1 “And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they 3 laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: 4 for it was now eventide. But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 “And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and 6 elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. And when they had set them in the midst, they 8 inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto 9 them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders, if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, 10 by what means this man is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in Him doth this man stand here before you 11 whole. He is the stone which was set at naught of you the 12 builders, which was made the head of the corner. And in none other is there salvation; for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.”
Golden Text.—“There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Verse 12.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) As Peter and John were speaking unto the people, who came upon them? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) Why did these men thus disturb the apostles? Verse 2. (3) What did these officials do to Peter and John? Verse 3. (4) Notwithstanding this interruption, what followed the preaching of the Word? Verse 4. Note 2. (5) What action was taken the next morning? Verses 5, 6. (6) Who were brought before this council? What question was asked of the prisoners? Verse 7. Note 3. (7) What prompted Peter’s reply? How did he address the members of the council? Verse 8. Note 4. (8) How did Peter characterize the miracle that had been wrought? Verse 9. Note 5. (9) Did Peter make his reply merely for the benefit of the council? To what power did he accredit the “good work”? Where was the man who had been healed? Verse 10. Note 6. (10) To what scripture did Peter refer as applying to the action of the Jewish rulers? Verse 11; Ps. 118:22. Note 7. (11) How only did Peter say men must be saved? Verse 12. Note 8.
NOTES.
1. The indignation aroused by the influence gained for the apostles by the healing of the lame man at the temple gate was intensified by their attributing the miracle to the power of Jesus’ name, and the declaration that He was raised from the dead. This was what excited the Sadducees, as it was a direct blow at their doctrine that death ended all. For this reason we find the Sadducees more prominent in their opposition to the apostolic church than they had been to Christ, who was more directly opposed by the Pharisees.
2. The power of the Word spoken by the apostles was not counteracted by their arrest and imprisonment. Some seed had fallen on “good ground” as well as in “stony places,” and “by the wayside,” and “among thorns.” Many believed, and the number of disciples in the city was increased to about five thousand men. This did not include the women and children.
3. The rulers and elders and scribes had endeavored to quash the idea of Jesus’ being raised from the dead, but their question was calculated to bring that subject to the front. To ask the apostles by what power or authority they had wrought a “notable miracle,” would give them just the opportunity they desired, that of proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus.
4. “Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,” was a different man from the unconverted Peter who had basely denied Jesus before that same council a short time before. He no longer feared the threats of man, or the power of man. “The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Prov. 29:25.
5. The reminder that the miracle was a “good deed,” which could not be denied, would naturally forestall any just pretext for punishing the apostles for crime. This was so plain that the commonest mind could comprehend the principle.
6. To add force to the defense of the apostles, the man who had been healed stood with them before the council. There could be no question that a poor man who had been a cripple all his life (“above forty years”) had been restored to “perfect soundness,” and there had been nothing illegal connected with the “good work.” As the apostles were common men, with no unusual power of their own, and never had claimed any, their giving credit to the name of Jesus, who had been well known as a worker of miracles—even to raising the dead—could not be regarded as unreasonable.
7. Jesus Himself had quoted the prophecy of David concerning the rejected Stone, to these very chief priests and elders while he was yet alive. Matt. 21:42. The “Head of the corner” is Christ, the foundation stone of the church, which the “builders”—church authorities—had rejected.
8. The rejection of Christ leaves even the builders without hope; for there is hope in no other name, salvation in no other way. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” John 3:36.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL SERIES
NOTE.—In the preparation of these lessons all Scripture references, and the pages of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” should be thoroughly studied first, then the questions. The questions are not the lessons. They are only for the purpose of finding out what we have observed while studying. More of the preciousness of these lessons will be obtained if the lesson is studied each day throughout the week. In the parables of Jesus there is salvation from sin for every type of sinner—from the Pharisee to the prodigal. The notes are wholly selected from such portions of “Christ’s Object Lessons” as apply to each lesson.
LESSON 6.—FEBRUARY 8.—ALLEGORY OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS.
13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye can not serve God and mammon.” 14 “And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all 15 these things; and they scoffed at Him. And He said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knoweth your hearts; for that which is exalted 16 among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the Gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth 17 violently into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass 18 away, than for one tittle of the law to fall. Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery; and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery. 19 “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in 20 purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day; and a 21 certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; 23 and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, 24 Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they which would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us. 27 And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house; 28 for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.”
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
What rule of service did Christ here lay down? How was the message received? What vice was rebuked? To what lengths had this covetousness led? Matt. 23: 14; 21: 13.
Before whom did these people seek justification? How differently does God look upon a self-seeking life? What is the successful financial career? 2 Cor. 9: 8, 9.
What are the chief characters in this parable? What was the rich man’s manner of life? In neglecting Lazarus, what precept did he violate? Matt. 22: 39; Lev. 19: 18.
In process of time what came alike to the rich man and the beggar? See also Ps. 89: 48; 49: 6-12.
What vice was this parable designed to rebuke? How does it picture the reward of selfishness? What request is put in the rich man’s mouth? Of what is he reminded? What had his manner of life forever fixed between himself and the righteous?
What final request is ascribed to the rich man? How was it answered? What is the highest evidence for truth? What will judge every selfish life in the last day? John 12: 48.
NOTE.
1. THE allegory, in which natural objects or people are represented as acting or talking, often in a manner that would be impossible in actual life, was a familiar means of illustration in olden times, and is here used to point the warning against selfish living. Let not the purpose of the allegory be missed by turning the lesson into a discussion of the state of the dead. At most a few references only will be needed in case any are not familiar with the Bible teaching on this subject, as, for instance, man’s condition in death (Eccl. 9: 5, 6; John 11: 11, 14); when the dead will be awakened (Job 14: 12; John 5: 28, 29); when only the righteous and the wicked will in fact view one another’s reward. (Rev. 20: 5, 7, 10.)
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WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO FOR YOU
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In order to help our faithful missionary workers who are endeavoring to widely scatter the SIGNS among their friends, we recently decided to accept NEW YEARLY SUBSCRIPTIONS at 83c each from any one who is now taking a club of five or more SIGNS, either direct from the publishers or through his church club.
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As one man said to us, “He tells more about what the Holy Spirit does than what it is.”
Notice the following extract from a pastor of a large eastern church:—
“Your book is a message of God to us just at this time. This is so manifestly true that groups of our members gather four nights in the week to read it in concert. My wife reads to a group of women who gather in the homes, and I read to the men who meet me at the church.”
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TEMPERANCE
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A CHRISTIAN NATION
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THE SABBATH
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A CALL FROM JAPAN.
By Editor
Recently an earnest plea came from Brother B. O. Wade, one of our missionaries in Japan, to send a club of SIGNS for the use of the work in that country, which is in such gross darkness and superstition. He stated: “I could use 200 copies of the SIGNS every week, and only our Heavenly Father knows how many there are whose attention would be arrested, and whose feet directed in the path of life, so beautifully portrayed in the SIGNS.”
In answer to an appeal made in behalf of the above request, some donations have already come to hand, but not enough to meet the cost of the papers. Brother Wade is laboring in Tokio, a city of about a million and a quarter inhabitants. Surely we do not want to send less than 200 papers for such an immense city. In order to render prompt assistance, we started a small club of the SIGNS to Brother Wade, and a letter just received states that he has received them promptly, and has been successful in placing copies in the Imperial University Library, Imperial Library, the Young Men’s Christian Association, and among a number of high officials of these as well as of other institutions. In every instance the papers were received with much gratitude, and the institutions mentioned also desired to place them on file for the use of the students studying there. Here is a grand opportunity to place the SIGNS where it will be read by many of the higher class of Japanese. Shall we allow it to pass by unheeded? Here is a missionary right on the ground, actively engaged in work for the Master; here are a people who are crying for help. Shall we respond?
As donations to the amount of $93.35 have already been received,—$50.00 being donated by one brother in Colorado,—it will require but 132 persons to send us one dollar each, and we will be able to furnish the whole 200 copies of the SIGNS for one year. If any feel able to make larger donations, they will be thankfully received. All contributions will be duly acknowledged in this paper.
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The Winning of Margaret
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A Striking and Sad Cartoon.
The New York Journal has a cartoon by Davenport in which a drunken man with leering eyes and disheveled hair bestrides a giant hogshead, holding in his hand a foaming glass of beer. On the head of the big barrel are the figures of America’s consumption of intoxicants. Here they are: Spirits, 97,000,000 gallons; wine, 30,000,000 gallons; malt liquors, 1,220,000,000 gallons. A total of 1,347 million gallons of misery, crime, body-and-soul destruction poured down the throats of humanity in this country every year; think of it. That is about the average of 17 gallons to each man, woman, and child in this broad land. Thank God, many do not drink; but think of those who do, of their worse than wasted money, their blighted homes, blasted reputations, and ruined characters.
The maudlin figure astride the cask is represented as saying, “And they think I ought to stop one day in seven.” Say, friend, whisky-drinker or other, would it not be an unmitigated blessing if the cursed thing should stop all the time?
The Original Food of Man.
When God created man, He gave him in infinite wisdom a dietary of fruits and grains. Did not God know what was best? “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Gen. 1:29.
Was not this a liberal provision of food? Behold the legumes, the peas, the beans, the lentils. Properly cooked, how rich in nutrition, how finely flavored they are! Behold the cereals, the barley, the rye, the rice, the peerless wheat, combining in itself all needed elements, and the beautiful golden corn, the king of American native products! In how many ways may these cereals be prepared, wholesome, nutritious, and appetizing. And then the fruits—we can not mention them, their number is legion, and there is abundance, it might be, for all. Who could ask better? Think of it, reader. And now ponder this question. Would it not be better to return to the simple, primitive, life-giving and life-sustaining bill of fare provided by our Heavenly Father? There are many things to be said in its favor. Perhaps some of our readers have some good, brief testimonies to offer to its benefit. We shall have more to say. Let us hear also from those who have proved the acceptable will of God.
Fraudulent Means to Defend Sunday
In this issue closes Dr. Axon's paper on the “Letter That Fell from Heaven.” That letter shows to what lengths religious men will go who have a theory to maintain for which no support is found in the Word of God. It shows, too, that if men had found Sunday-sabbath support in the Bible, they never would have resorted to such fraudulent methods to keep the sinking craft of paganism afloat. Their use was justified by the Satanic policy, “The end justifies the means.” God’s truth needs no such means.
The International Prophetic Conference
By Editor
With this issue closes our correspondence on the great International Prophetic Conference. (See page 8.) It has certainly been accurately and sympathetically reported; and if errors have been pointed out, it has been with no desire to criticize, but solely in loyalty to truth. We wish from our heart that these men who are talking of Christ's second coming could see more of what that coming means. It means life, eternal life, and immortality. The belief in the inherent immortality of the soul, in Satan's Edenic lie, hides this great truth from them. If they knew what Israel means, and who the seed of Israel are, they would not be blinded to that other devil's switch-off, the return of the Jews. But every true heart will yet see the light, and so we wait with patience.
One Lawgiver and Judge
A man is not an infidel because he does not believe my interpretation of the Bible. I may be right, but my dictum is not his law. There is but one Law-giver and one Judge; and before Him every man should bring himself day by day, even as he must appear before His judgment seat at last.
Steel Corporation’s Profits
The big steel combine, named the United States Steel Corporation, made a profit of $85,779,298 during the first nine months of its existence. It sells steel rails in England for $22.50 per ton, and pays five dollars a ton freight. It sells to American producers at $28.00 a ton. Presumably it makes a good profit on its English sales at $17.00 a ton after deducting ocean carriage. It makes $11.00 more than this foreign profit a ton on what it sells in America. No wonder its profits are so immense.
NEXT WEEK
By Editor
We begin a series of articles entitled “A Lay Discussion on the Soul,” by Prof. J. A. L. Darby, of Heidelberg College, Heidelberg, Cal. The headings of these articles suggest somewhat the field of thought covered in the series:—
Common Sense in Religion; the Question Stated,
What Is the Soul?—Scientifically, Scripturally,
Consciousness and Unconsciousness,
Testimony on Soul Survival,
The Rich Man and Lazarus,
The Word Soul in Common Usage,
Immortality and Sin,
Immortality and Eternal Torment,
The Necessity of a Revelation,
The Meaning of Soul in Scripture Revelation,
The Scriptural Argument.
These will be followed by several articles on—
“Modern Spiritualism”
from both the Scientific and the Scriptural view point.
These articles are decidedly original and interesting in style, and important in the subject matter presented. Will the dead live again? Do they live now? Is “Spiritualism” of God? These articles will run about three months. Would you not like the paper sent to some friend during this period? These will be only a small part of the good things the paper will contain.
Millionaires.
The time is not long since the millionaires in this country could be numbered by two figures. Now it takes four. The World Almanac gives the names of 3,546 men and women millionaires in the United States. They are located as follows: North Dakota 1; South Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico, and Arkansas, each 2; Mississippi, 3; Nevada, 4; Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina each, 5; Idaho and Florida, each 7; North Carolina, 9; Kansas, 10; Oregon and Vermont, each 14; Maine, 15; Nebraska, 16; Virginia, Delaware, and New Hampshire, each 17; Washington, 18; Utah, Kentucky, and Tennessee, each 19; Montana, 26; Indiana, 30; Texas, 34; Iowa, 36; District of Columbia, 49; Colorado, 57; Rhode Island, 70; Wisconsin and Connecticut, each 77; Minnesota, 79; Maryland, 106; California, 10; Michigan, 111; New Jersey, 114; Missouri, 161; Ohio, 162; Illinois, 275; Massachusetts, 313; Pennsylvania, 369; New York, 994. Surely this indicates the heaping up of riches. Read James 5:1-8.
The Peril of Neglecting Salvation
Neglect is a most inexcusable trait of character. Men who lose property or position or attainment through neglect, almost invariably lose sympathy in their loss. What, then, must be said of those who neglect salvation? One may learn of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ; he may acknowledge its just claim to earnest consideration; he may profess to have accepted the invitation of the Gospel; he may even have accepted it in earnestness of purpose; like the Galatians, “having begun in the spirit,” he may have “run well” for a time; yet after all, he may lose salvation by simple neglect. A little careless disregard of eternal things, through giving overmuch attention to the attractions of this world, may cause even those who have suffered much for the truth to lose eternal life. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” The very question implies that there is no escape.
Yearly Record of Crime, Etc
Yearly Record of Crime, etc.—The Chicago Tribune, which makes a specialty of gathering such statistics, reports in murders for the year 1901, 7,852 deaths. It does not believe that it has them all. In these are not included the wholesale murders involving whole communities. These are called lynchings. Yet every man who took part in them sympathetically is a murderer. Responsibility of moral acts can not be divided among a crowd. In 1900 the murders reported amounted to 8,275. The same year the lynchings numbered 115; but in 1901 they reached a total of 135, 121 occurring in the South, 14 in the North. Seven of these are set down as suspected criminals only, and one was a case of mistaken identity. Suicides also increased. In 1900 the number was 6,755; in 1901, they were 7,245. It is a bloody, ghastly, grewsome, cruel record.
Compulsion in Religious Exercises
The Gospel is free, and is designed to make men free. It is free for all who receive it, and all are just as free to reject it if they do not want it. God never compels any one to accept it. The only power He employs is the power of His Word, by the Spirit of love, to persuade. But men sometimes try to compel obedience to the Word; at least they would compel an observance of formal religious service. In this they set themselves above God. An instance of such attempt at compulsion is noted by the press as having occurred at Topeka, Kansas, where a boy of ten years was expelled from the public school for declining to take part in the religious exercises set for the opening.
Rising Alcohol Mortality Among Women
The Union Signal notes the fact that there is an alarming increase of the drinking habit among women. During the last twenty years the ratio of mortality in England from alcoholic excesses has increased forty-three per cent among males, and 104 per cent among females.
Growth of the Waldensian Church
It is said that the ancient Waldensian Church still retains considerable vitality. There are fifteen parishes in the historic valley, to which were added 1,116 new members the past year.
