The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-02-10

Secretary and Treasurer. Chas K. Meyers
Denison.
department. Mrs. E. w. Pierce Decision. Nor
NAL department Prof. P. w. Follows. Denison,
Primary. Mrs. @. L. Voss. Denison. Temperance.
Sears McHenry, Denison. Missionary Mrs. j. B !
Lyon. Of Denison.
Feb. IA. The Apostles Imprisoned. |
Acts 5:17-42.
1t will be remembered that after
the healing of the lame man at the
temple, Peter and John were arrested
and brought before the high Jewish
court. These men were then told
not to preach any more about Jesus.
1t will be remembered that Peter said
that he proposed to serve God rather
than men. and that he could not do
otherwise than to tell about the things
he had seen and heard. Acts 4:2O.
i The sanhedrin or council threatened
Peter and John that they would pun
ish them if they continued to tell of
Jesus. and let them go. The apostles
went out and the same day exhorted
the people the more to repent and
turn to Jesus for salvation. Our
lesson of last Sunday showed how the
hearers did believe. how many joined
themselves to the apostles. that some
sold their goods and helped one an
other. but how one man Ananias lied
about the money he received for his
property, and was punished for it.
From the point of view of the
Jewish priests things were going de-
cidedly wrong. The common people
were full of excitement over the new
religion. Such was the faith in the
power of Peter to heal disease that
sick folks were taken in the streets
that even the shadow of Peter might
, fall upon them. Citizens of outside
towns brought those who were sick
and Peter healed them every one.
The situation had to be met. from the
standpoint of the Jewish leaders, and
, they had Peter and John put in prison
again. That night the prison doors
. we're opened and an angel told the
, apostles to go to the temple and
speak to the people. The next morn
r ing the High Priest and the council
c met for trial. but when the officers
went to bring the prisoners they found
them not. Later the ones sought
after, were found preaching and were
n brought for trial. Peter and John
were reminded that they had been
told not to preach about Jesus.
' Peter replied, "We must obey God
v rather than man. and started in to
!. denounce the council for crucifying
Jesus. The council began to debate
e whether it was not best to kill Peter
!. also. At this time, one of the mem.
bers of the council named Gamalial
. gave advice that if the preaching Of
Peter was fraud. that it would soor
8 prove so. but if from God eye cannor
IS overthrow it'' and to oppose it would
i be to fight against God. The coun
: Gil agreed to this, and after warning
Peter not to preach. he and Johl
we're set at liberty.
h We now turn to note briefly what
IL can be learned from the lesson. O.
70 practical value for US today. First
Peter was thoroughly in earnest: b,
had seen Jesus, felt He was the Sol
of God. andwanted all people to know
about Him. Christian people of to
day should speak right out for tn,
gospel of Jesus. Earnestness and en-
thusiasm are catching and if you wan
others to be aroused, you must b,
aroused yourself. Second, Peter sale
he would obey God rather than man
and there is no good reason why ever,
one knowing what God wants them t.
do should not say the same thing.
Third, Judged by the standard Sc
forth by Gamalial the religion Of
Jesus does have God behind it. ant
q those who oppose it are fighting
y against God. What the religion of
Jesus has done in changing savage
to peaceful. kind hearted people
what it has done in civilizing our owl
forefathers shows its Divine origin
81 Space forbids further comment bu
ne there is that in the lesson to inspire
is to firmness for the religion of Jesus
~ and to speak for it, when occasion
permits.
re
ne How's This?
n