The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-01-16
IMPROVED urIroHm INTERNATIONAL
SUNlYS01O0L
LESSON
tBy REV. r. 3. t'IfZWA ArER. y. D.s
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper union)
LESSON FOR JANUARY 1s
THE soLpNEss OF PETER AND
JOHN.

LESSON TExT-Acts Ain.
GOLDEN TEXT-Watch ye, stand fast
In the faith, quit you like men. be strong.
Il Cor. 1913.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Matt. $40
Il: Acts 5:12-42: II Tim. 4;s-s. 1915; Heb.
n:32, IS.
PRIMARY ToP1c-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.
I. Peter and John Arrested wv. 1-4).
1. BY Whom Arrested (vv. 1, p.
The priests and Sadducees. The
priests were intolerant because these
new teachers were encrOaching 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 liberalists of their day they were
cruelty intolerant. The most outstand-
ing bigots of our day are the professed
intellectuals whose watchword is
scholarship"
2. The Result wv. 8, ~. Peter and
John were now put in confinement till
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.
II. Peter and John on Trial wv. s.
12).
1. The Inquiry wv. SD. They were
name, have ye done this?" This in
quiry admitted the reality of the mir
acle.
2. Peters Answer wv. 8-12). 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 GRIM
inals who had merely relieved the suf
fering and helpless man from distress
thus the rulers were placed in
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 ye
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 any other form; for there is none
other name under heaven given among
men whereby We must be saved"
III. The Impression Upon the San
hsdrin (vv. 1929.
l. 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 ~ gives an experiential
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 a 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 ". 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 wv. 10,
2O). They expressed their determina-
tion to disobey their instructors-the
openly defied the Sanhedrin. whether
1t 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-
pudiated the authority of the rulers
of Israel and set the church in place
of independence from the Jewish
state.
5. Their release ". 21). Having
further threatened them, the Sanhed-
rim let them go, as it had no way to
punish them. since the people were on
their side.
~. The Church at Prayer. wv. 23-
31).
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