Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-03-31
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Second Quarter, For
April a, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Acts x, 1-4S-Mem-
CRY Verses, 13.15-GoIden Text, Acts
H. a5- documentary Prepared by
Rev. d. NJ Stesrns.

| '~~s VI sHo GeoSon, StCtS H. t'fo-Men
cry Verses, 13.15--GoIden Text, Act
x, 35- Commentary Prepared b.
Rev. D. NJ stearns.
copyright, 1902 by American Press Association.
This lesson really covers chapters
and xi, lis. for the whole of that por
ton is devoted to the record of Pete
and Cornelius. 1t Is the story Of tn,
reception of the first gentle household
into this new company called tn,
church, and Peter Is the human instru
ment in connection with angelic min
istry, vision and a special message
from the Spirit. AS in the case OF
Philip and the eunuch, we see the spe
cial interest of heaven in a truly seek
ing soul. The last we heard of Philip
he was at Caesarea, for that was bis
home seemingly Chapter viii, 40; xxi
3. and we cannot but wonder why he
was not used to help Cornelius, but IL
was neither he nor Paul, the special
apostle to the gentiles, but Peter, whom
the Lord chose for this service. AS
Peter was used to gather the first com.
pany Of Jews, so he is used to gather
the first gentle, for to him were given
by our Lord the keys Of the kingdom
Of heaven (Matt. xvi, 1O. We know
that the church Is not the kingdom, but
the present age Is the mystery Of the
Kingdom" and the church must be
gathered and this age close before the
kingdom can come.
Cornelius, the centurion. makes us
think Of the one who had such great
faith and also the one who said at the
crucifxion, Truly this was the Son
Of God" Matt. viii, 5-10; xvii, 50. Ii
any man could be saved by character,
as we hear on all sides today, surely
this man could, for consider what is
said Of him in verses 2, Z, %, 80, 81
and yet Peter had to come and tell
him words whereby he and his house
hold could be saved (xi, a. He had
to tell him Of the death and resurrec
ton Of Jesus Of Nazareth and Of for.
giveness Of sins through Him. II q
mans own doings can save him, theI
there was no necessity for the suffer
ings Of Jesus Christ as the sinners
but without the shedding OF
blood there Is no remission Of sins
and there Is no sacrifice but His by
which sinners can be saved (Heb. TX
p; Lev. xvii, IL: Heb. /, 3; Acts ", 12)
Cornelius was truly a devout man an6
lived up to the light he had. and tt
such God has respect and will some
low send them more light, even though !
de must needs employ angelic min /
stry. /
One afternoon as he was fasting anC |
praying visitor unannounced stood !
'efore him clad in heavenly clothing
md assured him that his prayer was
leard and his aims remembered before
Tod and that a man In Joppa TO,
whom he should send would tell hin
What he needed to know verses 3 to
nd 80 to 33). Immediately he sem
wo Of his servants and soldier t.
nd Peter. Notice in this connection
hat the Lord in heaven knows where
re sojourn. who owns the house, tn
wners occupation and all other de
ails Of our life, for all things ar,
aked and open to the eyes Of Hin
nth whom we have to do. The serv
nts being on the road, Peter needed t.
G prepared to receive them and re
Urn with them, for he still considered
unlawful to come unto or keep com
any with one Of another nation (vers,
3. See. then, how God prepared
i'm. He was very hungry and would
ave eaten if anything had been ready
ut while they made ready for him b,
NJ into trance. Many a housewife,
ould be glad ofttimes If some Of tn,
lngry. complaining household would
likewise. Note carefully the vision
verses 11-16 and see, if you hav,
loinped eyes, the church gathered ,
ON Jews and gentiles.
We are all unclean, but the churcl
ust be gathered from sucbeQ Cor f,
, Gid. AS the sheet was let dowI
ON heaven. all must be born from
'ove. The sheet was held in heaven
e are kept by the power Of God an, !
due time shall be as church
ught up to heaven. The fine liner !
ggeSted by the sheet speaks always
righteOusness-His. not ours. blu
rs in Him. In the seven passages :
here we read Of heaven opened" 4 ;
always reveal something concern
& Christ and His redeemed. Will,
ter considered the meaning Of the
sion the men from Caesarea were al
e door inquiring for him. and, th'
irit having said, Behold, three mel
FIX thee; arise, therefore. and &c ,
ee down and 60 with them, doubt ,
: nothing, for L have sent them .
erses 10. 20), all was clear ant
lin for Peter.
Having lodged the strangers over +,
,ht, on the morrow Peter and six OF =
brethren xxi. 12), party Of ten :
lrted for Caesarea Cornelius haG .
led together his kinsmen and neal >
ends and awaited the arrival Of Pc |.
!. Having received him all too rev. +
'ntly and told him all. he added IT
ow, therefore are we all here pres =
before God to hea. all things that ;,
} commanded thee of God" verse -,
What a perfect attitude for q
lgregation to be In. and how the
I'd would work If it was always so!
ter began to tell Of Jesus of NaZa IT
b. His life and death and resurrec. y
n. and Of peace through His blood :
the forgiveness Of sins, and that all -
prophets had borne witness 10 !"