The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-02-12
The Apostles
Imprisoned
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. IL, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-Acts 5:17-32. Memory
verses, 10, 20.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Blessed are they
which are prosecuted for righteousness
sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. $40.
fundamentally after the last les
son. The exact date Is unknown, put De-
tween A. D. 30 and SO.
PLACE.-Jerusalem the preaching was
in one of the porticos of the outer court
of the temple. The trial was in the hali
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 (our 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 and 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.
8. The apostles filled Jerusalem
with their teaching Their success
brought joy, salvation, peace, fresh
life to great numbers.
A. 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
Will to Men," they were doing what
every good ruler seeks to have done
for his people.
". 10. but the (R. ", "an"), angel
OF the Lord" One of the "ministering
spirits sent forth to minister for
them who shall be heirs Of salvation. y
(Heb. 1:14). "In this Book of the Acts
the word angel occurs 20 times"
"The ministry of angels" 81 believe
that angels wait on us as truly as ever
they waited on Abraham, or Jacob, or
Moses, or Elijah, or Mary, or Jesus
himself The medieval painters were
fond of filling the background of the
infancy with countless angels; the rep
resentation, though literally false, was
morally true. believe that angels are
encamping around them that fear the
Lord. Dana Boardman, D. D.
Opened the prison DOORS" Silently
without the knowledge of the guards
". 23), who were asleep or had re
Taxed their vigilance, being confident
of the strength of their prison.
Reasons for this Intervention. l. The
apostles and the church were still in
training for greater battles and harder
work. Hence by this deliverance they
were taught faith in God, and courage
and assurance that their bold, defiant
course was approved by God
2. 1t was a great advantage to the
cause, as they went on preaching the
gospel, impressing the people that il
was Gods cause, and the apostles were
his messengers, speaking his truth.
8. 1t was a direct refutation of the
Sadducees' doctrine, blow at their
| position.
4. 1t tended to impress the minds
of the enemies of the apostles with
respect for them as under Gods spe
cial protection, and probably suggest
ed to Gamaliel ". 94-99), his fear that
by opposing the apostles the rulers
might be opposing God himself.
5. Hence, it influenced the result
of the trial, and made the escape from
prison q type of their greater deliver
ance from the power and wicked de
sires Of the rulers.
V. 81. The apostles obeyed, and en-
tered the temple early in the morn
ing" r. ", "about daybreak," as soon
as the gates were opened. Called the
council" the sanhedrim,"' together
and" better even "all the senate.
Senate" both in Greek and Latin, is
derived from words meaning "old
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