The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-02-13
The Apostles
Imprisoned
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. IL, 1903
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEAT.-ActS 5.lt-5-. Memory
verses, 10, 20.
GOLDEN TExT.-Blessed are they
which are prosecuted for righteousness
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. $40.
TIME.-Immediately after the last les
son. The exact date is unknown, but be-
tween A. d. 80 and SO.
PLACE.-Jerusalem; the preaching was
in one of the porticos of the outer court
of the temple The trial was in the hall
of the sanhedrim, on the temple hill be
tween the portico and the temple.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
After the experience of the apostles
with Ananias tour last lesson, there
was such an increase in the numbers
and influence of the church, so many
good deeds were wrought, so many OF
the sick were healed, so widely pre-
vailed the new teaching, that the
whole community was stirred, and
even the rulers felt the power and the
danger to their position and influence.
Their reasons for opposing the Cos
pei were all reasons why they should
have favored it. 1. The lessening of
their influence ard the loss OF prestige
| was what ought to take place when
| the rulers ruled for themselves and
not for the people.
2. The teaching they opposed was
the very salvation of the nation.
3. The apostles filled Jerusalem
with their teaching" Their success
brought JOY, salvation, peace, fresh
life to great numbers.
4. The apostles and the church were
bringing healing to the people, lessen
ing suffering, giving to the poor, re-
ducing crime and vice, giving reality
to the angels song of Peace. Good
VIII to Men," they were doing what
every good ruler seeks to have done
for his people.
v. 10. But the Or. ", AM. ange
of the Lord" One of the ''ministerine
spirits sent forth to minister fol
them who shall be heirs of salvation
(Heb. 1:14). In this Book of the Act.
the word angel occurs 20 times
"The ministry of angels" Il believe
that angels wait on US as truly as eve
they waited on Abraham, or Jacob, o.
Moses, or Elijah. or Mary, or Jesul
himself The medieval painters wer'
fond of filling the background Of thu
infancy with countless angels; the rep
resentation, though literally false, wa
morally true / believe that angels ar
encamping around them that fear tn
Lord. George Dana Boardman, d.
| Opened the prison DOORS Silently
without the knowledge of the guard
". 23), who were asleep or had re
Taxed their vigilance. being confiden
of the strength of their prison.
Reasons for this intervention. 1. Tn
apostles and the church were still i
training for greater battles and harde
work. Hence by this deliverance the
were taught faith in God, and courage
and assurance that their bold, defian
course was approved by God.
2. 1t was a great advantage to tn
cause, as they went on preaching tn
gospel, impressing the people that
was Gods cause. and the apostles wer
his messengers. speaking his truth.
3. 1t was a direct refutation of tn
Sadducees' doctrine, blow at the
position.
4. 1t tended to impress the mint
of the enemies of the apostles wit
respect for them as under Gods sp
cial protection, and probably sugges
/ ed to Gamaliel ". 34-39). his fear TIL
: by opposing the apostles the rule
might be opposing God himself.
5. Hence, it influenced the resu
! of the trial. and made the escape fro
e prison G type Of their greater delive
D ance from the power and wicked d
sires of the rulers.
c V. 81. The apostles obeyed, and e
s tered the temple early in the NOR
+ ing" r. ", about daybreak," as sol
e as the gates were opened Called 4
: council" "the sanhedrim." 'togetht
: and" better "even" "all the senate
S Peters argument. Critics have I
d ticed the structure of Peters brief
tense as one of the finest specime
e of pleading on record. clear, dire
), true. personal, an argument without
8 flaw. OF course only the barest o.
z lines are given III tuiS iSpoit. -
t, Peters previous address.
9 The charges against the apostles.
r Disobedience to and defiance of I
national and lawful authorities.
e Hence disloyalty, almost treason,
D their country. (3) Charges to th'
g seemingly slanderous, against tn
3 rulers. that they themselves were
|: obeying their God in whose name tn
1, ruled. These charges were not me
ly serious, but, to q Palestinian JIG
overwhelming.
. The boldness and courage of
apostles was very great
e Threefold Victory of the Apostl
II First. The arraignment of the apost
g gave them an opportunity to pres
N the Gospel faithfully TO the rulers, "
l. could not easily be reached in any O