the acts of the apostles-第3章

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forth　to　preach。〃　Mark　3：13；　14。

Look　upon　the　touching　scene。　Behold　the　Majesty　of　heaven　surrounded　by　the
Twelve　whom　He　has　chosen。　He　is　about　to　set　them　apart　for　their　work。　By
these　feeble　agencies；　through　His　word　and　Spirit；　He　designs　to　place
salvation　within　the　reach　of　all。

With　gladness　and　rejoicing；　God　and　the　angels　beheld　this　scene。　The
Father　knew　that　from　these　men　the　light　of　heaven　would　shine　forth；　that
the　words　spoken　by

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them　as　they　witnessed　for　His　Son；　would　echo　from　generation　to　generation
till　the　close　of　time。

The　disciples　were　to　go　forth　as　Christ's　witnesses；　to　declare　to　the
world　what　they　had　seen　and　heard　of　Him。　Their　office　was　the　most
important　to　which　human　beings　had　ever　been　called；　second　only　to　that　of
Christ　Himself。　They　were　to　be　workers　together　with　God　for　the　saving　of
men。　As　in　the　Old　Testament　the　twelve　patriarchs　stood　as　representatives
of　Israel；　so　the　twelve　apostles　stand　as　representatives　of　the　gospel
church。

During　His　earthly　ministry　Christ　began　to　break　down　the　partition　wall
between　Jew　and　Gentile；　and　to　preach　salvation　to　all　mankind。　Though　He
was　a　Jew；　He　mingled　freely　with　the　Samaritans；　setting　at　nought　the
Pharisaic　customs　of　the　Jews　with　regard　to　this　despised　people。　He　slept
under　their　roofs；　ate　at　their　tables；　and　taught　in　their　streets。

The　Saviour　longed　to　unfold　to　His　disciples　the　truth　regarding　the
breaking　down　of　the　〃middle　wall　of　partition〃　between　Israel　and　the　other
nationsthe　truth　that　〃the　Gentiles　should　be　fellow　heirs〃　with　the　Jews
and　〃partakers　of　His　promise　in　Christ　by　the　gospel。〃　Ephesians　2：14；　3：6。
This　truth　was　revealed　in　part　at　the　time　when　He　rewarded　the　faith　of
the　centurion　at　Capernaum；　and　also　when　He　preached　the　gospel　to　the
inhabitants　of　Sychar。　Still　more　plainly　was　it　revealed　on　the　occasion　of
His　visit　to　Phoenicia；　when　He　healed　the　daughter　of　the　Canaanite　woman。
These　experiences　helped　the　disciples　to　understand　that　among　those　whom
many　regarded

20

as　unworthy　of　salvation；　there　were　souls　hungering　for　the　light　of　truth。

Thus　Christ　sought　to　teach　the　disciples　the　truth　that　in　God's　kingdom
there　are　no　territorial　lines；　no　caste；　no　aristocracy；　that　they　must　go
to　all　nations；　bearing　to　them　the　message　of　a　Saviour's　love。　But　not
until　later　did　they　realize　in　all　its　fullness　that　God　〃hath　made　of　one
blood　all　nations　of　men　for　to　dwell　on　all　the　face　of　the　earth；　and　hath
determined　the　times　before　appointed；　and　the　bounds　of　their　habitation；
that　they　should　seek　the　Lord；　if　haply　they　might　feel　after　Him；　and　find
Him；　though　He　be　not　far　from　every　one　of　us。〃　Acts　17：26；　27。

In　these　first　disciples　was　presented　marked　diversity。　They　were　to　be　the
world's　teachers；　and　they　represented　widely　varied　types　of　character。　In
order　successfully　to　carry　forward　the　work　to　which　they　had　been　called；
these　men；　differing　in　natural　characteristics　and　in　habits　of　life；
needed　to　come　into　unity　of　feeling；　thought；　and　action。　This　unity　it　was
Christ's　object　to　secure。　To　this　end　He　sought　to　bring　them　into　unity
with　Himself。　The　burden　of　His　labor　for　them　is　expressed　in　His　prayer　to
His　Father；　〃That　they　all　may　be　one；　as　Thou；　Father；　art　in　Me；　and　I　in
Thee；　that　they　also　may　be　one　in　Us；〃　〃that　the　world　may　know　that　Thou
has　sent　Me；　and　hast　loved　them；　as　Thou　hast　loved　Me。〃　John　17：21；　23。
His　constant　prayer　for　them　was　that　they　might　be　sanctified　through　the
truth；　and　He　prayed　with　assurance；　knowing　that　an　Almighty　decree　had
been　given　before　the　world　was

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made。　He　knew　that　the　gospel　of　the　kingdom　would　be　preached　to　all
nations　for　a　witness；　He　knew　that　truth　armed　with　the　omnipotence　of　the
Holy　Spirit；　would　conquer　in　the　battle　with　evil；　and　that　the
bloodstained　banner　would　one　day　wave　triumphantly　over　His　followers。

As　Christ's　earthly　ministry　drew　to　a　close；　and　He　realized　that　He　must
soon　leave　His　disciples　to　carry　on　the　work　without　His　personal
supervision；　He　sought　to　encourage　them　and　to　prepare　them　for　the　future。
He　did　not　deceive　them　with　false　hopes。　As　an　open　book　He　read　what　was
to　be。　He　knew　He　was　about　to　be　separated　from　them；　to　leave　them　as
sheep　among　wolves。　He　knew　that　they　would　suffer　persecution；　that　they
would　be　cast　out　of　the　synagogues；　and　would　be　thrown　into　prison。　He
knew　that　for　witnessing　to　Him　as　the　Messiah；　some　of　them　would　suffer
death。　And　something　of　this　He　told　them。　In　speaking　of　their　future；　He
was　plain　and　definite；　that　in　their　coming　trial　they　might　remember　His
words　and　be　strengthened　to　believe　in　Him　as　the　Redeemer。

He　spoke　to　them　also　words　of　hope　and　courage。　〃Let　not　your　heart　be
troubled；〃　He　said；　〃ye　believe　in　God；　believe　also　in　Me。　In　My　Father's
house　are　many　mansions：　if　it　were　not　so；　I　would　have　told　you。　I　go　to
prepare　a　place　for　you。　And　if　I　go　and　prepare　a　place　for　you；　I　will
come　again；　and　receive　you　unto　Myself；　that　where　I　am；　there　ye　may　be
also。　And　whither　I　go　ye　know；　and　the　way　ye　know。〃　John　14：1…4。　For　your
sake　I　came　into　the　world；　for　you　I　have　been　working。

22

When　I　go　away　I　shall　still　work　earnestly　for　you。　I　came　to　the　world　to
reveal　Myself　to　you；　that　you　might　believe。　I　go　to　My　Father　and　yours　to
co…operate　with　Him　in　your　behalf。

〃Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；　He　that　believeth　on　Me；　the　works　that　I
do　shall　he　do　also；　and　greater　works　than　these　shall　he　do；　because　I　go
unto　My　Father。〃　John　14：12。　By　this；　Christ　did　not　mean　that　the　disciples
would　make　more　exalted　exertions　than　He　had　made；　but　that　their　work
would　have　greater　magnitude。　He　did　not　refer　merely　to　miracle　working；
but　to　all　that　would　take　place　under　the　agency　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　〃When
the　Comforter　is　come；〃　He　said；　〃whom　I　will　send　unto　you　from　the　Father；
even　the　Spirit　of　truth；　which　proceedeth　from　the　Father；　He　shall　testify
of　Me：　and　ye　also　shall　bear　witness；　because　ye　have　been　with　Me　from　the
beginning。〃　John　15：26；　27。

Wonderfully　were　these　words　fulfilled。　After　the　descent　of　the　Holy
Spirit；　the　disciples　were　so　filled　with　love　for　Him　and　for　those　for
whom　He　died；　that　hearts　were　melted　by　the　words　they　spoke　and　the
prayers　they　offered。　They　spoke　in　the　power　of　the　Spirit；　and　under　the
influence　of　that　power；　thousands　were　converted。

As　Christ's　representatives　the　apostles　were　to　make　a　decided　impression
on　the　world。　The　fact　that　they　were　humble　men　would　not　diminish　their
influence；　but　increase　it；　for　the　minds　of　their　hearers　would　be　carried
from　them　to　the　Saviour；　who；　though　unseen；　was　still　working　with　them。
The　wonderful　teaching　of　the　apostles；　their

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words　of　courage　and　trust；　would　assure　all　that　it　was　not　in　their　own
power　that　they　worked；　but　in　the　power　of　Christ。　Humbling　themselves；
they　would　declare　that　He　whom　the　Jews　had　crucified　was　the　Prince　of
life；　the　Son　of　the　living　God；　and　that　in　His　name　they　did　the　works
that　He　had　done。

In　His　parting　conversation　with　His　disciples　on　the　night　before　the
crucifixion　the　Saviour　made　no　reference　to　the　suffering　that　He　had
endured　and　must　yet　endure。　He　did　not　speak　of　the　humiliation　that　was
before　Him；　but　sought　to　bring　to　their　minds　that　which　would　strengthen
their　faith；　leading　them　to　look　forward　to　the　joys　that　await　the
overcomer。　He　rejoiced　in　the　consciousness　that　He　could　and　would　do　more
for　His　followers　than　He　had　promised；　that　from　Him　would　flow　forth　love
and　compassion；　cleansing　the　soul　temple；　and　making　men　like　Him　in
character；　that　His　truth；　armed　with　the　power　of　the　Spirit；　would　go
forth　conquering　and　to　conquer。

〃These　things　I　have　spoken　unto　you；〃　He　said；　〃that　in　Me　ye　might　have
peace。　In　the　world　ye　shall　have　tribulation：　but　be　of　good　cheer；　I　have
overcome　the　world。〃　John　16：33。　Christ　did　not　fail；　neither　was　He
discouraged；　and　the　disciples　were　to　show　a　faith　of　the　same　enduring
nature。　They　were　to　work　as　He　had　worked；　depending　on　Him　for　strength。
Though　their　way　would　be　obstructed　by　apparent　impossibilities；　yet　by　His
grace　they　were　to　go　forward；　despairing　of　nothing　and　hoping　for
everything。

24


Christ　had　finished　the　work　that　was　given　Him　to　do。　He　had　gathered　out
those　who　were　to　continue　His　work　among　men。　And　He　said：　〃I　am　glorified
in　them。　And　now　I　am　no　more　in　the　world；　but　these　are　in　the　world；　and
I　come　to　Thee。　Holy　Father；　keep　through　Thine　own　name　those　whom　Thou
hast　given　Me；　that　they　may　be　one；　as　We　are。〃　〃Neither　pray　I　for　these
alone；　but　for　them　also　which　shall　believe　on　Me　through　their　word；　that
they　all　may　be　one；　。　。　。　I　in　them　and　Thou　in　Me；　that　they　may　be　made
perfect　in　one；　and　that　the　world　may　know　that　Thou　hast　sent　Me；　and　hast
loved　them；　as　Thou　hast　loved　Me。〃　John　17：10；　11；　20…23。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　3

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Great　Commission


After　the　death　of　Christ　the　disciples　were　well…nigh　overcome　by
discouragement。　Their　Master　had　been　rejected；　condemned；　and　crucified。
The　priests　and　rulers　had　declared　scornfully；　〃He　saved　others；　Himself　He
cannot　save。　If　He　be　the　King　of　Israel；　let　Him　now　come　down　from　the
cross；　and　we　will　believe　Him。〃　Matthew　27：42。　The　sun　of　the　disciples'
hope　had　set；　and　night　settled　down　upon　their　hearts。　Often　they　repeated
the　words；　〃We　trusted　that　it　had　been　He　which　should　have　redeemed
Israel。〃　Luke　24：21。　Lonely　and　sick　at　heart；　they　remembered　His　words；
〃If　they　do　these　things　in　a　green　tree；　what　shall　be　done　in　the　dry？〃
Luke　23：31。

Jesus　had　several　times　attempted　to　open　the　future　to　His　disciples；　but
they　had　not　cared　to　think　about　what　He　said。　Because　of　this　His　death
had　come　to　them　as　a　surprise；　and　afterward；　as　they　reviewed　the　past　and
saw　the　result　of　their　unbelief；　they　were　filled　with　sorrow。

26

When　Christ　was　crucified；　they　did　not　believe　that　He　would　rise。　He　had
stated　plainly　that　He　was　to　rise　on　the　third　day；　but　they　were　perplexed
to　know　what　He　meant。　This　lack　of　comprehension　left　them　at　the　time　of
His　death　in　utter　hopelessness。　They　were　bitterly　disappointed。　Their
faith　did　not　penetrate　beyond　the　shadow　that　Satan　had　cast　athwart　their
horizon。　All　seemed　vague　and　mysterious　to　them。　If　they　had　believed　the
Saviour's　words；　how　much　sorrow　they　might　have　been　spared！

Crushed　by　despondency；　grief；　and　despair；　the　disciples　met　together　in
the　upper　chamber；　and　closed　and　fastened　the　doors；　fearing　that　the　fate
of　their　beloved　Teacher　might　be　theirs。　It　was　here　that　the　Saviour；
after　His　re