The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-04-07
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
AENEAs N DoRcAa

AENEAS AND OOHCAS
LESSON TExT-Acts s:s24a. (eee also
Prov. 81:1O-s1.)
GOLDEN TExT-In all things showing
tnyself an ensamp!s q good works:S5
TITUS =;
Step by step the Gospel can bs
traced. spreading itself, but "begiT
ming at Jerusalem" Paul's CONVEX
sion is one Of the greatest evidences
Of Christianity. The two miracles OF
today's lesson are additional evidence
that it Is Of Goo.
I. At LYDIA Tvs. a2-s5). Caligula.
emperor Of Rome in A. D-39. 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-
tons ceased. Following Saui'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 a believ-
er, but having great need ". 26:3:2;
1n.f 1A.Q. n.1nN o-J 4f xoorc cfora
ing ". 33). 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 sem
timental but practical and his words
powerful, for back Of them was the
Living and Powerful Christ. He
knew who could work q 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
mean to an end, for when those who
dwelt in LYDIA and Sharon (v. $50
heard of the miracle, or saw this
healed man, it was to them a demon
stratfon of the power Of the risen
Christ, and they turned to the Lord"
i, ". $50. There is 10 comparing Peter
with modern "healers." Peters words
and actions were a living demonstra.
ton, not for profit, Of the power OF
Jesus in his life and testimony. l:
we of this day would show more OF
that m 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 u nearness to Jesus
II. At Joppa Tvs. 36::43). Joppa
was the only seaport the Jews ever
possessed for themselves. It was and
is still a rather Insignificant town
and now marks the beginning of the
railroad leading to Jerusalem. 81
miles distant. No name is recorded
of any Of its rich or prominent citt
zens, only that of an humble woman
The record Of her life, however, il
inspiring ". 36), and her name is q
common one adopted by organizations
of women. Like her master her lift
was full Of good Deeds; like hin
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 gazelle, which in the East is {
favorite type Of beauty. This "certair
disciple" was beautiful in life as we'll
for she was first a believer, then
doer. We believe in order to do, no
do in order to believe. This woman
is an example of the wise and capable
woman mentioned in Prov. 31:1O-31
a picture we'll worth studying in these
days Of the feminist movement" Shs
is a good type to be followed b.
church women, and by US all in tn,
fact hat her reputation rested upo1
deeds which she did, ". 36), no
ones she was about to do, nor did sh'
wait for some great opportunity o
service. The life Of Dorcas reveal!
one Of the causes of the triumph o
Christianity in the Roman empire. 1
was a source of wonder that thos'
early Christians should so love eacl
other. The aso why Dorcas wa
allowed to die lies in the providence
of God. He loved his work and thi1
recorded incident has served to rails
up multitudes Of other Dorcases. He
death also reveals that being full o
good works and aims deeds" does no
exempt his servants from sickness an,
death, and that God evidently has 9th
er purposes in sickness than to chas
tise our sin Or to humble our prid'
(John S:3, II Kings 1910. The friend
of Dorcas were folks of faith, for Al
yet there was no case Of apostolic
power to raise the dead so far as W,
know, and it was now about ten year
after the resurrection Of Christ
Doubtless they had heard of the cul
ing Of Aeneas, and hence dared to ar
peal to Peter on behalf Of the one the,
loved SO dearly. Dorcas had built
monument with a needle, and in tina
upper room ". 800 it vas shown t
Peter as a visible evidence of her nf
work. "Post-mortem benefactions d
not count much with God."-Torrey
Peter followed the example OF hi
Lord duke So, 54), dismissed al
spectators and prayed ". i0). TIL