The Yale expositor., 1909-03-19
QUARTERLY
REVIEW
Sunday School Lesson for March 81, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-Covering the first nine
chapters of the Acts.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"And they that were
scattered abroad went everywhere
preaching the word. Acts S4
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The period of the past quarters les
sons extends over about ten years.
Three eras are considered in the les.
sons of the quarter.
1. The two powers through which
the work was accomplished: the ever.
living Saviour and the Holy Spirit.
2. The church at Jerusalem, develop
ing in four directions.
3. The church extended to six differ.
ent places named.
The map will help us to understand
the situation.
The principal persons with whom we
have been concerned: The eleven apos-
ties, especially Peter and John; the
seven deasons, especially stephen and
Philip Accredited by miracles in the
name of Jesus. Barnabas, liberal
giver. The members of the Sanhedrim,
chief priests, Sadduces, scribes-bring-
ing opposition from without Ananias,
Sapphire and Simon Magus-dangers
from within. A lame beggar Ethiopian
prince, Aeneas and Dorcas-eXamples
of persons helped. The great and in
creasing multitude of believers.
Constantine's motto "In hoe signo
vinces," by this sign (of the CROSSE
thou shalt conquer" is true of the,
church in all ages.
No church or body of men which de-
MES the divinity and continued exist
successful in spreading the gospel, or.
building up the religious life.
The Holy Spirit coming with new
power and abundance, because the
coming of the Son of God has made
the greatness of his work possible, is
the other force by which Christianity
has made its conquests.
His presence was made manifest to
the senses so that people would realize
the fact and the nature of the power
which transformed the character of the
people, and multiplied the number of
the disciples.
Relate the stories of the Ascension,
the Promise, the Prayer Meeting, the
Day of Pentecost.
Note the growth of the church in
! four directions.
/. The Transformation of character,
seen in the apostles, notably in Peter;
and point out the incidents which
lei uTb Of
also in the character of the first Chris
tians. Seen also in their action under
persecution.
2. Growth in numbers Note the ex.
pressions which show this progress.
3. Growth in organization. Give the
most marked instance.
a. Growth in extent of country
reached by the gospel.
Difficulties and How They Were
Overcome.-State the obstacles in the
way of this progress, and how they
were overcome-from without, from
within. Name the various incidents
which illustrate and express both the
difficulties and the way the early
Christians overcame evil with good.
Literary Test Review.
We give below a literary test re-
view which will prove interesting The
list of quotations which were either
suggested by incidents in the first nine
chapters of Acts, covered by our les
sons, or naturally suggest them.
Not on one favored forehead fell
OF old the fre-tongued miracle,
But famed DER all the throngng host.
Whittier In '"The Meeting"
Truth forever on the scafrold, Wrong for
ever on the throne;
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and
behind the dim unknown.
Standeth God within the shadow. keeping
watch above his own
Lowell. in present Crisis"
For no falsehood can endure
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
or force 10 his own likeness.
Milton. in Paradise Lost"
Stone walls do not prison make,
Nor iron bars cage.
Richard Lovelace.
In youth beside the lonely sea,
Voices and visions came to me;
In every wind I felt the stir
OF some celestial messenger.
j IT. b. Aldrich. in Sea Longings."
The friendly flames of the spring sun
Glanced like the tongues of fire, beheld
by apostles aforetime.
Longfellow, I'm "Evangeline."
Tongues of the dead. not lost.
But speaking from deaths frost,
Like fiery tongues at Pentecost!
-Longfelow. in Song of the Silent
Land"
The baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Whittier I'm The Meeting" 1S6-191.
Stood before him glorified,
Shining and tall and fair and straight
AS the pillar that stood by the Beautiful
Gate.
Lowell, in Vision of Sir Launfal"
Thou hast been Queen Candace,
And Helen OF Troy. and shalt be
} The Intelligence Divine.
-Longfellow in "Helen OF Tyre"
4