The Red Cloud chief., 1920-01-22
IMPROVED UNIFoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNS0!OOL
LESSON
tBy REV. a. IS. rlILWAIElt, u. D.,
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of ChcagoD
Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR JANUARY 18
THE eoLDNEss OF PETER AND
JOHN.

LESSON TEXT--Acts t1-3i.
GOLDEN TEXT-watch ye, stand fast
In the faith, quit you like men. be strong.
Il Cor. 1913
ADDITIONAL MATERIAII-Matt. $40
II: Acts 5:i2-i2. ii Tim. 4:6-s. 1918: Heb.
~1l:32. 49,
PRIMARY ToPlC-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 (vv. 1-4).
I. BY Whom Arrested wv. I. -.
The priests and Sadducecs. The
priests were intolerant because these
new teachers were cncroaching upon
their ministerial functions. The Sad
ducees opposed them from doctrinal
consideration. They denied the reSur-
rection from the dead and the future
life. Although they were the intellect
ual llberalists of their day they were
cruelty lntOlerant. The most outstund.
Ing bigots of our day are the professed
intellectuas whose watchword Is
scholarship"
2. The Result (vv. 3, ~. Peter ard
John were now put in confinement til
the next day. It 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.
u. Peter and John on Trial (vv. g.
12).
1. The Inquiry (vv. 5-O. They were
asked, by what power. or In what
name, have ye done this?" This in
Quiry admitted the reality OF the mir
acle
. Peters Answer wv. S-12). With
stingng 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 Grim
inals who had merely relieved the suf-
fering and helpless man from distress
thus the rulers were placed In a
most ridiculous and embarrassing po-
sitiOn. Since they could not deny the
miracle, Peter boldly declared, BE
1t 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 at naught by you build
ers, which Is become the head of the
corner. Neither Is there salvation
In. hot. f,r tI,Ar te,
other name under heaven given among
men whereby ye must be saved"
~. The impression Upon the San.
hedrin wv. 1922.
/. They marvelled ". 13). The fact
that the apostles spoke so boldly, be-
Ing unlearned men, caused them to
marvel. They saw that the behavior
and words of Peter were as unusual
as the miracle.
2. They took knowledge that they
had been with Jesus ". 13). They
saw that though they had killed Jesus.
his life and work were being repro
duced in his disciples. Being with
Christ Q gives an experiential
knowledge Of him. The one who real
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 q mans lips. What the heart
feels, the mouth must speak out.
3. The judges commanded them not
! to speak in christ's name ". 1S).
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 (vv. 10,
| 2O). They expressed their determine
ton TO dsObey their instructors-they
openly defied the Sanhedrin. whether
| II be right In the sight of God to
hearken 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 I'm place
of independence from the Jewish
state.
8. Their release ". Ply. Having
farther threatened them. the Sanhed-
rim let them so, as 1t had no way to
punish them, since the people were on
their side.
w. The Church at Prayer. wv. 23-
3D.
AS soon as Peter and John were set
free they hastened away to their dis
ciples and rehearsed 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.