Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-16
Sunday School Lesson for January ~ Discussed
by Rev. J. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.


INTRODUCTION times has
the evil purpose of man been overruied
to promote the glory OF God. Psaim'
lXXvi:lm The mockery and SANDER oil
those C.erse T., who witnessed the pine
nomena at Penteaos prompted Peter 10
preach The other apostles stood Wlttl
him. sanctionin" his words. tie nseo
the language of the common people. the
Gift Of tongues being suspended. lie De-
gan with a kindly salutation. repellins
the charge of drunkenness Verse l"). lie
affirmed that Juels prediction had bee"
fulfilled, quoting from that old prophet
AMI showing his acquaintance with Scrip
ture lie referred 10 Jesus. who had
been approved by many miracles with
which all were familiar who had been
delivered by divine foreknowledse, put
to death and raised again TO life In
supporting the last point to which al
the apostles were witnesses. Peter quoted
from the Psalm to show that David
thought Of the Messiah one Who
would ascend His throne after resurrec-
ton The sermon was. up TO this point
an excellent preparation for the instruc-
ton contained in Our lesson.
EXPLANATION.-Th basis having
been laid. Peter proceeded To set forth
the real cause of what had been seen
AMI heard oversees 3: and 80. He as
serted that Jesus. the crucifed and risen
Christ had been exalted That thought
is expanded in other parts OF the Scrip
ture to signify that he had entered into
the heavens and was seated At the
right hand Of the Majesty on high
Heb. MID; that he had obtained q
name above every name. because OF His
in In i.,I
xi:0. that He had been clothed with
power Matt. XXviii:1S) or authority
Peter also declared. SO exalted. Jesus ilad
received what the Father had promised
John. xiv:26, and that he had accord.
nel.- shed forth the Holy Spirit. 1t must
be confessed that great mysteries are
here introduced the three persons of the
godhead being presented as held by the
church q John. va. The eXplana tor
must be made that the very opening o,
the apostolic ministry. set forth Jesus
as the administrator of the new cove
nant. The days OF forms and ceremonies
are to he succeeded by days OF spirit ia
opera ions III Cor, ills.
TESTIMONY Verses 34-36p. These
three assertions of Peter were new and
startling. To the Jews thew sounded
like the unwarranted claims OF fanatics
Those who had. a short time before
caused the death of Jesus would be re-
luctant TO admit his lofty claims. ever
though sustained by the wonderful mani
festations just witnessed. IT was. there
fore. necessary for the apostle TO sup.
port his words. AT least. lie must fur.
nisil Scriptural evidence that all this was
expected of the Jewish Messiah Quoting
again from David psalm cx:D who. be.
ing dead. could not have spoken OF him
self. he showed that the expected kins
would sit at the right hand of God un.
til enemies were made his footstoo
(AIatt.. Xxii:44). With this plain testi
mony from we'll received authority. cor
rectinS the popular notions of Messiah
as a temporal Prince. Peter empla
sZe,l his former statement lEph.. 10
and exclaimed: LET Israel know thai
Jesus had been made Lord and Christ :
The evident purpose was to make the
audience feel that the Messianic hopes
of the nation were all realized in Jesus
whose reign was actually begun in
heaven.
CONEICTION.-The end was gained
the purpose in all true preaching was
accomplished. The argument Of Peter
was complete and irresistible His hear
ers were convinced (versa go. His last
allusion had gone like an arrow to their
hearts. They were overwhelmed with n
sense of ill-desart. Their Messiah had
come and they had put him TO death He
had been raised and exalted. He had en-
tered upon His work AS ruler. They We're
criminals. guilty Of the blood of the in
nocent. They had fought against God