Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-01-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson IIl.-First Quarter, Fol
Jan. Is, 1916.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Text of the Lesson, Acts il, 22-41.
Memory Verses, SO, 39-GoIden Text,
Acts ii, 21--commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
This is the first recorded sermon Of q
mere man filed with the Spirit. and II
all sermons were nodded ON the same
pattern the Holy Spirit could accom-
plish much more than He is by an or
binary sermon permitted to do, for In
this sermon by Peter the Word of God
Is the substance. of the discourse. He
quoted at least four portions of Scrip
ture, the prophecy Of Joel; ii Sam.
would be called now Bible study,
and / have learned in forty years of
experience that the souls of men every
where are hungering for the Word of
God, and it is written Of that alone
that it shall not return to Him void
and that by it He will accomplish His
pleasure lisa. ", III.
Peter quoted from Joel Ii. 2S-32. to
show that this manifestation of the
Spirit was a fulfillment of that predic-
ton, and not any wild rawlings Of
drunken men. The complete fulfillment
of Joel's words will be at the second
coming of Christ to judge the nations
and open the eyes Of Israel Joel iii.
l, p. Peter then told them that Je-
sus of Nazareth, whom God had so
manifestly approved among them. but
whom they had by wicked hands cruel
fed, God had raised from the dead. ac-
cording to His assurance to David in
Ps. xvi and ii Sam. vii and had given
Him a place at His own right hand
until the time should come for Him to
overthrow His enemies according to
Ps. OK.
God had told David that He would
establish his throne and his kingdom
forever in one Of his descendants. and
our lesson says that David knew that
God meant not Solomon. but the Mes
siah, the Christ III Sam. vii. 1919;
Acts ii. 30l. risen from the dead and
Immortal. The sufferings Of Christ are
most wildly portrayed in lisa. lii, but
His resurrection is seen there also in
verse TO- for one who dies can prolone
his days only by rising from the dead
Notice In this discourse Peters refer.
ences to the resurrection Of Christ In
verses "a, 30 80, 3G-that by the res.
direction God made that same Jesus
whom they had crucified both Lord
and Christ and that He had raised ur
Christ to sit on the throne Of David
In Pet. i, 81. we read that God raised
Him from the dead and gave Him
glory. We seem to come nearest to
the Fathers heart when we. too, give
Him glory or seek in all things tc
glorify Him Il Pet. ", III. When the
prophet Micah predicted His birth in
Bethlehem he spoke of Him as ruler
In Israel Mic v. p. and in the full
ness Of time He will surely be King OF
the Jews on the throne of David. but
He will also be the King Of kings and
Lord Of lords, King over all the earth
luke !. 30. SO; Rev. xvii. IA; xix. 10
Zech. xiv. 81.
Being rejected (the Jews insisted or
crucifying Him, saying. I'VE have nc
king but Caesar"-John XIX. IA. 15). He
ascended, and the heaven must re-
ceive Him until the times of restora
ton Of all things which God hath spo
ken by the mouth Of all His holy proph
cts since the world began (Acts iii. 2D
The congregation to whom Peter de
livered this discourse were all Jews,
devout men out Of every nation
under heaven verse 81. and when they
saw from their own Scripture. as un
folded to them by the Spirit through
Peter, that their Messiah was to die
and rise from the dead and thus be
come an immortal man. and that what
had been done by their rulers in theii
blindness was also foreseen and record
ed, the Spirit convinced them of theil
sin. and they said to Peter and the rest
Men and brethren. what shall we
dol" Verse 80
Peter urged them to repent and be
baptized and receive remission Of sins
and the gift Of the Holy Spirit. This
they gladly did. and that day about
1900 Jews were added to the number
of the saved in Christ verses 3S41,.
This is one fulfillment Of the words of
the Lord Jesus. Greater works than
these shall he do because 60 unto the
Father" John xiv, 12). We must not
think that il we are Spirit filed we
shall always see souls saved. for Ste
phen was filed with the Spirit and 80
spoke that he received stones enough
to kill him wi. s, 10; vii 55-6O,. but
probably Saul never forgot it. and it
may have been one Of the links In the
chain leading to his conversion. One
who is Spirit filed will say as Paul did.
Christ shall be magnified In my body.
whether 1t be by life or by death"
phil. l. 20: Rom. xiv. 81.
Let US learn from verse o Of our les
son that Gods foreknowledge Of what
wicked people will do to His people
does not lessen the guilt Of the evil