Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1892 — SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. [ARTICLE]

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

r«M<m TIL-AifUt 14. I ANANIAS AMD SAPPHUU.—Acts 5: 2-11. Supt.—l. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession. School.—2. And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it. and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3. But Peter said, Ananias, why hast Satan tilled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4. While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast tb<?u conceived this thing in thine heart? -thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5. And Ananias hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost; and great fear camo on all them that heard these things. 6. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out and buried him. 7. And it.was about the space of three hours After, when his wife, not knowing what was done, camo in. • 8. And Peter answered unto her. Tell me whether ye sold the land for So much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9. Then Peter said unto liar. How is it that ye have-agreed together to tempt the Spirit bf tho Lord? behold, the foot of them which have buried thy husband aro at the door, and shall carry thee Out. ; - 10. Thep fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost; and: the ypung men came in. and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. « 11. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. . “

~ The Section of History includes simply the lesson, with a glance at the progress the Church had made Up to this time, especially chapter 2:4247, and 4:33-37. Time. —A. D. 30-33. Within two or three years of the last lesson. Place. —Jerusalem. Circumstances —After the release of Petsp the Church prospered. The Christians lived together as brethren, preached, taught, helped the -poor, rejoiced in the Lord.. j\fanyZ „sold theirproperty to give aid to the poor. Among this.number was Barnabas, who afterwards became the companion of Paul. In contrast with him, and with the holy life qj the Church, an instance of hypocrisy is given in the case of Ananias. Helps over Hard Places. —1. Ananias : grace of. God. Nothing is known of him but is related here. Sapphira: a Q sapphire, or beauty. Sold : ostensibly to give to the poor. 2. Kept back part: while pretehding to give it all (v. 8). His wife also being privy to it: mentioned to show that the sin was deliberately committed. at the apostle’s feet: in public, at a meeting, thus seeking to gain notoriety as a generous man and a saint. 3. Lie to the Holy. Ghost: because the offering was made to God rather than to man. 4. While it remained : undedicated to God. No one compelled! him to give away his money. 5. Gave up the ghost: his spirit; life. Peter did not kill him. It was the direct act of God. 6. Buried him : the Jews usually buried their dead the same day they died. 7, 8. His wife : Peter’gave her an opportunity of confession. But he did not wait for her to know her husband had died, for then her confession would have been insincere. And great fear (aweY came upon all the church: greatfear, fearof God, an intelligent fear of his searching vision and unerring judgment, and a dread conviction of the deadliness of sin. To produce such a fear as should deter others from a like offense was God’s intention in this miracle of punishment. Cambridge Bible. The Church were afraid to sin, afraid to be hypocrites, and this tended to their purity. The natural result of this was seen in great numbers added to the Church (v. 14). And God worked a great number of miracles of healing through the apostles. Spiritual and temporal blessings abounded. (2) Upon the world. Upon as many as heard: otherswere.(a) afraid ou account of their sins, and this tended to their conversion. (b) Having witnessed the awful consequences of inconsistency in the profession of the Christian faith, they felt that there was no littleperil in joining.® community endued with miraculous power of discriminating hypocrisy and unworthy motives, as well as with gifts of and healing. And thia tended 13) to save the Church from all pretenders and hypocrites, and keep it pure and powerful for its work. The punishment of these is not a more signal proof of God’a hatred of falsehood,than the sparing of so many liars is an evidence of his mercy. Subjects for Further Study and Special Reports. —The attack on the Church from without, 'by persecution , The danger from within ; The state of the Church at this time; Barnabas ; Ananias and Sapphira ; Their motive; Their sin; Lying; Hypocrisy ; Lying unto God ; Modern applications ; Their punishment; The effect upon the Church.