The Elbert County tribune., 1920-01-16
LESSON FOR JANUARY 1s
THE BoLDNEss OF PETER AND
JOHN.

LESSON TEXT-Acts ALA.
GOLDEN TEXT-watch ye. stand fast
in the faith. quit you like men. be strong.
Il Cor. 1913.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI--Matt. $40
L. Acts 5:i2-i2: II Tim 1868. is-ls: Heb.
II: :S2. 3s
PRIMARY ToPIc-The Story of Two
Brave Men.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Peter and John Stand
ing Up for Jesus.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Cournge to Do the Right
I. Peter and John Arrested (vv. 1-4).
j. By Whom Arrested wv. 1, -.
The priests and Sadducees. The
priests were intolerant because these
new teachers were encroaching upon
their ministerial functions. The Sad
ducees opposed them from doctriral
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. 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
u. Peter and John on Trial wv. s.
12).
1SThe Inquiry wv. 5-). 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
stinging sarcasm he showed them that
they We're 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 We're placed In q
most ridiculous and embarrassing po-
sition. Since they could not deny the
miracle. Peter boldly declared, "Be
it 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 any other form; for there is none
other name under heaven given among
ahx
III. The Impression Upon the San
hedrin wv. 1920.
1. 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 We're being repro
duced in his disciples. Being with
Christ a. gives an experiential
knowledge of him. The one who real
ly knows Christ can and will testify
of him and for him. t2) 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 ". 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.
20). They expressed their determina-
ton to disobey their iDstructors-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
heard" By this declaration they re-
pudiated the authority Of the rulers
of Israel and set the church in a place
of independence from the Jewish
state.
5. Their release ". 21). 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.
~. The Church at Prayer. wv. 23-
81.
AS soon az 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.