day by day,

daily continuing

at they

46. 1 And they

stedfastly

with one accord 2 in the temple, and breaking bread from house, to house. did at their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

take

food

having favour with all the people. And the Lord saved.

Praising 47. God, and praising added " to them day by day those that were being the church daily such as should be

I Acts 1: 14.

2 Luke 24: 53; Acts 5: 42.
3 Acts 20: 7.

4 Luke 2: 52; Acts 4: 33; Rom. 14: 18.
5 Acts 5: 14.
a Greek, together.

21: 16); Tabitha helped the poor from her own resources; Paul urges the disciples to give as they are prospered; there is no implication that Barnabas sold all that he had.

5. "The principle underlying Christian communism, viz., that all possessing goods and industries are to be consecrated to God in the service of humanity, is a fundamental Christian principle (Matt. 25: 14-30; Luke 13: 6-9), but neither experience nor Scripture indicates that selling all and dividing to the poor is the best method calculated to serve humanity, or even the poor." — Abbott. Christian love and Christian principles are to abolish poverty and want, and spread the gospel over the earth, and we are to live daily according to the brotherly principle exemplified in this early church "where the poor man knew no shame, the rich no haughtiness.'

THIRD: WORSHIP. (1) 46. In the temple, the one natural and national place of worship. The Christians did not reject the temple worship, but filled it full of spirit and meaning. So Jesus went into his Father's house. The gospel was not opposed to the temple and its services any more than a rose is opposed to the stem that holds it, or the new shoot to the acorn from which it springs. (2) "At home." And breaking bread. See on v. 42. It was the common meal, eaten together, and closing with the Lord's Supper. From house to house. Or, "at home," as in the R. V. See Edersheim's Jewish Social Life, pp. 259, 260.

FOURTH CHARACTERISTICS. Did eat their meat, i. e., took their food, their ordinary meals.-Cambridge Bible. With gladness, Greek, exulting, abounding joy. The gospel pervades the whole life with gladness. Gloom is not the fruit of religion, but of sin and disease; every heavenly emotion and act is joyous in its nature. They were glad of the goodness of God which provided the food. Every good gift was a mark of God's love to them. They were glad because they had enough to give to others. They enjoyed the food more by enjoying it together with hearts of love, with "the feast of reason and the flow of soul" concerning the spiritual blessings of God. Singleness of heart, apeλorny, from a, not, and peλdeús, stony or rocky ground; hence, plain, smooth, straightforward, opposite to deceit, hypocrisy or crooked ways. The corresponding adjective was used to describe a smooth road, free from stones. The word "denotes evenness of temper, unruffled cheerfulness in social intercourse." It "marked a harmony of Christian life undisturbed by discord or unkindness." Rendall. "Every feeling is excluded which could mar the picture of exquisite but childlike happiness."

47. Praising God. "The praise refers not merely to their thanksgivings at meals, but is characteristic of their whole devotional life, both in public and private.' - Knowling. ILLUSTRATION. GRUMBLE CORNER AND THANKSGIVING STREET. At a camp-meeting in South Framingham, a man arose and said that he formerly lived in Grumble Corner, but had lately moved up to Thanksgiving Street, where the air was fresher, the sunshine brighter, the neighbors pleasanter.

And having favour with all the people, in contrast with the ecclesiastics. Like Jesus in his youth, having favor with God and man, so the youthful church was in favor with God and man. Their joyous graces, their generous living, their noble lives, were

attractive.

LIBRARY. Earle's Bringing in the Sheaves has two incidents of the power of Christian joy. Trench's Poems, "Rejoice Evermore," and "The Monk and the Bird." The Life of President Jonathan Edwards describes his remarkable joy in his early Christian experience. "Be such a man, live such a life, that if every man were such as you, and every life a life like yours, this earth would be a paradise." — Phillips Brooks.

ILLUSTRATION. The Palace Beautiful of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is the most perfect picture of the church and its ordinances, in all literature. The lions in the way before coming; the porter, Watchful, welcoming the pilgrim at the door; the examination by the gentle maidens, Piety, Prudence, and Charity, with their discourse at the supper; the

sleeping in the Chamber of Peace; the study of the records of the place; the vision of the Delectable Mountains; and the putting-on the armor for future warfare make altogether a fitting picture of the "house built by the Lord of the hill, for the relief and security of pilgrims."

POEM. Mrs. Preston's "The Ideal becomes the Real."

And God shall make divinely real
The highest form of thy ideal.

FIFTH: THE FRUITS. And the Lord Jesus added to them, to the number of the disciples. To the church is omitted in the R. V., because omitted from the best manuscripts. But the meaning is the same. Such as should be saved. Better such as 66 were being saved," or were saving" themselves "from this untoward generation," as Peter had exhorted them to do.

LESSON IV. - January 26.

THE LAME MAN HEALED. Acts 3: 1-10.

Study Verses 1-16. Read Acts 3.

Golden teXT. — The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my

PICTURES.

Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate, Raphael (South Kensington); ideal portraits of Peter in Titian's Tribute Money, and in Palma's Peter Enthroned (at Venice); St. Peter curing the Cripple, Masaccio (Florence).

PLACE IN THE HISTORY.

One of the miracles wrought under the influence of Pentecost. The connecting link between the new church and the persecution.

went

THE REFERENCE LIBRARY.

In addition to the Commentaries and books on The Apostolic Age, see Professor Briggs' The Messiah of the Apostles; H. C. Trumbull's Studies in Oriental Social Life, "Calls for Healing in the East"; A. J. Gordon's Ministry of Healing; Edersheim's The Temple and its Services. On the "Beautiful Gate," see Phillips Brooks' Sermons on this story; Lightfoot's Hora Hebraica (Acts 3: 2).

into the temple at the hour

I. Now Peter and John together 1 were going up of prayer, 2 being the ninth hour. 2. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, * to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

that was

door

I. One of the Pentecostal Miracles.-Vs. 1-10. Scene I. In the afternoon, between two and three o'clock. Peter and John on the Way to the Temple. 1. Now Peter and John. Two chiefest among the apostles, and most advanced in the knowledge of Jesus. "The eldest and the youngest, probably of the noble twelve." They were old friends at Bethsaida, and partners in the fishing business on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5: 10). They were both disciples of John the Baptist. Both had followed Jesus almost from the first. Both were with him on the Mount of Transfiguration, and within the gates of Gethsemane. Widely different in character, they were closest of friends, alike in principle, devotion, and purpose. They were like different notes in a harmony, different instruments in an orchestra, different colors in the spectrum.

Went up. "Were going up as in R. V. From

their homes, or some meeting-place of the disciples, they ascended the temple hill, and were going up from one terrace to another in the temple courts. For each inner court was on a higher level than the adjoining outer one. They had come into the temple. That is, into the great Court of the Gentiles, and were crossing toward the Court of the Women, which, according to Kitto, "was the common place for worshipers, both men and women.' It was the custom of the early Christians to worship in their old accustomed way, as well as in the new ways taught them by the Spirit. If they broke "the old bottles" before the new were prepared, they would lose the very spirit and power of worship. As it was, they filled the old forms full of the spirit of worship. At, mi, for. So as to be there at the hour of prayer. The hours of incense and of sacrifice were hours of prayer. See Luke 1: 9, 10, where it is said that the people were praying while the priest offered the incense. Being the ninth hour. Or about three o'clock in the afternoon, the hour of the evening

sacrifice.

ROUTINE AND SPIRIT. The spiritual life is not confined to routine, but at times bursts all such bounds. And yet regular hours of worship and prayer and reading of the Bible are a great help toward a high, spiritual daily life, just as regular hours for meals are best for bodily health. The author of Blessed be Drudgery shows how valuable in the discipline of life is regular, compulsory routine. Habits may become a chain, but they also may become a golden stairway to heaven. See the article "Habit," in Professor James' Psychology.

SCENE II. The Lame Man carried to the Gate Beautiful. 2. And a certain man lame. All we know of his history is (1) that he was born with the cause of his lameness, making the cure more wonderful; (2) that it was caused by a weakness of the feet and ankles (v. 7); (3) that it was so bad that he could not walk, but had to be carried; (4) that he was poor; (5) that he was over 40 years old (Acts 4: 22) Was carried. The man was being carried at the hour of worship, when the temple would be filled with worshipers." - Knowling. And they were in the act of carrying him at the time Peter and John were going in. The two arrivals were coincident. Whom they laid. Were

Who seeing Pe'ter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.

accustomed to lay. At the gate of the temple. Not the sacred building, but the sacred enclosure, including the courts. Which is called Beautiful. No gate of this name is mentioned by other writers. It may have been the Shushan gate, from the outside on the east, into the Court of the Gentiles, through Solomon's porch; or it was a popular name given to the magnificent doors of Corinthian brass described by Josephus (Jewish Wars V. 5, 3),

leading from the Court of the Gentiles into the Court of the Women, which was reserved for the ordinary religious offices of the Jewish people. "The folds of this brazen gate were seventy-five feet high and sixty broad, and were covered with plates of gold and silver."- Hackett. See Wright's Some New Testament Problems. Every one on the continent of Europe has noticed how much expense and beauty have been lavished on doorways and gates. Michael Angelo said of the splendid bronze doors of the Baptistery at Florence, that they were fit to be the gates of paradise. See Psa. 24: 7. The expensive architecture of ancient gates is seen in the enormous gates of Karnak, in Egypt, and in the Propylæon, at Athens. The gates of the temple were made so beautiful and magnificent, in order to attract men, and to express the greater glories within, and "to symbolize the entrance inte heaven.' To ask alms. Alms is singular number, and was in early times spelt almesse, which is derived from the Greek, eleemosúně (the word used here), which in German becomes almosen. - a gift of charity. Cambridge Bible. Of them that entered into the temple. The kindest and most sympathetic people in the world are praying people. Persons who obey the first table of the law are most likely to obey the second. Nine tenths of all the money raised for benevolent purposes, and for the support of our charitable institutions, comes from the pockets of those who go up to the temple at the hour of prayer."

66

Giving is a part of worship, one way of expressing love and devotion to God. It was once proposed in our ministers' meeting to apply to the collections in church the formula that was formerly used after passing the bread and the wine, “If any one has been omitted in the passing of the (boxes) he will please manifest it by rising."

THE GATE BEAUTIFUL. There are many beautiful gates in life to higher and better things. The Gate of Hope, the Gate of Love, the Gate of Character, the Gate of Faithfulness, the Gate of Prayer. Jesus Christ is the Beautiful Gate to eternal life.

The temple of religion has a beautiful gate in it; but in one important respect it differs from the beautiful gate of the Jewish temple. On the pillars on either side of that gate were engraved in Greek letters the words, Let no stranger pass beyond this on pain of death. But through the beautiful gate of the gospel every one is free to enter into the holiest place. And that at all times.

SCENE III. The Meeting of the Three (vs. 3-5). 3. Who seeing Peter and John. As these were well-known men frequenting the temple where this man was wont to be brought, it would seem that he must have known something about them. About to

4. And Pe'ter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. 5. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from

them.

But

give I thee

6. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but 1In the name of Je'sus Christ of Năz'a-rěth, 7. And he took him by the right hand, and his feet and his ankle-bones ancle bones received strength.

1 Acts 4: 10.

lifted hum

raised him up

what

was I have, that rise up and walk.

and immediately

go into the temple. From the noisy Court of the Gentiles into the inner courts with the worshipers.

4. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him. Fastening, àrevioas, is from reivw, to stretch, and a, intensive, and means to fasten the eyes on anything with tense attention. Our word "attention" has the same literal meaning. Peter looked at the man with intense gaze, as if to see into his very soul, whether he was one in whom faith could be awakened, and to whom it would be wise and safe to impart the blessing of healing. It has been said that no faith was required of the lame man, but the call to rise and walk, in the name of Jesus, was a test of faith, and the man's acting upon Peter's word was an act of faith. Look on us. Calling his attention to what they were about to do, and awakening faith and obedience. He probably knew something of the divine power working through them, and was thus ready to believe in their Master.

5. And he gave heed. Because their intense gaze showed him that they had more than a hasty gift. He probably knew something of the generosity of the Christians described in the last chapter. So the Israelite bitten by the fiery serpents looked upon the brazen serpent held up for his healing (Num. 21: 9. See Isa. 45: 22).

NOTE the guiding providence of God, and how great the outcome of this seemingly accidental meeting. Every life is full of these providences. A very small thing has changed the whole course of our lives. The career of the famous preacher F. W. Robertson was changed by the barking of a dog. See E. E. Hale's story of “Hands Off ” in his Christmas in a Palace. Condensed in Suggestive Illustrations on Acts, p. 417.

SCENE IV. The Healing of the Lame Man (vs. 6, 7). 6. Then. Better "but." Silver and gold have I none. Peter had ieft all to follow Jesus, and was dependent on others for his support, as Jesus had commanded (Matt. 10: 9). The statement shows that the apostles had not enriched themselves by the generosity of the new converts, but joined with them in their benevolence. No one had given up more for Jesus than they; but they asked for themselves no more than the most obscure believer. But such as I have give I thee. The presence of the Holy Spirit, the power to heal in Jesus' name, the knowledge of salvation and eternal life, the power to show the way of peace and joy, and the loving-kindness of the heavenly Father. The great works of the gospel cannot be done by silver and gold. They cannot give peace, or comfort, healing of body or soul, forgiveness of sins, the love of God, salvation, character, or any of the best things. The men who have done the most for the world have not been known for their riches. Jesus was poor, and Paul, and Luther, and the Wesleys, and Milton, Homer, Socrates, Dante. Peter had greater gifts to bestow than if he had possessed "the wealth of Ormus or of Ind," or had "Affluent Fortune emptied all her horn" into his cup. In the name. The name expresses the whole being, his character, powers, and heart. Of Jesus Christ. As the efficient cause, as the real living giver. Christ healed in his own name, the apostles in Christ's name. Because this expressed the real facts of the case. And because if the apostles worked miracles in their own name, it would have drawn attention to themselves, and not to the Saviour; while now, both Jesus and the apostles pointed men to the Messiah, and thus to God. Of Nazareth. This is added to make perfectly clear to whom he referred. This one, so despised by the Jews, proves himself to be the Messiah, and to be now living, by doing now the same works he had done when in the flesh. Rise up and walk. The R. V., as in the best MSS., has simply "walk." "This, at the first view, might have seemed an absurd command. For the cripple might have readily objected, Why hast thou not first given me legs and feet? For this is a plain mock, when as thou biddest a man without feet to go." Calvin. "But the man understood the words aright; for they were interpreted to him by the tingling life that, as they were uttered, rushed triumphantly into his dead limbs.” Kitto.

7. And he took him by the right hand. To strengthen his faith, to encourage the