Arizona republican., 1916-04-08
International Sunday School Lesson
 for April 9
AENEAS AND DORCAS
Golden Text.-"In all things sho

Prov 31: 10-5D. Commit Vs. o9, 4o
 (52) And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, ne carne down also to the saints which dWelt at I.ydda ,33) And there he found certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. (34 And Peter said unto him Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, ana make thy bed And he arose imme- diately (35) And all that dWelt at I,v,lda and SarOn saw him, and turned tC the Lord. ,36) Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabi- tha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she dld (3O And it came to pass Tn those days. that she was sick, and dled: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. t5ep And foraSmuch as Lydda was nlSh 10 Jo,lpa and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men. desiring him that he would not delay to some to them t3D ! ! When he was come. they brought hlni into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him weeping, ana showing the coats and garments Which Dorcas made, while she was Wlth them. (iO But Peter put them all forth, and kneeling down, and prayed and turning him to the body sad, Ia bitha arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat m. (t1) And he gave her hls hand. and lifted her ap; and Wheh he mad called the saints and WldoWs' he presented her alive. ti2p And II was known throughout all Joppa; ;tnt' many believed in the Lord. '45) AIlo it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one simon tan ner.
 Tin,.-io \. b. @ Places. Joopa.
 Expositior-I A Great Revival in I.ydda and sharon S2-3o. Step ey step God was leading Peter on toward the opening of the door to the Cen tiles. Lydda, Joppa Caesarea, Aeneas is the only citizen of Lydda whose name is mentioned in the Bible. 1he only great thing about him, apIar- ently. was his great need. But there is nothing more likely to attract God s notice than need 1.u. 1: 53). Aeneas was apparently not even dlsclple when Peter met him. He is spoken of as "a certain man tcf. Y. .b, en- 3: ). 10: 1. 14: s: 9: l0). There d!d not appear to be much hope for thls man That day opened as all others hao for eight years. l. closed differ ently from ali others. because that day he met man who knew Christ, and brought the mighty power or Jesus Christ into his life. Doubtless Peter had met with many afflicted ones n his journeys from pace to place, but God had not spoken the word to him and so he had not spoken it to them. But now God dia speak it to Peters ever-lstenine hear and with unhesitating faith, Petei said unto him, Aeneas Jesus Christ maketll thee whole. Wonderful words. Words that might be spoke' 10 many palsied man today. Peters pit, was not of the sentiment but ac- tive kind. He saw the man lir' need He knew one who could hell him. He brought the two together Peter was an apt teacher tcf. Jno. , $. # also. Y. 40 with Lu. $: o4l. is noteworthy how Peter keeps him self in the background. He fixes tn attention of Acneas on Jesus Christ His perfect confidence is also note worthy. He sow very clearly that n was only an instrument. He saw with equal clearness. that Jesu Christ could and would use even nm Aeneas' faith responds to the Wof' of power: he arises straightWaX. Tn miracle simply opened the way 10 tho Word There is a wide gulf be tween Peter and many modern 50 called "healerS.' The healing wa largely means to an end, rathe than an end in itself. There is noth ing more convincing to most men. ( the power of Christ than an ocula demonstration of that power. II " would be in our cWn lives more per fec. manifestations of the power q Christ there would be more turnin to the Lord today.
  Joppa was no insignificant towr There were people of wealth and in fluence there. But the name of onl d single person in that place has com down to us the name, of humbl woman. Her name shines yer brightly on the pages of history. an her story has been an inspiration | many. Why? This woman was flu of good work; and almsdeeds Whic she did" That is real greatness. an it is open to all Note that she wa "fulr' of these good works and alms deeds. She was disciple. indee (Jno 1,: &: cf. also Jas. 1: 21: 1 Jn' 2: II, 16. T.: Tit. ?: IA: J: x: Col. l 10). Note also that she was not flu of good works which she intended de but was full of good works "Whic she did She seems to have had Il relatives. but instead of murmurIn about ner lonely lot. she made herse sister and mother to all: and so sf had many friends. Being full ( good works and almsdeeds did nc exempt her from sickness. sicknes even unto death God evidently ha other purposes in sickness than tn reinstatement of our sin and tn huYbling of our pride tcf. JnO. 3; Jno. II: }. 4 Ri. l13: u4). won't do to decide too hastily that tn one who falls sick, or even dies Ina in some way wandered away frol God. These disciples had might faith There had been no cases {