Two The History of The Apostolic Church. Lesson 2. THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Power from on High Received, and Multitudes Converted. Acts, ch. 2. A.D. 30. 5 Note 5.-The fulfillment of our Lord's last promise to his disciples took place on the day of Pentecost, ten days after the ascension. On that day the Holy Spirit came upon them with great power, and with such wonderful miracles that a great multitude, representing many nations, was quickly assembled. To them Peter spoke with the utmost boldness: showing (1) that these miraculous manifestations were a direct fulfillment of prophecy (Acts 2: 16–21); (2) that the Holy Spirit, thus promised, was now poured out by Jesus of Nazareth, whom the men of Israel had slain, but whom God had raised from the dead and exalted to heaven (vss. 22-33); and (3) that they were in danger of the prophesied Messianic judgments because God had made this Jesus, whom they had crucified, Lord of all and the predicted Christ, or Messiah (vss. 34-36). The people, on hearing these words, were seized with alarm; and as the result of his further exhortations, three thousand received the word and were baptized. A radical transformation in the feelings and conduct of the disciples at once showed itself. The enthusiasm and unselfishness of brotherly love, the glad consciousness of spiritual freedom, and a steadfast continuance in all religious activities, testified to the reality of the new and divine life within them. Thus the Christian church, quickened by the mighty power of the indwelling Spirit of God, began its divine mission of conquering the world for Christ. GOLDEN TEXT: "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2: 21.) SCRIPTURE, to be read in school or class: Acts 2:1-13. REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS. 1. What is the design of this series of lessons? 2. Who wrote the book of the Acts? 3. Between what dates was it probably written? 4. Into what four sections may it be divided? 5. What was Christ's parting promise to the disciples, just before his ascension? 6. State briefly what the disciples did during the ten days following the ascension. 7. What is the title of this lesson? its topics? its Golden Text? THE LESSON OUTLINE, WITH WRITTEN-ANSWER QUESTIONS. (See Note 3, Lesson I, and Directions for Study, §§ 6, 7, 15, 20, in Introduction.) 1. The Descent of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2: 1-13. 1. What remarkable events occurred in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost? (Acts 2: 1–3.) 2. What new power was infused into the disciples present? (vs. 4.) 3. How were those who heard the disciples affected by these things? (vss. 5-8, 12.) 4. What countries were represented among the hearers? (vss. 9-11, see B. D.) 5. What charge did some of the hearers make against the disciples? (vs. 13.) 2. The Address of Peter. Acts 2: 14-36. 6. How did Peter answer this charge? (Acts 2: 14, 15.) 7. What explanation did he give of these wonderful events? (vss. 16-21.) 8. With what did he, in turn, charge his hearers? (vss. 22, 23.) 9. What did he say that God had done for this Jesus whom they had slain? (vss. 24, 32, 33a.) 10. What relation had the risen and exalted Christ to the events just witnessed? (vs. 336.) II. What therefore might those who had crucified this Jesus expect? (vss. 34-36, comp. Note 5.) 3. The Conversion of the Three Thousand. Acts 2: 37-42. 12. How did Peter's words affect his hearers? (Acts 2:37.) 13. With what personal exhortation did he close? (vss. 38-40.) 14. What were the immediate results of this sermon? (vss. 41, 42.) 4. Fellowship and Growth in the Church. Acts 2:43-47. 15. In what practical way did these early Christians show their fellowship? (vss. 44, 45.) 16. How is their life at this time described? (vss. 46, 47.) LESSON TEACHINGS, WITH QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. (See Note 5, Lesson 1, and Directions for Study, §§ 8, 15, 20 (3), in Introduction.) 17. What was predicted in the Old Testament concerning the divine Spirit (Is. 44:3; Ezek. 36:26, 27; Joel 2:28, 29)? How were these prophecies fulfilled in the early church? 18. How was the work of the Spirit upon the disciples related to the earthly life and work of our Lord (Jo. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13)? How was this manifested in their lives? How did the Spirit at Fentecost fulfil Christ's prediction of him (Jo. 16:8-11)? 19. State briefly opposite the following references some of the relations of the Holy Spirit to us: Jo. 3:5, 6. Rom. 8:14-16. Rom. 8:26. I Cor. 6: 19. 20. In what respects are tne manifestations of the Spirit different now from what they were in the days of the apostles? 21. What is the way of life, as set forth by Peter in his address on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38, 39)? How may we know that we are walking in it? TOPICS FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION AND THOUGHT. (See Directions for Study, § 9, in Introduction.) 1. The character and origin of the day of Pentecost. 2. Speaking with "tongues" (comp. Mk. 16:17; Acts 10:46; 19:6; 1 Cor. 12:4, 10; and for a full description, I Cor. 14:2-28). 3. Peter's quotations from the Old Testament; their variations from the original passages. 4. The light which Peter's words (Acts 2:16-20) throw on the language of prophecy. Does such language refer to great changes in human affairs, or is it to be taken literally? (For Special Work, see Directions for Study, § 10, in Introduction.) Lesson 3, THE HEALING OF THE LAME MAN, AND Note 6.- How long an interval elapsed between the day of Pentecost and the miracle recorded in the next chapter, is not known. A season of repose was probably required for the church to comprehend the significance of the extraordinary experiences of that day, and to gather up further results. Moreover the faith of the disciples needed to be strengthened, and their understanding of Christian truth made clearer, as a preparation for inevitable opposition and for future work. At first, and indeed for many years afterwards, the believers had no thought of breaking with Judaism. They regarded themselves merely as a Jewish sect, differing from other Jews chiefly in their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah. This fact, perhaps, together with the hope of the Jewish authorities that the excitement produced by the events of Pentecost would presently die out, saved the church from immediate persecution. But after a time an event occurred which showed the Sanhedrin how delusive such hopes were, and how greatly their own power was endangered by the rapid growth of this new sect. At the hands of Peter a startling miracle was wrought. The unrestrained joy of the man who was healed attracted an immense throng, to whom Peter preached Jesus as the Messiah. The impression produced could not be ignored by the rulers. Peter and John were arrested, and the next day were brought before the council; but as the rulers could find no occasion to punish them, they commanded them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and having severely threatened them, let them go. Their release caused great joy and thanksgiving in the church. GOLDEN TEXT: "Your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." (I Jo. 2: 12.) SCRIPTURE, to be read in school or class: Acts 4: 1-12. REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS. 1. What feast day followed soon after the ascension? 2. What remarkable events occurred on that day? 3. How did Peter explain those events? 4. What most important facts did he impress on his hearers? 5. What was the immediate effect of his words? 6. How did the new converts and other Christians show their fellowship for one another? 7. Why did the church need a season of quiet after the day of Pentecost (Note 6)? 8. At first, how did the believers regard their relation to the Jewish faith? 9. What is the title of this lesson? its topics? its Golden |