Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-02-11
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY IL.

MENTS FOR FEBRUARY IL.
Subject: The Apostles Imprisoned,
Acts 5:17.42 - Golden Text:
Matt. 5:1O-COmmit Verses 10,
2O-COmmentary on the Lesson.
TINlE.-A. D. 1896. PLACE.
Jerusalem.
EXPOSITION.-I. The Arrest and
Delivery of the Apostles, 1924. The
apostles had prayed for deliverance
and that signs and wonders might be
done in the name of Jesus, and this
prayer had been very literally and
very fully answered, but this display
of power had awakened the jealousy
and increased hate of the Sadducees.
No man or company of men has ever
been filled with the Spirit that some
one else was not filled with Jealousy
(cf. ch. 13; As; 17:5; Matt. 27:18.
The jealousy in this case was very
bitter. 1t went even to the point OF
arresting the whole apostolic COM
pany and casting them into prison.
But while the ecclesiastical authori-
ties were against them, God and His
angels were for them (cf. Heb. ia,
r. ": Ps. 34:7; Dan. 3:1125; 6:22-
"a; Acts 12:7-11). The strongest
prison doors are no barrier to an an
gel Of God. 1t is impossible to lock
up the man whom God would have at
liberty prov. 21:3O. With the de-
liverance 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 disobey af-
ter such remarkable deliverance
would have been gross ingratitude.
We, too, have been delivered by so
great and glorious deliverance that
1t would be gross ingratitude not to
speak all the words of this life. no
matter how great the peril, The obe-
dience of the apostles to Gods COM
mand was very prompt; daybreak
found them in the temple. 1t is to be
feared that there are some of us who.
II we were shut up in prison for
preaching Jesus. would keep still IL
we once got out Of the fix.
II. Peter and the Other Apostles
Before the Sanhedrim, 2j-32. 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 former occasion,
in what name the miracles were
wrought (Acts 4:7-12). Peter found
a way to testify for Jesus and His
resurrection. The one point the high
priest made was that they had COM
manded them that 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 the high 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 risen and divine Saw
iour What matters it what the most
august assembly on earth commands
If God commands something differ
ent? Peter did not say it is our priv
ilege to obey God against the COM
mand of men, nor I'VE ought to obey
God rather than men," but 1--WE must
obey God rather than men In that
must" there Is the secret OF blessed
ness and power. We ought to be o5e-
dient to all properly constituted au-
thority. ecclesiastical and civil. as
long as It does not conflict with the
commandments of God, but just as
soon as 1t does we should turn a deaf
ear to human authority and "obey
God" The council had bidden them
not to teach in this name, but God
had said, GO and speak" (v. 20).
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 had said, His
blood be on u.s. Matt. 27:25). With
out any fear of their stern looks and
implied threats Peter looked them In
the eye and said, THE God of our
fathers raised up Jesus. whom ye
slew and hanged upon a tree" 1t
shivered their claim to authority, 1t
exposed the enormity of their guilt.
It is noticeable how Peter in all his
sermons rings the changes on the
guilt of man as seen in his treatment
of Him. ITO be Prince and Saw
Jour" This Is the tWofold office OF
the exalted Christ. The two offices
go together. If we wish Him as Saw
iour, we must take Him as Prince,
ana III we WISH I1lUn as VIC
must take Him as Saviour. There
are two other things linked together
in this verse: Repentance and for
giveness of sins" One cannot be had
without the other Lu. 1873. 5; "a
At; Acts 2:3S; 1890. Repentance
is here said to be the gift of the ex-
alted Christ comp. ch. 1926; 11:1S;
Jer. 31:31-33; Ez. 36:26: I'll. 2:
25). 1t is a gift He is willing to be-
stow upon any one who wishes it g
Peter 3-9). There Is something mar
velous in Peters skill in the ad-
dresses recorded in the Acts and we
do we'll to study them carefully. Let
us learn from them above all else %
to expose to men the blackDess Of
their guilt in the rejection of the glo-
rious Son of God. CD When we have
exposed their guilt.--to open to them
the door of salvation through this
same Jesus. Peter and the other
apostles were not the only witnesses
to the resurrection of Christ. The
Holy Spirit also was witness. And
He Is a witness still. He comes to
and gives His witness to all who obey
Cod that is, surrender their will alb
solutely to God (cf. Jno. 7;17; Jno.
14:15. 16, 26; 1920.
IT.