The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-07-09

LESSON TEXT--Acts 3:11-4:31.
GOLDEN TEXT--And now, Lord. be-
hold their threatenings: and grant I'M
TO thy servants, that with all boldness
they may speak thy word.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Peter Preaches
Sermon.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Pater Preaching in
Jerusalem.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-Two Brave Preachers.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Apostolic Preaching.
I. Peter Preaching Before the Null
titude (Acts 3:11-261.
/. The audience secured ". III. In
appreciation of his healing the cured
cripple took hold of Peter and John,
calling attention to these men as his
healers.
2. Disclaimed miracle-working pow
er ". 12). Though the miraculous
healing of the cripple. focused atten-
ton upon Peter and John, Peter i'm
mediately turned attention from him
self to Christ.
3. Proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah
w. 1919. Pointing to the healed
man, Peter declared that 1t was
through faith in Jesus that this man
was given perfect soundness." He
declared that the very one whom
they had delivered up denied
in the presence of Plate" land
killed." God had raised from the dead.
4. A call to repentance wv. 1920.
Despite their aggravated crime in MUIR
dering the "Just and Holy One" Pc
ter called upon them to repent, assur'
ing them that their sins would be blot
ted out and that they would enjoy re-
freShing seasons.
5. Appeal to the Scriptures wv. %
26). The warnings and promises are
based upon the words of Moses and
the prophets.
u. Peter Preaching to the sanhedrn
lActs 4:1-21).
l. Peter and John arrested wv. 1-4).
The healing of the lame man caused
such a stir that the people flocked to
see the man. Advantage was taken of
this occasion to preach Jesus Christ to
them. AS a result of this preaching,
AtO DSllCNCus SuSh AoiiO"
ing caused great alarm. The priests
were intolerant because these new
teachers were encroaching upon their
ministerial functions. The Sadducees
were angered to be told that the One
whom they crucified had arisen from
the dead and would appear again.
2. Peter and John on trial wv. 5-12).
This trial was before the Sanhedrin,
the supreme court of the nation.
a. The inquiry wv. SO. They
asked, "By what power and what name
have We done this?" This inquiry ad-
mitted the reality of the miracle.
b. Peters answer wv. S-12). Filled
with the Holy Spirit, he replied to
their question, showing them that he
and John were not being tried as evil
doors but for doing good to the needy
man. He boldly declared that it was
by the name of Jesus Christ of Naz-
areth, whom they had crucified. and
God had raised from the dead, that
this man stood before them whole.
He further declared that there was no
salvation save in the name of Jesus
Christ.
3. The impression upon the San
hedrin (vv:" 1929.
a. They marveled ". 1877. They saw
that the behavior and words of Peter
were as unusual as the miracle. They
were made to feel that instead of sit
ting as judges they themselves were
on trial.
b. They took knowledge that the
apostles had been with Jesus ". 13).
c. Commanded not to speak in
Christ's name ". 1S). Not being able
to deny the miracle or gainsay the &C.
cusation which Peter brought against
them, they attempted to intimidate
him.
d. The reply Of Peter and John
(vv. 10, 20). They openly defied the
Sanhedrin and expressed determine
ton to disobey their command. Thus
they repudiated the authority of the
rulers Of Israel and set the Church in
place of independence from the
Jewish state.
e. Their release ". 21). Having
further threatened them, they let
them go.
III. The Church at Prayer (Acts
4:23-3D,
AS soon as Peter and John were set
free they FASTENED to their fellow dis
ciples and rehearsed their experience.
They turned to the Holy Scriptures for
comfort and strength. They praised God
for deliverance and prayed for bold
ness to speak his Word and that their
testimony might be confirmed by signs.
Their prayers were answered by the
shaking of the place where they were
assembled, and they were filled with
the Holy Spirit.
Mercy
We had mercy shown US at the be-