The Sabbath School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 23, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 50.

The Sabbath School

International Series.

LESSON III.—SABBATH, JANUARY 15, 1898.

DECISION OF THE CONFERENCE.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 15:13-35, R. V.

13 "And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, 14 "Brethren, hearken unto me: Symeon hath rehearsed how first God did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for 15 his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up; 17 That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, 18 Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them which 20 from among the Gentiles turn to God; but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from 21 fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. For Moses from generation of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogs every Sabbath. 22 "Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church; to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren; and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elder 24 brethren unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: Forasmuch as we have 25 heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you 26 with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives 27 for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore 28 Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the 29 same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than 30 these necessary things: that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well. 31 "So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered 32 the epistle. And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the 33 consolation. And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had spent some time there, they 34 were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had 35 sent them forth. But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there. But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also."

QUESTIONS.

1. Relate in outline the circumstances of Paul's first missionary journey. 2. Tell what took place after his return. 3. What was the occasion of his visit to Jerusalem? 4. What was the real point at issue? 5. Who was the first speaker of importance at the meeting? 6. Relate the substance of his remarks. 7. Who next spoke, and to what end? 8. After they had finished, who summed up the matter? Verse 13. 9. To whose speech did he refer? What did he say that God had done? Verse 14. 10. With what did he say this was in harmony? Verse 15.

11. From what prophet did he then quote? 12. Repeat the portion quoted. Verses 16-18. 13. What did God say by that prophet that he would do? What would the Lord build up? V. 16. 14. Since the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles was in the line of this prophecy, of what is that work a building up? 15. Why would the Lord thus build up the tabernacle of David? Verse 17. 16. How long had God had this purpose in mind? Verse 18. 17. In view of all this what did James conclude? Verse 19. 18. What did he say they would write to them? Verse 20. 19. Why was it not necessary for them to specify all the details of the law? Verse 21. 20. What did the whole church, with the apostles and elders, then decide to do? Verse 22. 21. What did they send by these brethren? V. 23. 22. Give the substance of the letter. Verses 23-29. 23. What did the letter say of those who had been teaching circumcision as necessary to salvation? What had been the result of their teaching? V. 24. 24. What did the brethren say of the men by whom the letters were sent? Verses 25, 26. 25. What authority did they give for the decision rendered? Verse 28. 26. After they were dismissed, where did the messengers first go, and what did they do? Verse 30. 27. How did the reading of the epistle affect the church? Verse 31. 28. What did Judas and Silas do? What special gift did they have? Verse 32. 29. Having delivered their message what did these brethren do? Verse 33. 30. Who remained behind? Verse 34. 31. What did Paul and Barnabas do? What was their continued occupation? Verse 35.

NOTES AND QUESTIONS.

1. What did the brethren assembled say that the self-appointed teachers had done to the brethren which were of the Gentiles? Verse 24. 2. What did Paul afterward write of the same ones? Gal. 1 : 7. 3. What were they really doing in speaking these troublesome words? Ib. 4. And what was the natural effect upon the souls of the hearers? Acts 15 : 24. 5. How serious a matter is it to do such work? Gal. 1 : 8, 9. 6. How many of the commandments are more or less directly involved in the four things mentioned by the assembly of Jerusalem? 7. Which of the commandments are not referred to? Is there any hint in the letter about the necessity of obedience to parents, refraining from taking the name of God in vain, or lying and stealing? Are we therefore to conclude that there is no importance attached to these things?