Arizona republican., 1916-02-05
International Sunday School Lesson for
 February 6.
THE BOlDNESS OF PETER ANC
 JOHN

stfohg l cor. 16: 13.
 Lesson Text.-Ac, 1; t-3l. Commit vs. F. 13.
 ts) Then Peter filled with the Holy Ghost. said unto them, Ye rulers of the people. and elders of Israel (O If We this day be examined of the good deec done to the impotent man, by what means he Is made whole; G0) Ee il known unto you all, and to all the peo- pie of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ve crucified wh2m God raised from the de;td, ever by him doth this man stand here before you whole. DD This is the stone which Has sci at nOueht of you builders Which is become the head of the cor her i2j Neither Is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must he saVed. d3) Now when they saw the bofdness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and i2nOrent men, they mar yelled: and they took knowledge of them. that they had been with Jesus lf) And heholding the man which was heated standing with them. they could say nothing against il. C15l But when they had commanded tfiem t0 go aside dut If the council, they conferred among themselves. Cl61 Saving, What shall we do to these men? for that in deed T notable miracle hath been don hy them is manifest to all them tha dwell in Jerusalem: and we cannot de ny it. GO But that it spread no fur thcr among the people. let US straiu> threaten them. that they speak hence forth to no man in this name. tlS) Ant they called them, and commanded them not to speak at ali nor teach in the name of Jesus. (tO But Peter an' John answered ana said unto them | Whether it be right in the sight If God to hcarken unto you more than unto God. judge ye (2W For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Cgl) 80 when they had fur | thar threatened them they let them go, | finding nothing how they might punish them. because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was dore
 l
 E~position--I. Peters First Ans"e~ to the Sanhedrin. SIP. The JeWis' | Sanhcdrin was the great court of Jew | ish law. composed of T leading men o' tl1e nation Caiaphas. the nominal high priest bv Roman appointment, Annas 1 the real high priest according to tn 1 Jewish way of looking at things, wer 10th there. It was a very august as senlly. comnosed for the most part O l Saldurees Peters and Johns being brought before it. and their treatmen' by it. vas an exact literal fulfi'ment oi the prediction of Jesus (Mat. fo:1O. Their attempt to hinder the preaching of the gospel really gave them wings to the rreaching of the gospel. Peter had seer this body together once hcfOr when Jesus WIS tried and condemned On that occasion. he was thoroughly frightened and coWed and played the poltroon. now he is calm and fearless The resurrection of Jesus from the dead and lis own baptism with thf | Spirit has wrought this great change The Jewish and other wonder workers
 were accustomed to perform theiI marVels by the power of some name (as c. g., the name of one of the Patri- archs, or the name of Solomon or thf unspeakable name of Jehovahl. so thJ council very naturally asked Peter anC John in what name they had healef the lame man. The real object of the question was to trar them into an an sWer that would be the basis of accu- sation and condemnation. Just at that moment the Holy Spirit came upor Peter and took possession of him ans filled" him. Jesus ever gracious prom isc for such an emergency as this was fulfilled Mat 10: 19. 20, cf Lu. 12: 1 l F: Ac. 13: &, %. This promise is fol US in any emergency of Christian ser vice and testimony Peter had alreadH been filled with the Spirit at PentecOs (ch. .: G. and will be again littlC further on (v 3D. IL is very c'eal then that the filling with the Spirit i: not something that occurs once for all but something that needs to be repeat ed with each new emergency of ser Vica Here in lies the need of cOntinua prayer for that which we already pos sess Peters answer is wonderful! skillful. But it's wisdom was not du' to Peter's natural endowment. but t' the Spirit Left to himself Peter Wa q famous blunderer. Peter was eX tremely deferential and courteous. H. acknowledges the Figh position and au thority of his interregators. The Hol! Spirit does not make the men He con trOls rude and Overbearing, but gentl and courteous Gal ): 22. 23, cf Jud S, 9o. Yet Peter was bold, fearless frank and outspoken. There was n compromising of the truth, no glossin over of their guilt. The council ha' spoken cvasively of the thing done 2 simple this" it is a keen and discom fOrtinG thrust of Peter in his reply t say, If you refer to a good deed don to strengthless Gnp potenD man" (ct Jno. 10: 32). The council doubles Winced. Then without hesitation Pete tells them that it was in the name O
 Jesus Christ. the one whom they hal
 crucified, the one whom God. on tn other hand, had raised from the dead Rut before he closes his one tremen dous overwhelming sentence. Ee point at the man standing right there, a. liv
 ing testimony to the power of Jesu!
 name, and adds this man stands her
 before you whole" The scene ha
 chang ad-Peter. the accused. has be come the accuser; the council had be
 come the culprit at the bar. indicte
 and condemned. Peter follows up hi