15. What is the essential basis of Christian unity? Why is this unity of such great value? Why is it not seen among Christians everywhere? 16. What apparently was one result of the community of goods in the church at Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25, 26, comp. 1 Cor. 16:1-4)? Why was not the example of this church in this respect a good one for other churches to follow? What is the Christian's true relation to his property? How should he use that which God has entrusted to him? 17. Why did the sin of Ananias and Sapphira call for such extraordinary punishment? What is a lie? Why is a lie so wicked? What apparently was one of the worst things that our Lord could say about Satan (Jo. 8:44)? 18. What evidence is there in this lesson of the divinity and personality of the Holy Spirit (comp. vss. 3, 9 with vs. 4b)? TOPICS FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION AND THOUGHT. 1. The religious life and practices of the church in Jerusalem. 2. The extent to which all things were held in common by the church in Jerusalem. 3. Conditions necessary for the realization of a true and permanent communism. 4. Ideal commonwealths, such as Plato's Republic,and Sir Thomas Moore's Utopia. 5. The attitude of the New Testament toward communistic schemes. 6. Motives that may have led Ananias and Sapphira to unite with the church. (For Special Work, see Directions for Study, § 10, in Introduction.) Lesson 5. THE APOSTLES ARRESTED AND BEATEN. Acts 5: 12-42. About A.D. 33. Note 8.-At the first arrest of Peter and John, the Jewish authorities refrained from harsh measures, because they feared the people. They hoped that threats of severe punishment would suffice to silence them. But the apostles, mindful of their duty to God, disobeyed the prohibition of the Sanhedrin and continued to work miracies in the name of Jesus and to preach him as the Messiah, until Jerusalem was filled with their teaching and multitudes were added to the Lord. The authorities, especially the Sadducees, to whom the proclamation of the resurrection was intensely distasteful, seeing that their own influence was being dangerously undermined by this preaching, resolved to suppress it at once. Measures looking to this end were immediately adopted. Except for the sober advice of Gamaliel, a famous teacher of the law, it is probable that the apostles would have been killed. As it was, they escaped with their lives, but not till they had been scourged for their disobedience, and again prohibited from speaking in the name of Jesus. GOLDEN TEXT: "We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29.) SCRIPTURE, to be read in school or class: Acts 5:17-32. REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS. 1. What is the first of the four sections into which the Book of the Acts is divided in these lessons (see Remark 5, App.)? the second? the third? the fourth? 2. What was the one article of faith in the primitive church at Jerusalem? 3. How did the believers there make practical proof of their brotherhood? 4. What, in particular, is mentioned concerning Barnabas? 5. What was done to Ananias and Sapphira, and why? 6. Why was their sin so severely punished? 7. What is the title of the present lesson? its topics? its Golden Text? THE LESSON OUTLINE, WITH WRITTEN-ANSWER QUESTIONS. (See Directions for Study, §§ 6, 7, 15, 20, in Introduction.) 1. Many Apostolic Miracles. Acts 5: 12-16. 1. What phase of apostolic work in Jerusalem became very prominent after the death of Ananias and Sapphira? (Acts 5: 12, 16.) 2. What especial power was given to Peter? (vs. 15, comp. Acts 19: II, 12.) Mention some of the results of this work. (vss. 13, 14.) 2. The Apostles before the Council. Acts 5: 17-32. 4. Who again caused the arrest of the apostles? (Acts 5: 17, 18.) 5. How were the apostles delivered from prison? (vs. 19.) 6. What divine direction did they receive and follow? (vss. 20, 21a.) 7. State briefly how they were again found, and before whom they were brought. (vss. 216-27a.) 8. What charge did the high priest make against them? (vss. 276, 28.) 9. What most courageous answer did they return? (vs. 29, Golden Text.) 10. With what did Peter then a second time charge the Sanhedrin? (vss. 30-32, comp. 4:8-10.) 3. The Advice of Gamaliel. Acts 5: 33-39. 4. The Apostles Beaten and Set Free. Acts 5: 40-42. 11. How was the Sanhedrin affected by Peter's words? (Acts 5: 33.) 12. State briefly how Gamaliel prevented hasty action by the rulers (vss. 34-39.) 13. What was done to the apostles? (vs. 40.) 14. What effect did this have upon them? (vss. 41, 42.) LESSON TEACHINGS, WITH QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. 15. How does the attitude of the apostles toward their enemies, as given in this lesson, contrast with what it had been a short time before (Mk. 14:50; Jo. 20: 19)? Through what two great events in particular was this change effected? Why was this change necessary to the spread of the gospel? 16. What is one of the greatest hindrances to the spread of the gospel now? How is this feeling manifested? How may we overcome it in ourselves? 17. What does the Old Testament teach about obedience to God rather than to rulers (Dan. 3: 17, 18; 6:10)? What does the New Testament teach about obedience to rulers (Rom. 13: 1, 2, 5; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2: 13, 14)? 18. What was the practice of the apostles about such obedience (Acts 4: 19; 5: 27-29, 41, 42)? How can one show that he regards himself as subject" to civil autnority, while yet refusing to obey it (comp. 1 Pet. 2: 21-23; and Expl. Note on Acts 5:29)? 66 19. Under what circumstances may we refuse to obey the government? When may we resist it as well as disobey it? TOPICS FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION AND THOUGHT. (See Directions for Study, § 9, in Introduction.) 1. The Sadducees; their origin, position in the community, and religious beliefs. 2. The life and character of Gamaliel. 3. The identification of Theudas. 4. The insurrection of Judas of Galilee. 5. The Scriptural doctrine regarding civil government; for what does it exist? from whom is its authority derived? what are our principal duties toward it (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17)? (For Special Work, see Directions for Study, § 10, in Introduction.) Lesson 6. THE STONING OF STEPHEN. The Choice of the Seven, and the First Christian Martyr. Acts, chs. 6, 7. About A.D. 34. Note 9.-At the opening of the Christian era the Jews were divided into two classes: (1) Hebrews, or Aramæan Jews; and (2) Grecian Jews (A. V., “Grecians"), or Hellenists (Acts 6:1). The distinctions between these two classes were very important and should be kept in mind (see B. D., " Grecian Jews"). The church in Jerusalem was composed of both classes, but mainly of the former. At first the feeling of brotherhood obliterated the distinctions between them. But when the first flush of Christian love had subsided, the Hebrews, or Aramæan Jews Six. The History of The Apostolic Church. 19 perhaps because of their greater numbers, perhaps through a revival of their old Jewish feeling of superiority to their Greek-speaking brethren, secured an undue share of the common funds, and neglected the widows of the Hellenists. At the suggestion of the apostles, seven men of acknowledged impartiality were appointed to attend to the daily distribution and to do justice to all. Thus the cause of complaint was quickly removed. At the head of the seven was Stephen, undoubtedly a Hellenist. He speedily rose above the special function of his office, and in his public disputations with the Grecian Jews became distinguished for the power and wisdom with which he spoke. At the instigation of some of those whom he had vanquished in discussion, he was arrested, tried before the Sanhedrin, testified against by false witnesses, and put to death by a mob. GOLDEN TEXT: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:59.) SCRIPTURE, to be read in school or class: Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-60. REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS. I Mention some special features of the miracles wrought by the apostles after the death of Ananias and Sapphira. 2. Who caused the arrest of the apostles, and why? 3. When brought before the Sanhedrin, what did Peter say for himself and his companions? 4. How was the council prevented from at once putting the apostles to death? 5. What was finally done with them? 6. In the times of the apostles, into what two great classes were the Jewish people divided regarding the language they spoke (see Note 9, and B. D., "Grecian Jews")? 7. Into what two classes were the Grecian Jews divided as to their religious views? 8. Mention some who belonged to each of these classes. 9. 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.) 1. The Appointment of The Seven. 1. What injustice at this time disturbed the (Acts 6: 1.) |