Who was Pilate? Whom did the disciples mean, by "Gentiles"? ANS. Probably, the Roman soldiers. 28 And though the only object of these people was, to oppose the Messiah, what, in fact, did they bring to pass?

29 Though the disciples entreated God to notice the threatenings of their persecutors, they did not pray for vengeance-for what did they pray?

30 In what way did the Apostles desire that God would continue to sanction them?

31 When they had thus prayed, what happened? And what followed this shaking, or rushing noise? This must have been very similar to the descent of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost-what was the consequence of their being thus divinely influenced ?

32 Now we have an account of the whole multitude of believers, of their disposition and their conduct-what are we told of their disposition? As might be expected perhaps, in such circumstances, what conduct was the result of such a oneness of affection?

33 The Apostles, it seems, persevered in bearing their testimony of Jesus-of what particular fact concerning him? And with what success did they bear this witness? What mark of the Divine approbation did they receive?

34 And, though probably they

met with persecution, none among them were suffered to want-how was this accomplished?

35 Through whose medium was the produce of these sales distributed? On what principle did the Apostles distribute it?

36 One among these benefactors, it seems, was thought worthy of being distinctly mentioned-what was his name? By what additional name did the Apostles call him? What is the meaning of Barnabas? What was Barnabas? Where did he usually reside? Where was Cyprus? ANs. An island in the Mediterranean sea.

37 Of what was Barnabas possessed? What did he do with this land? But he could not, according to the law of Moses, sell the estate which belonged to him as a Levite -then what was it, probably, that he sold? ANS. Either land which he possessed at Cyprus, or (which is more probable) some land in Judea, to which he had a title until the next jubilee. What did Barnabas do with the produce of this sale? And what should this teach us? ANS. To make peculiar sacrifices to relieve the necessities of our fellow-christians, in seasons of peculiar trial.

CHAP. V.

1 AT the end of the last chapter, we had an account of a noble instance of generosity, in one of the disciples-what was his name?

But in this chapter, we have a most affecting account of two persons, who wished to appear equally generous, but who were guilty of the most awful deception--what was the man's name? What was his wife's name? In what did they imitate the conduct of Joses?

2 But wherein did they deviate from his example? Whom did Ananias take into his confidence, in this transaction? Retaining part, what did they do with the other part?

3 And this part, Ananias represented as the whole, though Peter knew otherwise-of what therefore did Peter accuse Ananias? To what influence did Peter ascribe this sin in Ananias?

4 In the 4th verse, to show the unreasonableness of the deception, Peter asks Ananias two questions -what was the first? And what was the second? What do these questions prove? ANS. That the donations contributed for the use of this first Christian society were in every respect voluntary: none were compelled to sell their estates; nor, if they sold them, were they under any obligation to part with the produce. Then why was Ananias to blame for retaining a part of the produce of his estate? ANS. His sin consisted, not in retaining a part, but in representing that the other part was the whole. And though, in the 3d verse, Peter had ascribed the sin of Ananias to satanic influ

ence, upon whom, in the 4th verse, does he expressly charge it? What does this teach us? ANs. That the temptations of Satan, like those of wicked companions, ought to be resisted; and that, though they entice us, if we consent to sin, the sin becomes ours. In this deception, it seems, Ananias lied, not to men only-but also to whom? This is strictly true of every liar-but wherein is it peculiarly true of Ananias? ANs. Inasmuch as his conduct was an attempt to deceive those persons, who, he could not but know, were especially enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

5 The conscience of Ananias acknowledging all this, what was the immediate effect? What is "giving up the ghost"? What was the effect of this judgment on those who heard it?

6 What did some, who were present when Ananias died, immediately do?

7 Who came in soon after this? Whose wife? What was her name? How soon after the death of her husband did she come in? Of what, when she came, was she ignorant?

8 Peter (perhaps to afford her an opportunity of confessing her sin) did not actually charge her with being a party to what her husband had done, but questioned herhow? And what was her answer to this question?

9 And her meaning was, for only so much-therefore, then with what

did Peter charge her? And then he proceeded to pronounce her doom -what was it?

10 What was the immediate effect on Sapphira? Then what did the young men do? All this occupied but a short time-how are we to account for this very speedy burial of Ananias and Sapphira? ANS. Partly, perhaps, from the climate, which might render it expedient, lest their bodies should be offensive; as, in Judea, the dead were not enclosed in coffins, nor in these instances, were there any spices used as preservatives: it is common now in India, to bury the dead, on the day on which they die. What other reason might there be for such speedy interment! ANs. It was in agreement with the Jewish law (Deut. xxi. 22, 23.) which enacted that all who committed crimes worthy of death, should be buried on the day on which they died, lest the land should be defiled.

11 What was the effect of these awful judgments upon the church? And upon whom,besides the church, was the same effect produced?

12 How, in the midst of all this, were the Apostles sanctioned? Where did the Apostles and disciples usually meet, at this time?

13 In the 13th verse, we are told the effect on some in particularwho are meant by "the rest"? ANS. All those, who, like Ananias and Sapphira, were half-hearted and hypocritical in their desire to unite themselves with the church. What was the

effect of these judgments on such characters? What were the sentiments of the people in general, with respect to the Apostles?

14 And though hypocrites were deterred from making a profession of Christianity,--what are we told of real believers?

12 Part ofthe 12th and the whole of the 13th and 14th verses, form what we call a parenthesis, or something unconnected, placed between what is immediately before and after it; so that the 15th verse should be read in connexion with the former part of the 12th-Read the former part of the 12th verse.

15 Now look at the 15th verse, and tell me-of what kind were these signs and wonders? Who brought these sick people into the streets? With what view did they do this?

16 Nor was this confined to Jerusalem-how far did it extend? Nor were those only, afflicted with common diseases, brought-but what persons besides? And how was the faith of these people rewarded?

From this history of Ananias and Sapphira, we may learn many important lessons-in what way will it apply to us? ANS. It should excite in us a dread of all lying, but especially of hypocrisy in the concerns of religion; for though lying is now very seldom punished as in these examples, yet it is equally offensive to God, who