Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-01-16
IMPROVED UNlr0RM INTERNATIONAL s
SUNlYSQ100L
LESSON
By REV. +. Is. FIfZWATER. d. D..
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
Copyright, 1920, Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR JANUARY 10
THE BoLDNEss OF PETER AND
JOHN.

| LESSCN TEhT-Acts 4:l-5l.
GOLDEN TEXT-Watch we. stand fas
In the faith, quit you like men. be strong
Il Cor. 1918
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Matt. $40
II; Acts 5;l2-42; II Tim. 4:6-S, 1918; Heb
ll;32, 80.
PRIMARY ToPrc-The Story of Two
Brave Men.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Peter and John Stand
Ing Up for Jesus
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP.
IC-Courage to Do the Right.
1.Peter and John Arrested wv. 1-4).
The healing of the lame man caused
great stir. The apostles took ad-
vantage Of the occasion to teach the
people concerning Jesus. The number
of the disciples increased to about
5000. Such a large following In 80
short time naturally caused alarm.
l. BY Whom Arrested wv. l, y.
The priests and Sadducees. The
priests were intolerant because these
new teachers were encroachlng upon
their ministerial functions. The Sad
ducees opposed them from doctrinal
consideration. They denied the resur-
rectlon from the dead and the future
life. Although they were the intellect
ual llberallsts Of their day they were
cruelty intolerant. The most outstand-
ing blgots Of our day are the professed
intellectuals whose watchword Is
scholarship"
2. The Result wv. 3, ~. Peter and
John were now put in confinement till
the next day, 1t being too late for trial
that day. Though the apostles were
held by chains Christ continued to
work, for the number Of believers had
now greatly increased. Opposition
helps Gods cause The storms Of adj
versity only fan the flames of Chris
tian enthusiasm. "Christ is not
bound"
II. Peter and JG,n on Trial wv. s.
12).
l. The Inquiry wv. so. They were
asked, by what power or in what
name, have We done this?" This in
qulIy admitted the reality Of the mir
acle.
.. Peters Answer (vv. S-12). With
singing sarcasm he showed them that
they were not being tried as evil do
ers, but for doing good to the helpless
and needy man. He showed the alb
surdity of dealing with men as crSn-
inals who had merely relieved the suf-
fering and helpless man from distress
thus the rulers were placed In a
m ost ridiculous and embarrassing pO-
sition. Since they could not deny the
miracle, Peter boldly declared, BE
II known unto you all, and to all the
people of Israel, that by the name OF
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom We
crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, even by him doth this man stand
before you whole. This Is the stone
which was set ut naught by you bull1-
ers, which 10 become the head OF the
corner. Neither Is there salvation
In any other form; for there Is none
other name under heaven given among
men whereby We must be saved" Pet
er showed that not only had the mir
acle been wrought In the name OF
Jesus Christ, but the only way for him
and his judges to have eternal saliva
ton was in this name.
~. The Impression Upon the San.
hedrin wv. 1929.
/. They marvelled ". 13). The fact
that the apostles spoke so boldly, be-
Ing unlearned men, caused them to
marvel. They saw fhat the behavior
and words Of Peter were as unusual
as the miracle. They were made to
feel that instead of sitting as judges
they were themselves on trial.
2. They took knowledge that they
had been with Jesus ". 49,. They
saw that though they had killed Jesus,
his life and work were being repro
duced in his disciples. Being with
Christ ~ gives an experimental
knowledge of him. The one who real
ly knows Christ can and will testify
Of him and for him. (2) Gives free
dom from fear. Peter, who shortly
before this quailed before Jewish
maid, was now bold before the most
august assembly of the Jews. (3)
Opens mans lips. What the heart
feels, the mouth must speak out.
3. The judges commanded them not
to speak In Christ's name ". 49,.
They could not deny the miracle nor
gainsay the accusation which Peter
brought against them, so they attempt
ed to intimidate them.
4. Peter and Johns reply tvv. 10,
20). They expressed their determine
tion TO dsobey their instructors-they
openly defied the Sanhedrin. whether
Il be right In the sight of God to
hcarken unto you more than unto God,
judge ye; for We cannot speak the
things which We have seen and
heard" BY this declaration they re-
pudated the authority of the rulers
of Israel and set the church in a place
of independence from the Jewish
state. Obedience to rulers has its lin
itations; obedience to God is para
mount.
s. Their release ". Ply. Having
further threatened them, the Sanhed-
rim let them go, as 1t had no way to
punish them, since the people were on
their side.
w. The Church at Prayer. wv. %.
31).
As soon az Peter and John were set
free they hastened away to their dis.
ciples and rehsarsed to them their ex.
perience. They took the matter to
God In prayer, and in their commun-
ion they turned to the Holy Scriptures
for comfort and strength. They found
the needed message In the second
rrr