To what place did Judas go? Is it not an honor equally great to be permitted Are not all Christians witnesses for Christ? GENERAL QUESTION. Moses was called of God to the work of delivering the children of Israel from the tyranny of Pharaoh will you relate the principal facts connected with this call? LESSON XLVI. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Ghost, speak divers Languages. CH. ii. 1-13. 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them: 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utter ance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed, and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak, Galileans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and pros elytes, Il Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking, said, These men are full of new wine. WHAT transaction was recorded in the last lesson? Who was chosen to the apostleship? Is there not reason to believe that he was first called of God, and afterwards chosen by the apostles? 1.UPON what occasion were the apostles now assembled? Did they continue to be in peace and harmony among themselves? Is not this evidence that they had profited by the instructions of Christ? Can any portion of Christ's professing people expect a blessing from him, if they are not in the exercise of love towards each other? 2 WHAT was suddenly heard? Was this a miraculous event? 3 WHAT other remarkable occurrence is recorded? Were not these events the result of divine power? 4 WHAT effect did they produce upon the disciples? What did the Holy Spirit, taking possession of their minds, enable them to do? Was the gift of speaking with strange tongues common in the time of the apostles? - 1 Cor. 12: 10 and 28. Is not God capable of bestowing gifts equally valuable upon his people now? .5 WHO were dwelling at Jerusalem? For what object had they probably come to Jerusalem, from so many different places, at that time? V. 1. 6 WHEN the tidings of this miracle spread abroad, what was the effect? How were the multitudes affected by what they heard? 7 WHAT did the people say to each other? Of what nation was Galilee a province? 8-11 How many different languages are here enumerated? What was probably the reason that the gift of tongues was conferred upon the apostles at this time? Without such a gift, would it have been possible for them to impart a knowledge of Christ to people of so many different nations? Has not God given to Christians, of the present day, the ability to accomplish by natural means what could not been effected in the days of the apostles without this miraculous power? 12 DID the people soon recover from their amazement? Did they readily believe? What inquiry did they make? 13 WERE there not some who disbelieved? With what did they charge the apostles? If they had listened attentively, would they have been likely to put so uncharitable a construction upon what they witnessed? Are not we in danger, by disregarding the gospel, of misunderstanding and perverting it? GENERAL QUESTION. Will you give some account of the confusion of tongues at the tower of Babel? LESSON XLVII. The Address of Peter. CH. ii. 14 — 36. 14 But Péter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, (saith God,) I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants, and on my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smuke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come. 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved. 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man ap proved of God among you by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens, but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. RESPECTING What miraculous event did you learn in the last lesson? By what power were the apostles enabled to speak in different tongues? Why was it necessary that they should do so at that particular time? What effect did this event produce among the people? 14 WHOSE address is contained in this and the sub sequent verses? Who stood up with Peter? Whom did he address? 15 How did he defend his brethren from the charge of those who mocked them? — V. 13. On feast days, the Jews seldom ate or drank till noon: did not this fact render the calumny more incredible? If the people had known the apostles, would they have dared to have brought such a charge? 16-21 To what prophecy does Peter here refer? Joel 2:28-32. Was this a complete fulfilment of the prophecy, or only a commencement? If God should "pour out His Spirit upon all flesh," would not this secure the conversion of the whole world? May we not expect such an event? Cannot we contribute something towards its accomplishment? 22 To whom does Peter renew his appeal? To whom does he refer? In what terms does he describe the history of He refers to their own knowledge of him: what Had they availed themselves of these means? 23 How had the Jews treated Jesus? Was it not the appointment of God that Jesus should suffer? Were the Jews any the less guilty on that account? 24 How had God rescued Jesus from the ignominy of his punishment? Would not Christ have been dishonored by the crucifixion, if God had not raised him up? 25-28 WHOSE language does Peter here quote? Will you compare these verses with Ps. 16:8-11? 29 Or whom does Peter now speak?, Was the place of David's burial known among the Jews at that time? 30 WAS David a prophet, as well as a king? What had God promised him? Was this promise fulfilled? 31 WHAT great event, as you learn from this verse, did David foresee? |