The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-01-28
NIFQNXlONAl.
LESSON
(By E. O. SELLERS. Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago1
Copyright. 1915. Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR JANUARY 80
THE LAME MAN LEAPlNc.

and gold have I none; but what have
thai give I thee. In the name OF Jesus
Christ Of Nazareth. walk."-Acts SIS r. ".
The coming Of power (chapter - IL
soon tested outside OF the circle OF
believers. 1t is put to a public test, IL
tried as to its efficacy physically. l. e..
has the Holy Spirit power physically
as well as over the spirits OF mem?
!. The Appeal to Peter and John, w.
ITO. Following P%entecost the disciples
toned mode of life. % The apostles
and worship ". ~. 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
rifce (Ex. $3.50, l Kings 1886.
All true approach to God must be on
the grounds Of sacrifice John 1876.
Heb. 9:22) and we must remember
that this hour was the one at which
Jesus died for us. our sacrifice (Heb.
1919, 29).
HAApA0SALC ZIG uccO oAO AAVoA IA
of worship and prayer.
(2) The afflicted n ". -. This
man had been there often and made
his usual appeal: his expectation was
limited to material aid ". 81; 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 wv. 40.
Peter took a good look at the man
". ~. Peter was changed by q look
Matt. 16:7). What he saw was the
mans fundamental spiritual need.
(a) Demanding the mans undivided
attention. Peter gave the man what be
had not-not what the man wanted or
expected.
Peters words, Look on u.s." and
Paul's "be We followers Of me" Il Cor.
4:16) are in no wise egotistical. but
In each case the fearless appeal OF .
man wholly Gods. men conscious OF
the endowment OF power. trying to
seize the wavering Wills of men that
they might point them to Christ.
(b) Peter aroused the mans expect
ancy.
It Is usually men lacking in silver
and gold who give to the world its
greatest blessings and highest good
Il Cor. 4:11).
The appeal to curiosity IL . perfect
1y legitimate one. (c) Peter gave q
personal testimony. What he was
about to do for the man was not In
or of himself.
Every effective Christian worker
must base his appeal upon the facts
of a personal experience Il. Pet. 4:10,
11). (d) Peter babe the man to do
the very thing he humanity could not
do. but the thing which, Gin the name
of Jesus Christ" he would be able to
do.
The power OF that mighty name
came into the lame feet the moment
he believed ". Z: CT. v. 16).
Notice how full the account given
by Luke, who was q physician.
(e) Peter followed the word Of testi-
mony and OF command by a personal
touch ". Z; see also Mark 1:2l).
The personal testimony plus the per-
sonal touch, and both "in the name Of
Jesus" are sure to produce results.
az The result. ~ Upon the man.
There is no doubt as to the complete
ness Of the cure ". 81. He had
strength" was lifted up" from his
former position Of weakness; he
"leaped" (literally, e~cstatic joy); he
walked" continuous activity; and he
"~worshiped," thanksgiving and renew.
ing Of strength. 20 Upon the people.
(a) "All the people saw" They may
not have heard or com%prehended the
words of Peter. but they did witness
the transformation. (b) They took
knowledge" ". 10), they began to OBJ
serve. ever as the world always does,
the one who processes his faith
in Christ? (c) They were filled
with wonder and amazement" ".
10Y, they could not understand.
No more can the world Of today
(see 1 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. nan were converted
(ch. 4:4).
The miracle served to get for the
gospel q good hearing and 1t accom-.
plished it's purpose from. 1:16).
n. Peters Appeal to the People,
w. 1926. Notice 1t was thu man who
attracted the crowd, not Peter or John.
for he eagerly held the disciples while
the crowd gathered John $40. I'D.
This may suggest the weakness OF the
mans faith in that he depended upon
Peter and John rather than upon Je-
sus. % Peter seized this opportunity
". 12) 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 clarifying Jesus Christ and to
convict these men of their sin.
Verses Is. 14.-15 contain he charges,
whereof Peter and John were wit
nesses." They were not to look upon
"us" as though they had done any
thing. nor was it some new God Of
whom they witnessed ". 49,. The &C,