THE LESSON OUTLINE, WITH WRITTEN-ANSWER QUESTIONS. (See Directions for Study, §§ 6, 7, 15, 20, in Introduction.)

MONDAY.

1. The Healing of the Lame Man at the Beautiful Gate. Acts 3: 1-10. 1. Describe briefly the miracle wrought by Peter at the Beautiful Gate. (Acts 3: 1-8.)

2. How were the people affected by this miracle? (vss. 9, 10.)

2. Peter's Address in the Temple. Acts 3: 11-26.

3. Whom did the people at first regard as the source of the healing power? (Acts 3:11, 12.)

4. How did Peter explain the miracle? (vss. 13-16.)

5. What reason did he give for the treatment of Jesus by the Jews? (vss. 17, 18.)

6. What did he then call upon his hearers to do, and why? (vss. 19-21.)

7. What did he say would become of those who did not heed the advice? (vss. 22, 23, comp. Deut. 18: 15, 18, 19.)

3. Peter and John before the Council. Acts 4: 1-22.

8. Who caused the arrest of Peter and John, and why? (Acts 4: I-4, comp. 23:8, and Expl. Notes.)

9. When Peter and John were brought before the council on the next day, what was demanded of them? (vss. 5-7.)

IO. What was Peter's reply? (vss. 8-10.)

11. What did he then declare of Christ? (vss. II, 12; memorize.) 12. What reason is assigned for the extraordinary boldness of Peter and John? (vs. 13.)

13. To what conclusion did the council come, and why? (vss 14-18, 21.)

14. How did the two disciples accept the decision? (vss. 19, 20.)

4. The Thanksgiving Prayer of the Church. Acts 4: 23-31. 15. What was the effect upon the church of the release of Peter and John? (vss. 23-30.)

16. In what three ways was their prayer answered? (vs. 31.)

3

LESSON TEACHINGS, WITH QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION.
(See Note 5, and Directions for Study, §§ 8, 15 (3), 17, 20 l.c., in Introduction.)

17. By what means were the disciples enabled to work miracles after the ascension of Jesus (Acts 3:6c; 4:10)? For what purpose was the power to work miracles given (see Expl. Notes on Acts 3:12, App.)? What is a miracle? Why are none needed now?

18. Of what great crime did Peter convict the Jews in each of his addresses up to this time, and why did he urge this point so strongly? Why did he also place so much emphasis upon the resurrection of Christ?

20. Through whom alone did Peter declare that men can be saved (Acts 4: 12, Golden Text)? Why can there be no salvation except in him (Jo. 3:16-18, comp. Gal. 1:8, 9; Heb. 2: 2-4)?

21. Why cannot a man save himself by living a fairly upright life, or by "doing about as well as he can"? What is our supreme need? What is the greatest proof of God's love to us (Rom. 5:8; memorize)?

TOPICS FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION AND THOUGHT.
(See Directions for Study, § 9, in Introduction.)

1. The plan of the temple, with its important porches, courts, and gates. 2. The chief ideas of the early apostolic preaching, as shown in Peter's addresses. 3. The Sanhedrin; its composition and authority. 4. Seasons of refreshing (Acts 3:19); does this refer to individual, personal experience, or to the period of Messianic blessings to begin with Christ's coming again, or both?

(For Special Work, see Directions for Study, § 10, in Introduction.)

Lesson 4. LIFE WITHIN THE CHURCH. The Community of Goods During the Early Years, and the Sin of Ananias and Sapphira.

Acts 4: 32-5:11.

Note 7.-The only distinctive article of faith among the believers of this early period was the acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah. Their external religious life remained much as before; they still regarded themselves as strict Jews, and joined regularly in the public worship of the temple, while their special worship as disciples of Christ, including the breaking of bread, was confined to their own homes. Unity, love, and joy prevailed among them. The apostles were recognized as official teachers, yet each disciple, however humble, being filled with the Holy Spirit, carried the message of life to his companions and friends.

The social life of the Christian community was greatly affected by its religious enthusiasm. Christian love begat at once a sense of brotherhood. But brotherhood, in their opinion, meant a realization of the idea of the family, where the blessings of the home are enjoyed by all alike. This spirit of love developed a species of communism which became the occasion of the sin of Ananias and Sapphira.

GOLDEN TEXT: "Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you." (Eph. 5:2.)

SCRIPTURE, to be read in school or class: Acts 5:1-11.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

(See Directions for Study, §§ 5, 12, 19, in Introduction.)

1. What is Part I of this course of lessons? 2. What are its characteristics (see Note 1)? 3. What miracle did Peter work at the gate of the temple? 4. What was the substance of his address to the people immediately afterwards? 5. What was done to Peter and John as they were speaking? 6. Before whom were they brought on the following day? 7. To what decision did the council finally come? 8. Why did it not proceed further against them at that time? 9. What were the feelings of the other disciples when Peter and John returned to them? 10. What is the title of this lesson? its topics? its Golden Text?

THE LESSON OUTLINE, WITH WRITTEN-ANSWER QUESTIONS. (See Directions for Study, §§ 6, 7, 15, 20, in Introduction; and Expl. Notes, in Appendix.)

1. Having All Things Common. Acts 4: 32-37, comp. 2: 42, 44-46. 1. What were some of the prominent characteristics of the religious life of the disciples, during those early years? (Acts 4: 32a b, comp. 2: 42, 46; and Note 7.)

2. What evidence did the new believers give of their spirit of fellowship? (vs. 32c, comp. 2: 44.)

3. To what did the apostles constantly witness? (vs. 33, comp. 2: 32; 3:15, 26.)

4. What plan to meet living expenses was adopted by the believers? (vss. 34, 35, comp. 2:45.)

5. What is said in particular of Joseph, surnamed Barnabas? (vss.

36, 37.)

6. With whom was he afterwards especially associated? 27; 11:22, 25; 13:2, etc.)

(Acts 9:23

2. The Sin of Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5:1-11.

7. How did Ananias and his wife try to deceive the apostles? (Acts 5:1, 2, 7, 8.)

8. Who instigated Ananias to commit this sin, and against whom was it really directed? (vss. 3, 9a.)

9. How do the words of Peter show that those who sold their property and laid the price at the apostles' feet did so entirely of their own fre will? (vs. 4.)

10. What was the effect of Peter's rebuke upon Ananias? (vs. 5.)

11. What came to pass when Sapphira came in? (vss. 7-10.)

12. How did these occurrences impress the church and others? (vs. 11.)

LESSON TEACHINGS, WITH QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION.
(See Directions for Study, §§ 8, 15 (3), 17, 20 l.c., in Introduction.)

13. What did the apostles continue to do, notwithstanding the attempt of the council to intimidate them (Acts 4:33)? Of what promise was this a fulfillment (Acts 1:8)?

14. In a multitude numbering “about five thousand" (Acts 4: 4), how did the gospel at once display its blessed power (4: 32a, comp. Ps., 133: Į)? What did our Lord especially desire for his disciples (Jo. 17: 21-23)?