Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-02-04
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 6
eo.DNEss OF PETER AND JOHN.

The first seven chapters of the book
of Acts have been designated as the
Jerusalem period. Chapter deals |
with the ascension of our Lord; chap
ter 2. the baptism of the Holy Spirit;
chapters 81, the early conflicts in
Jerusalem. In our lesson of last Sun
day we had the story of Peter and
John dealing with the lame man while
on their way to the temple. Follow
ing this experience they were i'm
prisoned, the first Imprisonment men
toned for any OF those who accepted
the Gospel AS the disciples were
dealing with the multitude the rulers
OF the temple came upon them and
were much put out (v. q that the dis
ciples should preach the resurrection
of Jesus from the dead. The signih-
canoe of this is better understood
when we remember that the Jewish
Sanhedrin was the great court OF jew
ish law composed of seventy-one lead
ing men of the nation Caiaphas, the
noble high priest by Roman appoint
ment. and Annas, the real high priest
according to Jewish law. were both
there This body was largely made
up of the Sadducees, the sect which
did not believe in the resurrection
from the dead.
!. The Imprisonment. w. IA. Pc
ter and John being brought before this
tribunal were fulfilling literally the
prediction of Jesus Matt. 10:1O. The
attempt on the part of the rulers to
prevent the preaching of the Gospel
| by this method really augmented its
| being heard throughout the nation.
! Peter had seen this body of men on
the night when our Lord was con-
| demned. Then he had made miser-
able failure, but now the situation is
| quite different, for Peter is anointed
of the Holy Spirit and is entirely lack
| ing in the fear which controlled him
on the previous occasion. That he
had given effective testimony is evil
dent from the way the men had pre-
cipitated matters and cast him into
prison for the night.
II. The Trial, w. 5-22. ID Peters
/ words w. 5-l2. Jewish wonder-work-
ers were accustomed to perform mar
vels by the use of some name, so the
council very naturally asked Peter
and John In what name" they had
healed this man. The real object of
their question was their attempt to en-
trap the disciples and find basis of
accusation and condemnation. But at
that moment the Holy Spirit came
again upon Peter and filed him Matt.
1919, 20; also Luke 12:11, IL; Acts
1873, 81. The coming of the Holy
Spirit is for every emergency of the
Christian. Peter had been filed with
that Spirit at Pentecost and was again
filled little later on (chapter 2:31)
Thus we see that the coming of the
Spirit is not once for all, though Pen
tecost was once for all, but that the
gency may arise. (a) Peter acknowl
edged the authority of those who were
dealing with him ". 81. but (b) he
gave Jesus credit ". l0)A 1t was Je
sus who had died, he was also risen
, and the risen Christ had effected this
miracle. tc.) Turning upon his &C
accusers Peter charged them with thu
death of Jesus. He ". IL is thu
foundation of their miracle and thei
, faith. Peter claimed that in jesus
, alone ". 12) could salvation be found
and implied tsee last clause of thi
, verse) that his accusers were los
I men. Peters department in all o
| 10 lxy Clyi fl1l
courteous, yet bold, fearless, fran
. and outspoken. We need to remem
: ber this when we recall how blundel
{ ingly Peter had conducted his convel
sation before his enduement by tn
Holy Spirit. There was no comprc
J., missing of the truth and no glossin
e over their guilt. (2) The effect upo
t the rulers (vv. 1919. (a) The Cour
Gil had spoken evasively about wha
t had been done, but Peters thrust i
f his reply, IF you refer to the goo
k deeds done to the strengthless Tin
8 potent man," confirmed his testimon
e by having living witness ". 14), an
n therefore the leaders were speeches
r If Christian workers could have NOR
e of living results to present to tn
r world tsee v. 14) they would silenc
|. the mouth of criticism and the fir,
g Quent objections of Christianity.
II is small wonder ". 16) that thes
/ men were at a loss what to do The
e pet doctrine of nc resurrection frol
n the dead was refuted and contradicte
l. before their very eyes, and they Their
d fore ". 10 resorted to the usu;
method of people, who when defeatet
seek to browbeat and intimidate otl
lers to prevent their continuing I
give their testimony.
l. Ill. The Result Upon the Disciple
y w. 1922. The book of Acts is plail
Il Iy the record of the deft utterances
a spiritual men. Peter had closed h
y appeal ". 12) with the statemel
i that the only way we could be save
must be through this means. Tt
II council were in a dilemma; the
q wanted to punish Peter and John, bl
u could not, for the people were glor
flying God for what had been don
Peter and John declared thus fea
lessly that the teachings of Il
D. schools was not in accordance wit
y that, for had not Jesus risen, and ha
y not this miracle been performed? I'll
Holy Ghosts boldness in these unit
10 tored men has always been a perpIe
tty to the scholastics of the worl
W Their boldness was due to a sense
a Gods nearness and carried with it
D. Ike sense of their responsibility
l. him (see w. 10, 20).
The only solution, on the part of ii
people and OF the priests, was the
10 took knowledge that these men ha,
N been with Jesus. This is the sol
ton If many mysteries of today.
COInpanionship with Jesus max
ordinary men extraordinary.
n The Sanhedrin asked, What she
Is we do with these men?'
a better question would have bee
D. What s5all we do to be saved?"
g. ~. The Early Church, w. 1927. S
points about that church: % 1t w