Middletown transcript., 1916-04-08
INTERNATIONAL.
SUND6YS0OO
LESSON
LESSON FOR APRIL 9
AENEAs AND DoRcAs.
By e. o. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course OF the Moody
Bible Institute. Chicago)
Copyright, 1915. Western Newspaper UniOn.)

Titus %.
Step by step the Gospel can bt
traced, spreading itself, but begin
ming at jerusalem" Pauls conver
sion is one Of the greatest evidences
of Christianity. The two miracles Of
today's lesson are additional evidence
that it is of God.
l. At LYDIA Tvs. 32-35. Caligula
emperor of Rome in A. D. 80, ordered
his statue to be erected In Jerusalem
that he might be worshiped as a god
there as elsewhere. The excitement
and conflict which arose in opposition
to this sacrilege lasted for two years,
during which time Christian persecu-
tions ceased. Following Saul's visit
at Jerusalem. and during this time of
quiet, Peter made this tour Of vista
ton. LYDIA (modern Ludd) is about
twenty-five miles northwest Of Jeru-
salem. Here dwelt certain saints ".
32) literally holy ones" converted
disciples Of Christ, not ones Of spe-
cial honor, for all who are members
of the body Of Christ, are saints"
(Phil. I'D. Here also dwelt Aeneas,
"a certain man." possibly not believ-
er, but having great need ". 26:3:2;
1871, 1873; 9:1O), and Of years stand
ing ". 3S). Notice Luke, the physi-
clans careful record. Peter must have
seen many such, yet this man is one
Peter found" he was evidently look
ing for him. Peters pity was not SEN
timental but practical and his words
powerful, for back of them was the
Living and Powerful Christ. He
knew who could work a cure. The
long WEAKNESS is to be relieved. Yet
those days of illness gave time for
meditation and probably prepared the
mans heart to respond in faith to
Peters words. Peter does not attract
attention to himself, but rather to
Jesus. His was but to be the instrU-
ment of the cure. The healing was a
means to an end, for when those who
heard of the miracle, or saw this
healed man, It was to them a demon
stration Of the power Of the risen
Christ, and they turned to the Lord"
". 35), There is 70 comparing Peter
with modern "healers." Peters words
and actions were a living demonstra-
tion, not for profit, OF the power Of
Jesus in his life and testimony. Il
we of this day would show more Of
that same nearness to the same
source of power there would be more
turning of men and women, boys and
girls, to Jesus, and more healing of
broken hearts. Our power is in in
verse ratio to our nearness to Jesus.
II. At Joppa Tvs. S6::4S). Joppa
was the only seaport the Jews ever
possessed for themselves. 1t was and
is still a rather insignificant town,
and now marks the beginning Of the
railroad leading to Jerusalem, 80
miles distant. No name Is recorded
OF any of its rich or prominent citi-
zens, only that of an humble woman.
Tie record of her life, however, is
inspiring ". 36), and her name is a
common one adopted by organizations
of women. Like her master her life
was full Of good deeds; like him
she was not ministered unto, but |
ministered. This is real greatness
and it is open to all Of US. Her name
"Tabitha". (Hebrew), Dorcas Greek, |
means gazelIe, which in the East is
favorite type of beauty. This certain |
disciple" was beautiful in life as well,
for she was first a believer, then |
doer. We believe in order to do, not |
do in order to believe. This woman
Is an example of the wise and capable
woman mentioned in Prov. 31:10-31, |
4 picture well worth studying in these
lays of the feminist movement" She
Is a good type to be followed by
church women, and by US all in the
TACT that her reputation rested upon
leeds which she did" ". 36), not
1nes she was about to do. nor did she
wait for some great opportunity OF
service. The life of Dorcas reveals
)ne of the causes of the triumph of
in the Roman empire. It
vas a source of wonder that those
Early Christians should SO love each
,ther. The reason why Dorcas was
lllowed to die lies in the providence
# God. He loved his work and this
'ecorded incident has served to raise
lp multitudes of other Dorcases. Her
leath also reveals that being full of
,ood works and aims deeds" does not
Exempt his servants from sickness and
Ieath, and that God evidently has 9TH
r purposes in sickness than to chas-
ise our sin or to humble our pride
John 9:3, II Kings 1919. The friends
+ Dorcas were folks of faith, for as
et there was no case of apostolic
ower to raise the dead so far as we
now, and it was now about ten years
fter the resurrection of Christ.
doubtless they had heard OF the cur
1g Of Aeneas, and hence dared to ap-
cal to Peter on behalf of the one they
0ved so dearly. Dorcas had built
lonument with a needle, and in that
pper room ". 39) it was shown to
eter as a visible evidence of her life
'ork. "Post-mortem benefactions do
OF count much with God."-Torrey.
eter followed the example of his
ord (Luke 80, 54), dismissed all I
pectators and prayed ". 4O). The {
-ay to revive a dead pastor, church.
chool, personal experience, or per-
on dead in trespasses and SINS" is
y prayer. Peter also did as he had :
ann hin Mantar do To hia rnnthnrin | .