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THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS
JANUARY 18, 1930 THE BOLDNESS OF PETER AND JOHN. Golden Text: “ Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men ,be strong.’ ’ 1 Cor. 16:13. LESSON TEXT Ac. 4:8-21. (Read Ac. 4:1-31; Ps. 124.)
nothing against it. (15) But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, (16) Saying, What shall we do tO' these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath, been done by them, is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we can not deny it. (17) But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth, to no man in this name. (18) And they called them, and com manded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John answered and said un to them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, Judge ye. (20) For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (21) So, when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. The Jews had been confronted with the testimony of the Holy Spirit to the resurrection. This they rejected, and God thereupon rejected them. God’s first creation was spoiled by Satan’s temptation. Here is the church — a new creation— confronted by the opposing power of Satan. The foe is three-fold: (1) The re ligious spirit (the Priests) ; the worldly spirit (the Rulers); the infidel spirit (the Sadducees). Satan has arrayed this three-fold foe against the Church during all the ages. (2) Peter’s Confession Before the Council, vs. 5-12. Notice the wilful blindness of the Council. They could not gainsay the miracle; there was the man. They could not deny the effect of the ser mon; thousands had been reached. They could bring no charge of wrong-doing against the Christians.
(8) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, (9) If we this day he examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; (10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand before you whole. (11) This is th stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved. (13). Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and per ceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (14) And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say Outline. (1) THE C O M M IT M E N T TO PRISON, vs. 1-4. (2) THE CONFESSION BEFORE THE COUNCIL, vs. 5-12. (3) THE CONCLUSION OF THE COUNCIL, vs. 13-31. (1) The Commitment to Prison, vs. 1-4. Notice the order of events in the whole chapter: The arrest, vs. 1-4; before the council, vs. 5-22; triumph, praise and prayer, vs. 23-31; fellow ship of believers, LESSON vs. 32-37. EXPOSITION This incident is T. C. Horton Church is to follow in the footsteps of His Son. It must know persecution. This is its heritage from the Master. (John 16:33.) the b e g i n n i n g o f hostilities. The plan of God for the
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