Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-09


Carroll Gives Talk.
II invite you to think with me upon
Ia great theme AS the basis OF our
thought, we will take an incident In
the lives Of the early apostles. The In
cident Is given to us In the BOOK OF
Acts, in the fifth chapter. But would
have us think especially of the forty
first and forty-second verses:
They therefore departed from the
presence Of the council, rejoicing that
they were counted worthy to suner
dishonor for the name. And every day,
in the temple and at home, they ceased
not to teach and to preach Jesus rs the
Christ
THE theme which / bring for our
consideration is this: A Passion for
Serving Christ You will recall that
the words of our text were written OF
the early apostles In the midst Of
severe persecution. But, that we may
appreciate the full significance OF
these words, we shall need to freshen
our memories with the setting of the
incident.
1.-THE apostles had been busily en-
gagged in an active ministry Of healing
and preaching among the people. Many
signs and wonders were wrought BY
their hands. Crowds of people from
the cities near Jersualem came bring
ing their sick folk and them that were
| vexed with unclean spirits, and they
were healed every one As we read
of these mighty acts 1t seems that we
are walking with Jesus In Galilee and
beholding his gracious ministry among
men. But, as in the days of Christ, the
high priest and his Sadducean party
were filled with bitter jealousy be-
cause of these things. Jealous and en-
ragged, and to put an end to this kind
of work, they laid hands on the apos-
ties and cast them into the public
prison. However the high priest and
his party were not able to accomplish
their ends so easily for during the
night an angel Of the Lord opened the
prison doors and brought out the
apostles. saying, Go. and stand in the
temple. telling the people all about
this life Delivered and commission
ed by divine authority the apostles
went into the temple at the break of
day and began to teach.
I'm the meantime. the high pfiest
and his party met, called the Sanhed-
rim, the chief council, together and
sent to the prison for the apostles.
Upon coming to the prison. the attend
ants were amazed to find 1t empty
The prison house we found shut in all
safety and the keepers standing at the
doors; but when we had opened we
found no man within" These start
ling words filled the commander of the
temple and the high priest with the
utmost surprise and they did not know
what to do. While they were pus.
zling over It, someone came and re-
ported to them that the very men they
had cast into prison we're now stand
ing in the temple. teaching the people.
Immediately the commander with
his attendants went out and brought
the apostles back before the council
In rage the high priest asked them
saying, We strictly charged you not to
teach in this name; and behold you
have filled Jerusalem with your teach
ing In reply, came this calm, fear
less answer of Peter and the apostles
We must obey God rather than men.
The God Of our fathers raised up Jesus
whom We slew, hanging him on a tree.
Him did God exalt to be prince and
a saviour, to give repentance to Israel
and remission of sins. And We are
witnesses Of these things; and so is
the Holy Spirit whom God hath given
to them that obey him
when their enemies heard these
words they were so furious that they
were determined to kill the apostles
But one of their number, Pharisee In
the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel by name. q
doctor Of the law, who was highly re-
spected by all the people, arose and
ordered the prisoners to be removed
for few minutes.
"Then in calm, sane words. he eau
toned them saying, 'Ye men Of Israel,
take heed to yourselves a. touching
these men, what We are about to do"
: He then went on to cite two other
instances when certain teachers had
appeared among the people and had
drawn many followers after them.
These teachers proved to be false and
their work was overthrown. Using
these familiar incidents, he advised
the enraged party as follows, Refrain
from these men, and let them alone !;
for If this work be of men, 1t will be
overthrown; but II 1t Is Of God, We
! will not be able to overthrow them
lest haply We be found even to be
fighting against God