Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-02-11
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON con-
MENTs FOR FEBRUARY II.
subject: The Apostles Imprisoned.
Acts 5:17-42 Golden Text:
Matt. 5:1O-Commit Verses .
2O-COHmentary on the Tessnr

49, 4Wl4 AAE III /
Acts 5:17-42- Golden TEXT.
Matt. 5:1O-Commit Verses 70.
2o-connaentary on the Lesson.
ILAE.-A D. so-s5. PLACE.
Jerusalem. !
E-APOSITION.-I. The. Arrest ana
delivery OF the Apostles. 1924. The
apostles had prayed for deliyerance /
hat signs and wonders might ia |
cone in the name of Jesus. and this
prayer had been very literally and !
very 1uAy, answered, but this display !
oIfpower had awakened the jealousy
2 increased hate of the Sadduceeg.
No ma or company of men has ever
neen tlled with the Spirit that some |
one else was not filled with Jealousy |
1cT. CHI. IS; IS; 17:5; Matt. 27:l8).]
Inc jealousy In this case was very |
pltter. IT went even to the. point OF
arrestingl the whole apostolic com
pany and casting them into prison.
But, while. the ecclesiastical authpri-
t1est were against them, God and His
angels were. for them (cf.< Heb. l:14.
R:sV.;.Ps. SAT-; Dan. 3:1l-25;s 6:2c-
80 Aefs eyy12:7-11). The strongest
PRISON doors are no barrier to an an
gel of%God. It is impossible to lock
up b man whom God would. have at
liberty (Prov. 21:30). With the de-
Hverance~ came the command to go
and stand and speak in the temple to
the people all the words of this life.
This required great courage under
the circumstances, but .to sdisobeys AZ
Ter such a remarkable deliverance
would have been gross ingratitude.
We, too, have been delivered by so
great and glorious a deliverance that
1t would be gross ingratitude not to
speak all the words of this life. no
matter, how great the peril. The ODE
ldlence of the apostles to Gods COM
kmand was very prompt; daybreak
found them in the temple. 1t is to be
feared that there are some Of us who,
If we were shut up in prison for
preaching Jesus, would keep still if
we once got out of the fix.
II. Peter and the Other Apostles
Eefore the S~anhedrim, 1882. The
rage of the Sanhedrim- was tempered
by fear. and they brought them with
:Out violence The high priest dare
not ask how they got out. Neither
did he, ask, as on a former occasion,
in what name the miracles were
wrought tActs 4:7-12). Peter found
a way to testify for Jesus n His
resurrection. The one point the high
priest made was that they had COM
manded them hat they should not
teach in this name. The high priest
said that in spite of the prohibition of
the ecclesiastical court they had filled
Jerusalem with their doctrine. This
statement of.tre higa priest was very
much to their credit. Men are much
needed TO-DAY who will follow in
their steps and fill all places with the
doctrine of a risen and divine Saw
Jour What matters. It what the most
august assembly on earth commands
; if God commands something differ
emit Peter did not say it is our priv
| i1ege to obey God against the COM
mand of men, nor 1--WE ought. to obey
God rather than men," but I'VE must
iobey God rather than men," In that
must" there is the secret of blessed
ness and power. We ought to be ODE
dent to all properly constituted au-
thority, ecclesiastical and civil, as
, long as it does net conflict with the
commander ents of God. but just as
soon as il does we should turn a deaf
ear to human authority and "obey
(God." The council had hidden them
not to teach in this name, but God
had said, "Go and speak" ". 2O).
j The high priest further charged them
with trying to bring Jesus blood upon
them. They ought not to have OBJ
jected to that, for they mad said. "His
blood be en- us" Matt. 27:25). With.
out any fear of their stern looks and
implied threats Peter looked them In
the eye and said, 1.-THE God Of oul
fathers raised up Jesus. whom ye
slew and hanged upon a tree" Il
shivered their claim to authority. II
exposed the enormity Of their guilt
II -. 1~-v D4+o@> SO oil h{e
sermons rings the changes on the
guilt OF man as seen in his treatment
of Him. ITO be a Prince end a Saw
i%iour." This is the twofold office o:
the exalted Christ. The two office:
go together. If we wish Him as Saw
tiour. we must take Him as Prince
and it we wish Him as Prince. W.
must take Him: as. Saviour. There
are two other things linked together
j. in this verse: Repentance and for
! giveness of sins" One cannot De hat
! without the other (Lu. 1873, 5: "a
Al; Acts 1898; 1850. Renentanc'
is here said to be the gift Of the e.,
. allied Christ comp. ch. 3:26:sl1:l8
8 ,Ier. 31:31-33; Ez. 36:26: 2 ii. 2
D 25). 1t is a gift He is willing to be
: stow upon n one who wishes it {:
: Peter o-9). There is something mar
VGlOuS Ill GGLct > SAliI LA tHN oA
. dresses recorded in the Acts and W
do we'll to study them carefully. lie
t us learn from them above all else Il
y to expose to men the blackness o
n Their guilt in the rejection of the glo
q rious Son of God. ~ When we hav
:" EXPOSED their guilt. to omen to then
!, the door Of salvation through thi
4 same Jesus. Peter and. the othe
= apostles we're not the onlv witnesse
to the resurrection OF Christ. IN
: Holy Spirit also was a witness. An
HE is a witness still. he comes 7
4 ana gives His witness to all who ODE
\ Cod that is. surrender their will alb
= so,utelv to Cod fcf. .Iuo. 7;17; inc
14:15, 1G, 26; 1890.
= Right.