The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-07-09
IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIO NAL
CUNDAy1
OCHOOL Lesson
BY REV. P. B. FJTzwATER. D. D.,
Member Of Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.
q Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for July IL
WITNESSING UNDER PERSEcU.
TON

LESSON TEXT-Acts 3:1-4:31.
GOLDEN TEXT-we ought to obey
God rather than men.-Acts 5:29.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Brave Peter and
John.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Two Brave Preach
ers.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Two Brave Witnesses.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC - Courageous Witnessing for
Christ.
In I Corinthians :21-25, Paul sets
forth the attitude of the world toward
Christ and his gospel. The one who
breaches Christ crucified must expect
opposition, and even violent persecu-
ton. This attitude of the world, in
stead of being a deterrent, should be
a spur to activity.
I. Peter Healing the Lame Man
(Acts 3:1-1D.
The place wv. 1, p. 1t was at the
beautiful gate which leads from the
outer to the inner court of the temple.
This helpless man had been placed at
the entrance Of the place of worship
where he might receive the sympa-
thetic attention of worslipers.
2. The man ". p. This beggar was
infrm from his birth. He was not
more than forty years old (Acts :22).
When he saw Peter and John, he
asked aims.
8. The method wv. 3-S).
a Gaining the mans attention
". ~, Peter and John commanded
him to look on them. He asked for
money and got healing.
b. Peter commanded him in the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to
rise and walk ". g.. This was the
very thing he had been unable to do
all his life, but with the command
went the ability to do.
c. Peter took him by the right hand
". y, gave impetus to his faith, not
strength to his ankles.
a. The mans response ". s..
Strength at once came to him. He
stood, walked, leaped, and shouted
praises to God.
5. The effect wv. GID. The peo-
pie were so filled with wonder that
they ran together to behold this thing
There could be no question as to the
genuineness Of the miracle for the
man had been familiar figure for
many years.
a. This helpless man had to be car
ried to the temple. Men and women
out Of Christ are so helpless that they
need to be brought where the life Of
God can be applied to them.
b. Peter, taking the man by the
hand, shows the manner of helping the
lost. Christian witnesses should bring
them to Jesus.
II. Peter Witnessing Before the
Multitude (Acts 3:12-26).
Though this miracle directed the at
tention of the people to Peter and
John, Peter seized the opportunity to
present Christ to the people.
III. Peter In Prison for christ's Sake
(Acts :1-D.
1. The leaders. Both priests and
Sadducees joined in this persecution
wv. 1, p.
The priests were intolerant because
these new teachers were encroaching
upon their functions. The Sadducees
did not believe in the resurrection,
which was vital part of the apos-
tolic preaching.
2. The result (vv 3, ~. Though
they were held in bondage by chains,
Christ continued to work. The num-
Der Of believers greatly increased
~. Peter Witnessing Before the
Sanhedrin (Acts 4:5-2D.
1. The inquiry wv. SO. The in
quirers admitted the reality of the
miracle but they wanted to know what
it signified.
2. Peters answer wv. S-12). With
singing sarcasm he showed them that
they were not on trial as evildoers,
but for doing good in the name of
Christ to the helpless and needy man.
8. The impression upon the San
hedrin wv. 1920.
a. They marveled ". 13). They were
made conscious that they were on trial
instead Of sitting as judges.
b. They took knowledge that Peter
and John had been with Jesus (v.13).
c. They forbade them to speak in
Christ's name ". 1s). They could not
deny the miracle or gainsay the accu-
sation brought against them, so they
attempted intimidation.
d. Peter and Johns reply wv. 10,
20). They expressed their determine
ton to obey God rather than men,
e. Their release ". Ply. Seeing that
the people were on the side of the
apostles, the rulers were helpless
v. The Church at Prayer wv. 23-31).
AS soon as Peter and John were set
free, they fastened to their fellow dis
ciples and told their experiences. They
praised God for deliverance and
prayed for boldness to speak the Word
of God.