The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-02-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Senior 6erean Lesson for Sun
day, February 2, 1909.
TRuE AM FALsE BRoTHERHooD

ATS y go "a
Golden Text-Lying lips are abomi-
nation TO the Lord C-Jehoyah') but
they that deal truly are His delight.
Prov. L., -.
The Lesson Text. Acts Z. 32-5, ~.
81. And the multitude of them that
believed were OF one heart and OF
one soul neither said any OF them
that ought OF the things which he pos
sessed was his own. but they had all
things common.
80. And with great power gave the
apostles witness OF the resurrection Of
the Lord Jesus. and great grace was
upon them all
"a Neither was there any among
them that lacked. for as many as
were possessOrs of lands or houses
sold them. and brought the prices Of
the things that were sold
80. And laid them down at the apos-
ties feet and distribution was made
unto every man according as he had
need.
80. and Joses. who by the apostles
was suTnamed Barnabas (which Is,
being Interpreted. The son OF consoia-
giOnl. a Levite. and OF the country
OF Cyprus.
81. Having land sold il. and brought
the money. and laid il al the apostles
feet
1. But a certain man named Ana
Mas. with Sapphire. his wife, sold
possession.
>. And kept back part of the price.
mis- wife also being privy 10 IL. and
brought a certain part. and laid il at
the apostles feet
3. But Peter said. Ananias. why
hath Satan filled thine heart TO lie 20
the Holy Ghost. and to keep back part
OF the price OF the land2
T. While IL remained. was IL not
thine own and after was sold. was
II not in thine own power? Why hast
thou conceived this thing in thine
heart? Thou hast not lied unto men.
but unto God
;. And Ananias hearing these words
FELL down. and gave up the ghost,
and great fear came on all them that
heard these things
6. And the young men arose. wound
him up. and carried him out. and
buried him
:. And il was about the space OF
three hours after. when his wife. not
knowing what was done. came in.
s. And Peter answered unto her
Tell me whether We sold the land for
SO much And she said. Yea. for so
much
.. Then Peter said unto her. How
is il that yc have agreed together 10
tempt The Spirit Of the Lord Be
hold. The feet Of them which have
buried thv husband are AZ the door.
and shall carry thee out
10 Then fell she down siraightaway
az his feet. and Welded NJ the ghost
and the Young men came IN. and found
her dead and. carrying her forth.
buried her BY her husband
H. and great fear came upon all
the church. and upon as many as
heard these things
The Lesson Explained.
l. Concerning the Christian Com
munism. Vers. 32-37-Though the
chief priests opposed the new faith
yet IL spread widely and the disciples
were Of one heart that is. they were
agreed in spirit A great multitude
believed The first effect Of the new
Is received belief was 10 inspire such
love as to make the disciples wish 10
hold things in common. No one was
20 be poor. and no one was 10 be rich.
Property was not 20 belong 10 the in
diyidual. but 10 the community. The
scheme proved TO be but a dream. IL
was easier 10 carry ont such a scheme
then than IL is now Then all the dis
ciples had little wealth and there was
no great difference between him who
was poor and him who was not quite
so poor There was an expectation
u Christ's immediate return from
heaven. and hence earthly treasure
was not so highly priced. Intense ar
lection inspired enthusiasm in sharing
properly. The scheme Of property
sharing failed. for Christians were not
perfect Some were cOvetous. and
some would rather share In others
goods than work for a living. Human
nature seems as yet too weak to sus
tain a community Of goods. Many
trials have been made and many fail
ures And yet here is something that
Is true. mixed with error and society
Is moving faster than many are aware
Of in making the wealth OF the com
munity the property OF all for enjoy
ment. Christianity certainly teaches
that we are stewards. and hold what
we have In trust ITO do good and
10 communicate forget not" The
whole subject is Of vast Importance
in the present day. and profound
thinkers are studying H. II does not
appear that the disciples sold all. but
what they sold they brought TO the
Apostles that they might distribute.
not 10 an. but 10 those who We're
needy-such as widows and orphans
and Il NAV be 20 those who lost
their means Of support because they
had espOused the faith ~ Christ. Care
Is needed in distribution OF charitable
funds that pauperism be not increased
and that seif-respect on the part ~
the recipients be not hurt or de
stroyed The gift Of affection should
awaken gratitude Note that giving
in charity added power 10 the truth OF
Jesus as preached by the apostles.
Joses in verse 30 is the same name
as Joseph. rightly named Barnahas.
son Of consolation. he was the com
paniOn Of Saint Paul In his first mis-
sionary journey Tie was Leyite.
that - ono Of the tribe OF Levi The