The Omaha guide., 1935-02-23
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
For Feb. oath, 1885
By H D. Piggue
SUBJECT


Peter Heals a Lame Man: Acts
3:1-1O, Asp.
Golden Text:-Peter said, aSilver
and gold have l none but such as
have give | thee.-Acts 3:6.
The present lesson includes the
fourth recorded address Of Peter af-
ter the ascension of our Lord. Peter
and John went up together into the
temple at the hour of prayer. being
the ninth hour (Acts 3:1). 1t is said
that the apostles were continually in
the temple, praising and blessing God.
1t was the custom of the disciples
to resort dal' to the temple for de-
votion. This was the place and the
manner in which they and their
Fathers had worshipped. They came
slowly to the conclusion that they
were to leave the temple and they
would naturally resort there with
their countrymen to worship the God
Of their Fathers. In the previous
chapter (2:43) we are told in general
that many wonders and signs were
done BIZ the hands Of the Apostles.
From the many miracles which were
performed Luke selects n of which
he gives a full account and. especially.
as it gives him occasion to record an
other Of the addresses Of Peter to the
Jews An impostor would have been
satisfied with the general statement
hat ~anv miracles were performed.
The sacred writer descends to particu-
lars, tells Us where and in relation to
whom they were performed. This is
a proof that they were honest men
and did not intend to deceive.
Peter and John went into the tenn
pie, not because it was a beautiful
building, nor not in the edifce pro
perly called the temple, but into the
court Of the temple where prayer was
accustomed to be made. THE HOUR
OF PRAYER: The Jewish dav was
divided into twelve equal parts, the
ninth hour being about 8 o'clock P. M.
This was the hour of evening PRAYER.
Morning prayer was offeed at nine
o'clock.
The Lame Man: This man had been
lame all Of his life. He was obliged
to be carried and was well known to
the Jews because they laid him at
the gate Of the temple daily. He
would therefore be well known to
those who were in the habit of enter
-ng the temple. Among the a~ncients
there were no hospitals for the afflict-
ed and no aims house for the poor;
consequently the poor were Deepen
dent on the charity of those who were
in better circumstances. It became
an important matter for them to be
placed where they would see many
people. 1t was customary to place
them at the gates of rich men and
they also sat by the side of the high
way to beg where many people would
pass. The entrance to the temple was
a favorable place for begging for
these reasons, ~ great multitudes
we're accustomed to enter there, (2)
when going up for religious service
they would be more inclined to give
aims than at any other time. Espec-
tally was this true of the Pharisees,
who were particularly DESTROYS of pub
hcity in bestowing charity The gate
of the temple was called beautiful.
In regard to this gate, there were two
opinions, one Of which supposes that
this vas the gate commonly called
Nicanor, which led from the court of
the gentiles to the court of the wo-
men. The other, that it was the gate
at the eastern entrance of the temple
commonly called Susan. 1t is not
easy to determine which is intended.
The fact that it occurred near Solo
mons porch seems probable that the
latter was intended. This gate was
large and splendid, made Of corinth-
ian brass, a most valuable metal, and
made a magnificent appearance. When
Peter and John were entering the
gate, the Lame asked of them as he
vas accustomed to do Of the multitude
that entered the Temple.
He fastened his eyes on them, 1.-THE