Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1909-02-27
The Gospel
in Samaria
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. Is, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-Acts SIig5. Memory
vers "a. IS.
GOLDEN TEXT-The people with one
accord gave heed unto those things
which Philip spakc, hearing The miracles
which he dld.-Acts $40.
TIME.-3G or 30 a. ID. Immediately AFT
or the martyrdom OF stephen lour last
loH1n) Tho church has been lu exist
once about six years. with rapid growth
and v1rIcd experiences.
Embellishments and somc chief
city of samar9 either samoua or
Sychar
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
T. There was q great persecution
against the church which was at Je-
ruaaiem." Not Boy the hoalhon, but by
The Jews whose authority was being
threatened, and whose teaching was
In somo respects antagonized.
The martyrdom OF Stephen was tho
beginning Of The first general perse-
cution OF Christians The clrcum-
stances described in our last lesson,
growing out OF the unsettled state
Of the Roman government, the accusa-
tions against PLATE. and his summons
to Rome for trial. followed soon by the
death OF Emperor Tiberius, gave an
opportunity for the jewish leaders TO
carry on their prosecutions.
V. .. saul made havoc OF the
church." II. ", laid waste" AS an
army devastates the country It over.
runs. or as wild beasts ravagc a gar
den or field Of grain, or pasture
when they destroy the sheep. Pauls
own statement confirms this descrip-
tior.
4. "They were scattered abroad"
As seed scattered in all directions by
the farmer sowing his field broadcast.
They went through Samarla, Galilee,
and as far as Phoonicia, Antioch and
Cyprus. Preaching the word" Every
seed had life in It and took root and
made a new plant, wherever the winds
of persecution blew It. These scat
tered Christians were like brands Of
fire, ldndling a new fire wherever the
storm carried them.
Philip here is not the apostle
Philip, but Philip the deacon (Acts
6:5) and evangelist (Acts 21:S). He
preached in Samaria, met Simon
Magus, brought the Ethiopian eunuch
to Christ, went on evangelizing the
country till he reached Cesarea, where
he eventually took up his abode Here
he had four virgin daughters who
Prophesied and entertained Paul on
one of his journeys to Jerusalem.
He was, If not Grecian Jew, at
leasr of conspicuous liberal sympa.
thies, as his work among the Samari-
tans shows.
He was "a born preacher" made
mighty by being filed with the Holy
Spirit. and trained under the apostles.
The Sunday school teacher cln be
made an ideal teacher in the same
way. 81 have often wished" ex-
claimed Alexander Whyte, the wonder
ful pastor and teacher of Free st.
Georges church of Ednboro. chat I
could have been one OF the two EN-
maus men whose hearts burned within
them as their risen Lord expounded
unto them in all the Scriptures the
things concerning himself So does
the teacher wish, and he may have
his wish fulfilled.
V. II. The apostles sent unto
them Peter and John" Not as rulers.
but MS a friendly delegation of leading
- apostles who could be trusted. They
sent their best men on the mission.
VS., IS, II. Prayed for them
laid their hands on them" The
best spiritual gifts come through
prayer. The laying on Of hands was
the connecting link between the giver
81 and the receiver And they received
the Holy Ghost" with the same out
ward manifestations of tongues OF
p flame and speaking with tongues, as
p well as the inward grace and power
which characterized pentecost six
years before, as appears from Simon's
request
, The special reasons for this gift
were much the same as on It's first be
stowal at Pentccost. Cd It ex
q pressed clearly the inward grace and
power so that those who received e.
and all others, might realize the fact
of the unseen gift, as the spark or the
a lightning reveals the presence Of elec
4 ricity. CD The new church, under
- new circumstances, needed the power
. and gifts and fresh life bestowed. (3)
/ IL proved TO the Jewish disciples. anC
especially TO the church at Jerusalem
that the Samaritan movement wa.
from God, and approved by the Saviour
and Master
| V. is Simon offered then
money" to purchase from the apostles
the power they themselves possessed
Note 1. From this action OF SimoI
his name has won immortality of in
fanny, since the crime Of Simony II
named after him.
Note p The best gifts cannot b,
bought with money-wisdom, love
peace, new hearts, character, spiritua
power, The best things of God ar,
free TO all men, like air and sunshin,
and water, as the most beautiful forms
and lines are the most common.
We can treat every one as Chris