Aeneas. Jesus Christ
maketh thee whole" Wonderful
words. Words that might be spoken
to many a palsied man to-day. Pet
er's pity was not of the sentimental,
but active kind. He saw the mans
dire need. He knew n who could
help him. He brought the two to-.
gether. Peter was an apt scholar
comp. Jno. SIS; comp, also, ". 40
with Luke $50 1t is noteworthy
how Peter keeps himself in the back
ground. He fixes the attention of
Aeneas on Jesus Christ. His perfect
confidence is also noteworthy. He
saw very clearly that he was only an
instrument. He saw, with equal
clearness, that Jesus Christ could and
would use even him. Aeneas' faith
responds to the word Of power; he
arises s~traightway. The miracle SIM
ply opened the way for the Word.
There is a wide gulf between Peter
and many modern s~o-called "healers."
H.. Great Revival in Joppa, 36-4S.
Joppa was no Insignificant town.
There were people of wealth and in
huence there. But the name of only
a single person in that place has
come down to us, the name OF a hum
BILE woman. Her name shines very
brightly on the pages Of history, and
her story has been an inspiration to
many. Why? This woman was full
Of good works and ~almsdeeds which
she did" That is real greatness, and
it Is open to all. Note that she was
full" Of these good works and aims
deeds. She was a disciple indeed
(Jno. 1873; comp. also, Jas. 1927; 1
Jno. 3:14, 16, IT; Tit. 2:14; 3:8; Col.
1:10). Note, also, that she was not
full of good works which she intend
ed to do, but was full of good works
which she did" She seems to have
had no relatives, but instead Of MUIR
muring about her lonely lot she made
herself sister and mother to all, and
SO she had many friends. Being full
of good works and almsdeeds" did
not exempt her from sickness, sick
hess even unto death. God evidently
has other purposes in sickness than
the chastisement Of our sin and the
humbling of our pride Comp. Jno.
9:3; Jno. 11:3, 4; 2 K. 13:14). 1t
won't do to decide too hastily that the
one who falls sick, or even dies, has
In some way wandered away from
God. These disciples had a mighty
faith. There had been no cases Of
resurrection, so far as we know. in
the ten years that had elapsed since
the resurrection of Christ. Yet those
humble disciples believed in a living
Sod and a living Christ, and that,
now that there was need OF a resur-
rection from the dead. God would
grant it, and He did. Showing the
coats and garments Dorcas made"
It was a most worthy monument that
Oorcas had built with a needle. Many
have gazed at it and been inspired to
acts of love and sacrifice. Note that
she made these garments while she
a with them" Peter puts them
all forth" Peter was following very
closely in the footsteps Of his Master
Luke S:52. 54). In ouch a supreme
moment as this one wants no specta-
tors; he must be alone with God. He
prayed" All, what power there IS
In prayer! 1t can raise the dead.
Have you a dead minister, try it on
him. Have you a dead church, try it
on it. Have you a friend dead in
trespasses and SINS" try it on him.
If Peter had spent his time grumb-
ling at that corpse it would never
have come to life. Praying, not
grumbiing, is what we want to-day.
He first turned to God, then to the
corpse. Here is a lesson for Chris
tian workers. When you have laid
hold of God by prayer as Peter did,
then you can lay hold of corpses by
word as Peter did also, and they will
rise. Turning to the sleeping one, he
said: "Tabitha, arise" Those eyes,
so long closed. open. on. some
bright day Jesus Himself will say it
tc all our sleeping loved ones, and
their eyes shall open, and they, too,
shall arise, never to sleep again (Jno:
5:2S, 29). Peter gave her his hand
al 4 raised her up just as he had seen
Jesus do to his W mother-in-law
MARK 1:31). The wonder that had
been done soon spread throughout
.Jo1pa. 1t was a conclusive proof OF
the mower Of Jesus am