The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1897

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

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON XIII.—SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 1897.

REVIEW.

LESSON 1.—Peter Working Miracles. Acts 9:32–43. Golden Text: "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole." Acts 9:34. The time of this lesson is about A.D. 40. Peter was engaged in preaching the Gospel, going from place to place, and confirming the churches which had been raised up by those scattered by the persecution. At Lydda Peter healed Æneas, who had been suffering eight years with the palsy; and it was at this place he received the messenger from Joppa who conducted him to the death-bed of Dorcas, where that mighty miracle of restoration to life was performed.

LESSON 2.—Conversion of Cornelius. Acts 10:30–44. Golden Text: "Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43. Peter, having received from the Lord a vision teaching him that God is no respecter of persons, visits Cornelius by his request, and preaches to him and his assembled friends the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Cornelius also had been shown in vision what he should do, God bearing him witness that his good deeds and his devotion were held in remembrance. While Peter was telling of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and testifying that all who believed on him should receive remission of sins, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word.

LESSON 3.—Gentiles Converted at Antioch. Acts 11:19–26. Golden Text: "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." Acts 11:18. The missionaries at the time represented in the beginning of this lesson began to extend their labors into other regions. Some went to Phenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching to the Jews only. Others, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, preached to the Greeks at Antioch. The success attending the work of the latter led the church at Jerusalem to send out Barnabas, who strengthened the work and workers at this place by his words and life. At this place Barnabas and Paul remained a whole year; and here the believers were first called Christians.

LESSON 4.—Peter Delivered from Prison. Acts 12:5–17. Golden Text: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Ps. 34:7. Herod Agrippa, who had murdered James, cast Peter into prison, thinking to put him to death also as soon as the Passover had ended; but the church continued to pray for Peter's release. In answer to their prayers an angel entered the prison cell and led Peter forth. He reported his wonderful deliverance to the praying company, and went forth to another place.

LESSON 5.—Paul Begins His First Missionary Journey. Acts 13:1–13. Golden Text: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15. At this time Claudius Cæsar is emperor of Rome, and Sergius is governor of Judea. The church has been growing now about sixteen years; and at a special meeting the Holy Ghost signified that Barnabas and Saul should be set apart for the missionary work. They accordingly went forth, visiting Seleucia, Salamis, Paphos, and Perga in Pamphylia. At Paphos the conversion of Sergius Paulus took place, and judgment was visited upon Bar-Jesus for withstanding the truth.

LESSON 6.—Paul Preaching to the Jews. Acts 13:26–39. Golden Text: "Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins." Acts 13:38. Paul now begins his work in new fields, and this lesson contains his first missionary address. He preaches first to the Jews, accusing them of the death of the Redeemer, and proclaiming his resurrection from the dead. Paul teaches the Jews that Christ fulfilled the writings of the prophets concerning the Messiah, and that through him alone could remission of sins be obtained.

LESSON 7.—Paul Preaching to the Gentiles. Acts 14:1–22. Golden Text: "I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles." Acts 13:47. The Lystrans, to whom Paul and Barnabas were preaching, were idolaters, and seeing the miraculous healing of the impotent man, supposed the gods had visited them, and the idolatrous priests brought sacrifices, intending to make an offering to Paul and Barnabas. This the apostles prevented, and used the occasion to teach the people the truth of God. Paul was stoned at this place, and with Barnabas went to Derbe.

LESSON 8.—The Conference at Jerusalem. Acts 15:1–6; 22–29. Golden Text: "Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." Acts 15:11. A great question had come up in the church, which bade fair to rend it in twain, the question of circumcision. Some maintained that the ordinance was still binding, and must be performed upon the Gentile convert before he could rightfully be received into the church. The discussion finally resulted in the church taking a decided stand against the necessity of continuing an ordinance, the significance of which had passed away.

LESSON 9.—"Christian Faith Leads to Good Works." James 2:14–23. Golden Text: "I will show thee my faith by my works." James 2:18. The lesson is an exhortation to deeds of charity, showing how genuine faith will be manifested by good deeds on the part of the believers, and that "faith apart from works is barren."

LESSON 10.—Sins of the Tongue. James 3:1–13. Golden Text: "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Ps. 34:13. This lesson shows the wonderful power of the tongue for evil. The tongue is likened in this lesson to a fire, a rudder, a world of iniquity, a restless evil, full of deadly poison, an untamable creature, an unnatural fountain, sending forth blessings to God and curses to men who are made after the similitude of God.

LESSON 11.—Paul's Advice to Timothy. 2 Tim. 1:1–17; 3:14–17. Golden Text: "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." 2 Tim. 3:15. This epistle contains the last recorded words of Paul. It was written from Rome and was received by Timothy at Ephesus, about A.D. 67. Paul exhorts Timothy to stir up the gift that is in him, and urges him to abide in the things which he has learned and been assured of, assuring him that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is necessary for the complete furnishing of the followers of Christ.

LESSON 12.—Personal Responsibility. Rom. 14:10–21. Golden Text: "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth." Rom. 14:21. The members of the church had been judging one another in regard to personal conduct. Paul here teaches the personal accountability of each one to his Maker, and the personal responsibility of each one for acts which he does that cause others to stumble. Paul does not condemn eating meat, but if eating meat caused his brother to stumble, he would deny himself for that brother's sake, that the work of God should not suffer through his indulgence.

LESSON I.—SUNDAY, JULY 4, 1897.

FIRST CONVERTS IN EUROPE.

NOTE.—We take up now a new epoch in the history of the church—the beginning of Gospel missionary work in Europe. The work was started there about A.D. 52. For companions on this journey Paul had Silas (Silvanus), Timothy, and Luke. The lesson section includes chapter 15:35 to 16:15. Commit verses 13 to 15.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 16:6–15, R. V.

6 "And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia; 7 and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them. 11 "Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; 12 and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony; and we were in this city tarrying 13 certain days. And on the Sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which 14 were come together. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened, to give heed 15 unto the things which were spoken by Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." Golden Text.—"The entrance of thy words giveth light." Ps. 119:130.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Through what regions did Paul and his companions journey? Verse 6. (2) What had they been forbidden to do? How? (3) Where did they next attempt to go? (4) What prevented? Verse 7. Note 1. (5) What place did they visit? Verse 8. (6) What occurred at this place? Verse 9. (7) Whom did he see in the vision? (8) What was his prayer? Note 4. (9) What did Paul immediately set out to do? Verse 10. (10) What conclusion had he reached? (11) What places did they touch on the way? Verse 11. Note 2. (12) At what port did they land in Macedonia? Verse 12. What is said of this place? Note 4. (13) On the Sabbath where did Paul and his companions go? Verse 13. Note 5. (14) What did they do? (15) What noted woman listened to the teachings of the apostles? Verse 14. (16) What is stated in regard to her? (17) What had the Lord done for her? (18) What did this cause her to do? (19) What step of faith did she take? (20) What did she urge upon the apostles?

NOTES.

1. The Spirit of Jesus suffered them not.—Permitted them not. God not only hedged up the ways he did not wish them to go, but he doubtless "supernaturally directed them in the right way." This illustrates Paul's willingness to be led by the Spirit—to be guided by the unerring Guide. 2. Come over into Macedonia, and help us.—The great cry of all foreign fields from that time to this—an indicator of the open doors of a sin-sick, needy world. "It does not come in the shape of a command from Christ, but in that of a petition from man."—Maclaren. Macedonia lay to the north of Greece. Its capital was Thessalonica, which, with the cities of Berea, Appolonia, Amphipolis, and Philippi, in the Acts, formed the scene of the apostles' labor. 3. Samothrace.—This was an island of the Ægean Sea, between Troas and Neapolis. The latter place was the seaport of Philippi, and was about sixty-five miles from Troas. 4. A Roman colony.—Whether this city is here called "first" because of size and importance, or because it was the first one reached, is not known. Being a Roman colony, it was subject only to the laws of Rome, and not to the laws of the State in which it was situated. Such colonies were governed by their own senate and magistrates, and the Roman law was scrupulously enforced. 5. On the Sabbath day.—The women who resorted to this place were evidently Jewish women, and Lydia a Jewish proselyte, as will be seen from the verses following. The day on which they met must, therefore, have been the seventh-day Sabbath. Notice that the Bible writers still continue to recognize this day as the Sabbath; and they never departed from the custom.