The Spectator., 1916-01-28
LESSON FOR JANUARY 90
THE LAME MAN LEAPING.
TEXT-Acts 3.

 The coming of power Chapter 9 is soon tested outside of the circle of believers. It is put to a public test, is tried as to it's efficacy physically, i. C., has the Holy Spirit power physically as well as over the spirits of men?
 l. The Appeal to Peter and John, w. 1-10. Following Pentecost the disciples seem to have continued their accus- toned mode of life. CD The apostles and worship (v. D. As yet, and in. deed for many years to come, there was no particular separation of Jews and Christians.
 Praying men like these two leaders, Peter and John. continued to fulfill their temple duties. The ninth hour was the prayer hour the hour of sac. rifice (Ex. 29 39, Kings 1886.
 All true approach to God must be on the grounds of sacrifice (John 14:6. Heb. 9:22) and we must remember that this hour was the one at which Jesus died for us, our sacrifice (Heb. 10:19, 29).
 Emphasize the need and importance of worship and prayer.
 @ The afflicted one (v. 2). This man had been there often and made his usual appeal; his expectation was limited to material aid (v. 5 he may or he may not have been familiar with Christ and his teachings, but some thing unusual was about to happen be- cause the two to whom he appealed really knew God and on them now rested this new power in the world.
 (3) The apostles response (vv. An. Peter took a good look at the man (v. 4). Peter was changed by look l (Matt. 16:T. What he saw was the mans fundamental spiritual need. 1 tal Demanding the mans undivided attention, Peter gave the man what he had not-not what the man wanted or 1 expected.
 Peters words, Look on us" and l Paul's be ye followers of me" q Cor. l 4:16l are in no wise egotistical. but i In each case the fearless appeal of man wholly Goes. men conscious of l the endowment of power, trying to seize the wavering wills of men that they might point them to Christ. 1 (b) Peter aroused the mans expect, ] ancy.
 It is usually men lacking in silver and gold who give to the world it's greatest blessings and highest good l q Cor. AID.
 Every effective Christian worker must base his appeal upon the facts 1 of a personal experience q. Pet. 4:10, i III. (d) Peter bade the man to do i the very thing he (humanly) could not | do. but the thing which. "in the name i of Jesus Christ" he would be able to do.
 (4 The result. CD Upon the man. There is no doubt as to the complete ness of the cure (v. S). He had strength" was lifted up" from his former position of weakness; he 'leaped" Literally, ecstatic joy); he walked" continuous activity; and he "worshiped," thanksgiving and renew ing of strength. CD Upon the people. (a) All the people saw" They may not have heard or comprehended the words of Peter, but they did witness the transformation. (b) ''They took knowledge" (v. 10). they began to ob- serve, even as the world always does, the one who professes his faith in Christ? (c) They were filled with wonder and amazement" (v. 10, they could not understand No more can the world of today (see l Cor. 1:1S. 23) really compre. bend the Christian There was no guesswork, however about this mir, acle and. of the people who witnessed 1t and were so filled with wonder and amazement. many were converted (ch. 4;4.
 The miracle served to get for the gospel a good hearing and it accom- plished it's purpose tRom. 1:16).
 n. Peter's Appeal to the People. w. 11-26 Notice it was the man who attracted the crowd, not Peter or John, for he eagerly held the disciples while the crowd gathered (John 5:l0. ID. ! This may suggest the weakness of the mans faith in that he depended upon Peter and John rather than upon Je. sus. CD Peter seized this opportunity (v. 12l and began his salutation by taking advantage of their curiosity
 Peter eagerly turned their thoughts from himself unto Jesus. He wished to divert attention from himself and used the miracle for the double pur- pose of glorifying Jesus Christ and to convict these men of their sin
 Verses 13, 14.-15 contain the charges. whereof Peter and John were wit nesses" They were not to look upon us as though they had done any thing. nor was fl some new God Of whom they witnessed (v, 13). The act of the crucitixion, he grants, may have been consummated in ignorance (v. ID, but since God had raised Jesus from the dead, and this doctrine ot the resurrection was new, therefore they ought to repent even though their acts were in accord with propn-