p. 12 | The Sabbath School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 21, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 41.

The Sabbath School

International Series.

LESSON VI.—SABBATH, NOVEMBER 6, 1897.

THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 10: 24-43, R. V.

24 “AND on the morrow they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends. And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together; and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean; wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me. And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord. And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)—that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; even Jesus of Nazareth, how that God anointed him with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree. Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest, not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he which is ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.”

QUESTIONS.

1. Tell how Cornelius came to send for Peter, and how Peter was prepared for the message.

2. While Peter was on the way to Cæsarea, before he arrived, what did Cornelius do?

3. How did Cornelius receive Peter?

4. Why would not Peter accept such homage?

5. When he went into the house, what did he find?

6. What did he say to the company? What had God showed him?

7. What, then, did the animals that Peter saw in vision represent?

8. Why did he so readily come to the call of Cornelius? What question did he ask?

9. Relate the reply of Cornelius.

10. For what did he say they were all waiting? In whose presence did they feel themselves to be?

11. What did Peter say that he perceived by all this?

12. How many are accepted with God?

13. What word did those present know?

14. To whom was the word sent? What did the word preach?

15. Where was it made known?

16. What had God done to Jesus of Nazareth? How and with what was he anointed? What did he go about doing? Why? To whom did Christ extend his ministrations? Did he pass any by?

17. Nevertheless, what did the people do to him?

18. What did God do?

19. What command had the witnesses received? What were they to testify?

20. To whom do the prophets give witness? What is it that the prophets testify? How many of the prophets teach justification by faith?

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

1. What marked contrast between Peter and the one who claims to be Peter’s successor?

2. How did it happen that it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with one of another nation? Did God ever give any such commandment? What proofs can you cite that God desired to have the Jews associate with other people, to teach them the truth? What is the only separation that God wished to have between his people and others? See Ex. 33: 16.

3. Did it first become true in Peter’s day that “God is no respecter of persons”? Had God ever given the Jews any reason to think that he was partial? Deut. 10: 17-19.

4. What did Christ come preaching? Eph. 2: 14-17. Had peace to all, both near and far, been proclaimed before Jesus preached in Judea? Isa. 57: 15-19.