The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-02-11
The Apostles
Imprisoned
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. II, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

GOLDEN TEXT Blessed are they
which are prosecuted for righteousness
sake; for theirs is the kingdom Of heaven.
Matt. $40.
T1ME.-Immediately after the last les
son. The exact date Is unknown, but be-
tween A. d. 30 and SO.
PLACE.-Jerusalem the preaching was
in one of the porticos OF the outer court
of the temple The trial was in the hall
Of the sanhedrm, on the temple hill DE
tween the portico and the temple
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
After the experience OF the apostl $
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. 1. The lessening of
their influence and the loss OF 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.
3. 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
10 the angels song Of Peace, Good
VIII to Men" they were doing wha'
every good ruler seeks to have donC
for his people.
v. 10. But the (R. ", "an'D, angel
of the Lord" One Of the "ministering
spirits sent forth to minister for
them who shall be heirs Of salvation"
Heb. 1:14). I'm this Book of the Acts
the word angel occurs 20 times"
The ministry Of angels" 81 believe
that 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 filing the background of the
infancy with countless angels; the rep
resentatlon, though literally false, was
morally true. / believe that angels are
encamping around them that fear the
Lord. George Dana Boardman, d. d
Opened the prison doors" Silently.
without the knowledge OF the guards
| ". 23), who were asleep or had re-
laxed their vigilance, being confident
| S,f ha ctra erfh Of ,rfc
Reasons for this Intervention. I. 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. It 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.
3. It was a direct refutation Of the
Sadducees' doctrine, a blow at their
position,
4. II tended to impress the minds
OF the enemies OF the apostles with
|
cial protection, and probably suggest
ed to Gamaliel ". S4.39), his fear that
by opposing the apostles the rulers
might be opposing God himself.
5. Hence, II influenced the result
OF the trial, and made the escape from
prison q type Of their greater deliver
ance from the power and wicked de
sires Of the rulers.
V. 81. THE apostles obeyed, and en-
tered the temple early in the morn
ing" r. ", "about daybreak," as soor
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 {
flaw OF course only the barest out
lines are given in this report SET
Peters previous address.
. The charges against the apostles. a.
Disobedience to and defiance Of tht
national and lawful authorities. c.
Hence disloyalty, almost treason, Il
their country, (3)' Charges to then
seemingly slanderous against thei
rulers, that they themselves were dis
obeying their God in whose name the,
ruled. TIL Sc charges were not mere
ly serious, but to a Palostiuian jew
overwhelming.
The boldness and courage Of tn
apostles was very great
Throefold Victory OF the Apostles
First The arraIgnment of the APOSTLE
cuve them an opportunity 90 preac
the Gospel faithfully 10 the rulers VIII
could not easily be reached IN any otl
er way,
Second, They We're released fror
their bonds, and were free TO continu
their work with all the more powe
, because Of the outcome Of the effort
to put a stop to It,
Third They themselves received
new iusniration of mower They r,