The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-02-25
The Gospel
in Samaria
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. rs, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

! GOLDEN TEXT.-The people with one
| accord gave heed unto those things
which Philip spake, hearing the miracles
| which he did.-Acts SO
| TIMES or 81 A d. Immediately ."
| er the martyrdom OF Stephen Jour
| lesson). The church has been in e>
ence about six years. with rapid grown
and varied experiences.
PIACE.-Jerusalem. and some chief
| city of Samaria either Samaria or
! Sychar
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
L. There was great persecution
| against the church which was at Je-
rusalem. Not by the heather, but by
the Jews whose authority was being
threatened. and whose teaching was
| In some respects antagonized.
The maryrdom of Stephen was the
| beginning Of the first general perse-
| cution of Christians. The circum-
| stances described in our last lesson.
growing out of the unsettled state
| OF the Roman government. the accusa-
| lions against PLATE. and his summons
to Rome for trial, followed soon by the
death Of Emperor Tiberius. gave an
| opportunity for the Jewish leaders to
carry on their prosecutions.
V. 2 Saul go. made havoc of the
church. r. " laid waste. As an
army devastates the country it over
| runs, or as wild beasts ravage a gar
den, or field of grain. or a pasture
when they destroy the sheep Paul's
own statement confirms this descrip-
ton.
4. They were scattered abroad"
| As seed scattered in all directions by
! the farmer sowing his field broadcast.
| They went through Samara. Galilee,
and as far as Phoenicia, Antioch and
| Cyprus. Preaching the word" Every
seed had life in II and took root and
made new plant wherever the winds
| of persecution blew IT, These scat
| tered Christians We're like brands of
| fire kindling a new fire wherever the
storm carried them
Philip here is not the APOSTLE
Philip, but Philip the deacon Acts
| $50 and evangelist Acts 21:8). He
| preached in Samaria. met Simon
Magus, brought the Ethiopian eunuch
TO Christ. went on evangelzing the
| country till he reached Cesarea where
he eventually took up his abode. Here
ne had four virgin daughters who
prophesied and entertained Paul on
one of his journeys to Jerusalem.
He was, II not Grecian Jew, at
least of conspicuous liberal sympa-
thies, as his work among the Samari-
tans shows.
He was "a born preacher" made
mighty by being filed with the Holy
Spirit, and trained under the apostles.
The Sunday school teacher can
made an ideal teacher in the So
way. Il have often wished" ex
claimed Alexander Whyte. the wonder
ful pastor and teacher of Free ST,
Georges church of Edinboro that
could have been one of the two EN-
maus men whose hearts burned within
them as their risen Lord expounded
unto them in all the Scriptures the
things concerning himself" So does
the teacher wish and he may have
his wish fulfilled
V. "A. The apostles sent unto
'ii''i' 'tVl anu JOilll. NOI dS rulers.
but as a friendly delegation of leading
apostles who could be trusted They
sent their best men on the mission.
vs.. 10. L. Prayed for them
laid their hands on them" The
best spiritual gifts come through
prayer The laying on OF hands was
the connecting link between the eiyer
and the receiver. And they received
the Holy Ghost" with the same out
ward manifestations OF tongues of
flame and speaking with tongues. as
well as the inward grace and power.
which characterized Pentecost six
years before, as appears from Simon's
request
The special reasons for this gift
were much the same as on its first be-
stowal at Pentecost. % 1t ex-
pressed clearly the inward grace and
power so that those who received II
and all others, might realize the fact
OF the unseen gift, as the spark or the
lightning reveals the presence of cleo
tricity. % The new church. under
new circumstances needed the power
and gifts, and fresh life bestowed. (3)
II proved to the Jewish disciples and
especially to the church al Jerusalem.
that the Samaritan movement was
from Cod and approved by the Saviour
and Master.
V. Is. Simon offered them
money to purchase from the apostles
the power they themselves possessed.
Note l, From this action of Simon
his name has won immortality of in.
fanny, since the crime of Simony is
named after him
Note ;. The best gifts cannot be
bouGht With money-wisdom. love.
peace, new hearts. character, spiritual
power The best things Of God are
FREQ 10 all men, like air and sunshine
and water, as the most beautiful forms
and lines are the most common.
We can treat every one as Chris
tians should treat them.
There are some persons who
we ought to send missionaries to argue
down the infdels. What did Philir
do? He preached Christ. Philip die
not argue down Simon, he super.
seeded him The daylight does not
argue with the artificial light. The
SIN inst shinost Men snaal,{noI,,