The Tupelo journal., 1909-02-26
The Gospel
in Samaria
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. %. 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON rExT.-Acts s:14-2s. Memory
| verses IA, Is.
GOLDEN TEXT.-The people with one
accord gave heed unto those things
which Philip spake. hearing the miracles
which he did.-Acts SIC.
TIME.-36 or 81 A. D. Immediately aft
er the martyrdom Of Stephen (our last
lesson. The church has been in exist
ence about six years. with rapid growth
and varied experiences.
PLACE.-Jerusalem, and, some chief
city of Samaria, either Samaria or
| Syehar.
Comment and Suggestive. Thought.
/. There was a great persecution
against the church which was at Je-
rusalem." Not by the heather, but by
the Jews whose authority was being
threatened, and whose teaching was
in some respects antagonized.
The mar,yrdom of Stephen was the
beginning of the first general perse-
cution of Christians. The circum-
stances described in our last lesson,
growing out of the unsettled state
vi tlC IhOllIdH SONSI AllCll, tuC aCSuoo
lions 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. 2. Saul -. made havoc Of the
church," r. ", laid waste" AS an
army devastates the country it over
runs, or as wild beasts ravage a gar
den, or field Of grain, or a pasture
when they destroy the sheep. PauIs
w statement confirms this descrip-
ton.
4. They were scattered abroad"
AS seed scattered in all directions by
the farmer sowing his field broadcast.
They went through Samaria, Galilee,
and as far as Phoenicia, 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, kindling a new fire wherever the
storm carried them.
IHiHp HeIS Is HOC LIE dpoStiS
Philip, but Philip the deacon (Acts
$50 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
n of his journeys to Jerusalem.
He was, if not a Grecian Jew, at
least of conspicuous liberal sympa-
thies, as his work among the Samari-
tans shows.
He was "a born preacher" made
mighty by being filled with the Holy
Spirit, and trained under the apostles.
The Sunday school teacher a be
way. Il have often wished" eX-
claimed Alexander Whyte, the wonder
full pastor and teacher of Free st.
Georges church of Edinboro, that /
could have been one of the two EN-
mau 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. IA. THE apostles sent unto
them Peter and John" Not as rulers,
but as a friendly delegation of leading
apostles who could be trusted. They
SEM their best men on the mission.
VS.. Is, IL. 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
and the receiver. "And they received
the Holy Ghost" with the same out
ward manifestations of tongues of
flame and speaking with tongues, as
well as the inward grace and power,
which characterized Pentecost six
year before, as appears from Simon's
request.
The special reasons for this gift
were much the same as on its first be-
stowal at Pentecost. Cd 1t ex-
pressed clearly the inward grace and
power, so that those who received it,
and all others, might realize the fact
of the unseen gift, as the spark or the
lightning reveals the presence of cleo
tricity. GU The new church, under
new circumstances, needed the power,
and gifts, and fresh life bestowed. 90
1t proved to the Jewish disciples, and
ncooo;o11v 70 A. oh,pob ~ T@,,oo1ooo
that the Samaritan movement was
from God, and approved by the Saviour
and Master.
v. Is. Simon offered them
money" to purchase from the apostles
the power they themselves possessed.
Note 1. From this action of Simon
his name has won Immortality of in
fanny, since the crime of Simony is
named after him, i. e., the crime of OBJ
tanning preferment or place or Office in
the church by purchase with money,
instead of being fitted to it, and seek
ing only to use all spiritual gifts for
the good of men.
Note 2. The best gifts cannot be
bought with money-wisdom, love,
peace, new hearts, character, spiritual
power. The best things of God are
free to all men, like air and sunshine
and water, as the most beautiful forms
and lines are the most common.
We can treat every one as Chris
tians should treat them.
There are some persons who think
we ought to send missionaries to argue
down the infidels. What did Philip