Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-01-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson V.-First Quarter, For
Jan. 81, 1909.
the INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Yext Of che Lesson, Act iv, 1.31S-Mem-
ery Verses II, f2--GoIden Text, Acts
", s1--commentary Prepared by
Raw. d. "A. Stearns,

w. s1--commentary Prepared by
Rev. b. M. Stearns.
copyright, zoos, by American Press Association
AS the gospel is preached and wher-
ever It is preached during the whole
Of this age we can only expect the ex'
perience of Paul In chapter xviii. "a,
"Some believed and some believed
not" Some are wholly Indifferent and
care for none of these things, While
others violently oppose the truth. The
comfort Of the believer through 1t all
Is that His word will always accom-
plish His pleasure and that He Is never
discouraged lisa. lv. IL; Kill. A.. The
resurrection Of Jesus was accompanied
BY the resurrection Of many of the
saints Matt. xvii, 81. 53), and both
His and theirs were resurrections
from the dead. So also shall be the
resurrection Of all the righteous.
We now find Annas and Caiaphas and
their kindred, with the rulers and eld-
ers and scribes, gathered at Jerusa-
lem to inquire more fully concerning
the healing of the man who bad been
lame from his birth, for al the city
was stirred because Of the notable
miracle that had been wrought, which
no one could deny (verse 16). Peter
and John being brought from prison,
this august assembly asked them, by
what power or by what name have We
done this?" This gives Peter another
opportunity, and he who at one time
asked the Lord Jesus not to think OF
suffering and on that dreadful night
three times denied that he knew Him
boldly rehearses the facts OF the cruel
fixion Of Jesus by these very men, as
serts His resurrection from the dead
and assures them that the healing OF
this man was by that same Jesus. de
quotes Ps. cxviii, %, and has In mind
lisa. xviii 16. which passages he also
quotes in his epistle q Pet. IL, 49,. he
IS bold because filed with. the Spirit,
and the Spirit brings these words TO
his mind and utters them through him.
according to the promises Of the Lord
Jesus while He was yet with them In
His humiliation (Matt. x, 10, 20; John
xiv. 2S). 1t is grand to hear Peter tell
these proud Pharisees that there Is no
other way for even them to be saved
but by Him whom they had crucified.
whom God raised from the dead. They
must have remembered the meek FEAR
Iessness Of Jesus when He stood be-
fore them, for they see something IN
these men to remind them or Jesus
Verse 13). 1t should be our ambition
so to be Spirit filled that those who
know us would be compelled to see
something Of Him In us Oh Cor. ", III.
While they could not deny the miracle
nor the strange power in these IN
learned men, they determined TO 40
what was In their power, as they
thought. to prevent the spread OF this
doctrine. and so after consulting
among themselves, the apostles having
been sent out. they recall them ana
command them not to speak at all nor
teach in the name Of Jesus Verse 49,
One cannot but think Of the words In
the second psalm, HE that sitteth ID
the heavens shall laugh; the LORD snail
have them In derision." AS they were
men processing to fear God, these
priests and rulers, Peter replied that
they must Judge for themselves whetn'
er II was right to obey God or man
but boldly. yet respectfully, added. 1--WE
cannot but speak the things which we
have seen and heard" Verse 2O
What a contrast between these men
and the majority Of believers today
who seem to have seen in Jesus noth
| ing worth mentioning to any one. foI
both in public and private they can sc
rapjdly keep quiet about Him. Con
slider Elihu and jeremiah, who were
much like Peter and John dob xxi
1920; Jer. Xxx. 81.
With further threatenings they were
| het 20 and at once went to their owl
company. who had doubtless been II
PRAYER for them. They reported al
that had been said and done. and witt
one accord these believers looked VI
to God as the Creator and quoted th'
words Of the second psalm and, rest
ing in the eternal counsel OF Coo
prayed. not for deliverance from fur
ther persecution, but only that the!
might speak the word Of God witt
holiness and that God would accom-
PAW the word with signs and won
ders in the name of Jesus. They evi
IDENTIFY feared no man, nor even death
but BY faith saw the risen Christ a
Gods right hand for them and de
sired only to glorify Him. They wer'
certainly in touch with the throne, 10
see the immediate response from
thence-the place was shaken and al
were filed with the Holy Spirit Their
never was greater need than now TO
believers to be filled with the wore
of God and the Spirit Of God and t
speak that word boldly. 1t can onl.
be done by seeing the risen Christ a
Gods right hand on our behalf and b,
so seeing Him that we shall not Sc
the face of man. If we are ever afrai'
Of man, we are evidently forgetting
God, and If we live to please men W
are not the servants Of Christ Qsa. j
II, 13; Gal. |, 10.
There is a grand word for the ser'
mt of Christ in Thess. II, A. "Allowe
of God to be put in trust with the COS
pei. even SO we speak; not as pleash
men. but God, who trieth our hearts.
There is only one with whom we haV
to do, and TO Him alone must ever
one of us give account. Let our mott
be, "The Lord alone shall be exalted
= and let us "Cease from man" lisa. !