the acts of the apostles-第6章

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demonstration　was　in　direct　fulfillment　of　the　prophecy　of　Joel；　wherein　he
foretold　that　such　power　would　come　upon　men　to　fit　them　for　a　special　work。
〃Ye　men　of　Judea；　and　all　ye　that　dwell　at　Jerusalem；〃　he　said；　〃be　this
known　unto　you；　and　hearken　to　my　words：　for　these　are　not　drunken；　as　ye
suppose；　seeing　it　is　but　the　third　hour　of　the　day。　But　this　is　that　which
was　spoken　by　the　prophet　Joel：　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：　and　on　My　servants　and　on　My　handmaidens　I
will　pour　out　in　those　days　of　My　Spirit；　and　they　shall　prophesy。〃

With　clearness　and　power　Peter　bore　witness　of　the　death　and　resurrection　of
Christ：　〃Ye　men　of　Israel；　hear　these　words：　Jesus　of　Nazareth；　a　man
approved　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：　Him　。　。　。　ye　have
taken；　and　by　wicked　hands　have　crucified　and　slain：　whom　God　hath　raised
up；　having　loosed　the　pains　of　death：　because　it　was　not　possible　that　He
should　be　holden　of　it。〃

Peter　did　not　refer　to　the　teachings　of　Christ　to　prove　his　position；
because　he　knew　that　the　prejudice　of　his　hearers　was　so　great　that　his
words　on　this　subject　would　be　of　no　effect。　Instead；　he　spoke　to　them　of
David；　who　was　regarded　by　the　Jews　as　one　of　the　patriarchs　of　their
nation。　〃David　speaketh　concerning　Him；〃　he　declared：　〃I　foresaw　the

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Lord　always　before　My　face；　for　He　is　on　My　right　hand；　that　I　should　not　be
moved：　therefore　did　My　heart　rejoice；　and　My　tongue　was　glad；　moreover　also
My　flesh　shall　rest　in　hope：　because　Thou　wilt　not　leave　My　soul　in　hell；
neither　wilt　Thou　suffer　Thine　Holy　One　to　see　corruption。　。　。　。

〃Men　and　brethren；　let　me　freely　speak　unto　you　of　the　patriarch　David；　that
he　is　both　dead　and　buried；　and　his　sepulcher　is　with　us　unto　this　day。〃　〃He
。　。　。　spake　of　the　resurrection　of　Christ；　that　His　soul　was　not　left　in
hell；　neither　His　flesh　did　see　corruption。　This　Jesus　hath　God　raised　up；
whereof　we　all　are　witnesses。〃

The　scene　is　one　full　of　interest。　Behold　the　people　coming　from　all
directions　to　hear　the　disciples　witness　to　the　truth　as　it　is　in　Jesus。
They　press　in；　crowding　the　temple。　Priests　and　rulers　are　there；　the　dark
scowl　of　malignity　still　on　their　faces；　their　hearts　still　filled　with
abiding　hatred　against　Christ；　their　hands　uncleansed　from　the　blood　shed
when　they　crucified　the　world's　Redeemer。　They　had　thought　to　find　the
apostles　cowed　with　fear　under　the　strong　hand　of　oppression　and　murder；　but
they　find　them　lifted　above　all　fear　and　filled　with　the　Spirit；　proclaiming
with　power　the　divinity　of　Jesus　of　Nazareth。　They　hear　them　declaring　with
boldness　that　the　One　so　recently　humiliated；　derided；　smitten　by　cruel
hands；　and　crucified；　is　the　Prince　of　life；　now　exalted　to　the　right　hand
of　God。

Some　of　those　who　listened　to　the　apostles　had　taken　an　active　part　in　the
condemnation　and　death　of　Christ。　Their　voices　had　mingled　with　the　rabble
in　calling　for　His

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crucifixion。　When　Jesus　and　Barabbas　stood　before　them　in　the　judgment　hall
and　Pilate　asked；　〃Whom　will　ye　that　I　release　unto　you？〃　they　had　shouted；
〃Not　this　Man；　but　Barabbas！〃　Matthew　27：17；　John　18：40。　When　Pilate
delivered　Christ　to　them；　saying；　〃Take　ye　Him；　and　crucify　Him：　for　I　find
no　fault　in　Him；〃　〃I　am　innocent　of　the　blood　of　this　just　Person；〃　they　had
cried；　〃His　blood　be　on　us；　and　on　our　children。〃　John　19：6；　Matthew　27：24；
25。

Now　they　heard　the　disciples　declaring　that　it　was　the　Son　of　God　who　had
been　crucified。　Priests　and　rulers　trembled。　Conviction　and　anguish　seized
the　people。　〃They　were　pricked　in　their　heart；　and　said　unto　Peter　and　to
the　rest　of　the　apostles；　Men　and　brethren；　what　shall　we　do？〃　Among　those
who　listened　to　the　disciples　were　devout　Jews；　who　were　sincere　in　their
belief。　The　power　that　accompanied　the　words　of　the　speaker　convinced　them
that　Jesus　was　indeed　the　Messiah。

〃Then　Peter　said　unto　them；　Repent；　and　be　baptized　every　one　of　you　in　the
name　of　Jesus　Christ　for　the　remission　of　sins；　and　ye　shall　receive　the
gift　of　the　Holy　Ghost。　For　the　promise　is　unto　you；　and　to　your　children；
and　to　all　that　are　afar　off；　even　as　many　as　the　Lord　our　God　shall　call。〃

Peter　urged　home　upon　the　convicted　people　the　fact　that　they　had　rejected
Christ　because　they　had　been　deceived　by　priests　and　rulers；　and　that　if
they　continued　to　look　to　these　men　for　counsel；　and　waited　for　them　to
acknowledge　Christ　before　they　dared　to　do　so；　they　would　never　accept　Him。
These　powerful　men；　though　making　a　profession

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of　godliness；　were　ambitious　for　earthly　riches　and　glory。　They　were　not
willing　to　come　to　Christ　to　receive　light。

Under　the　influence　of　this　heavenly　illumination　the　scriptures　that　Christ
had　explained　to　the　disciples　stood　out　before　them　with　the　luster　of
perfect　truth。　The　veil　that　had　prevented　them　from　seeing　to　the　end　of
that　which　had　been　abolished；　was　now　removed；　and　they　comprehended　with
perfect　clearness　the　object　of　Christ's　mission　and　the　nature　of　His
kingdom。　They　could　speak　with　power　of　the　Saviour；　and　as　they　unfolded　to
their　hearers　the　plan　of　salvation；　many　were　convicted　and　convinced。　The
traditions　and　superstitions　inculcated　by　the　priests　were　swept　away　from
their　minds；　and　the　teachings　of　the　Saviour　were　accepted。

〃Then　they　that　gladly　received　his　word　were　baptized：　and　the　same　day
there　were　added　unto　them　about　three　thousand　souls。〃

The　Jewish　leaders　had　supposed　that　the　work　of　Christ　would　end　with　His
death；　but；　instead　of　this；　they　witnessed　the　marvelous　scenes　of　the　Day
of　Pentecost。　They　heard　the　disciples；　endowed　with　a　power　and　energy
hitherto　unknown；　preaching　Christ；　their　words　confirmed　by　signs　and
wonders。　In　Jerusalem；　the　stronghold　of　Judaism；　thousands　openly　declared
their　faith　in　Jesus　of　Nazareth　as　the　Messiah。

The　disciples　were　astonished　and　overjoyed　at　the　greatness　of　the　harvest
of　souls。　They　did　not　regard　this　wonderful　ingathering　as　the　result　of
their　own　efforts；　they　realized　that　they　were　entering　into　other　men's
labors。

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Ever　since　the　fall　of　Adam；　Christ　had　been　committing　to　chosen　servants
the　seed　of　His　word；　to　be　sown　in　human　hearts。　During　His　life　on　this
earth　He　had　sown　the　seed　of　truth　and　had　watered　it　with　His　blood。　The
conversions　that　took　place　on　the　Day　of　Pentecost　were　the　result　of　this
sowing；　the　harvest　of　Christ's　work；　revealing　the　power　of　His　teaching。

The　arguments　of　the　apostles　alone；　though　clear　and　convincing；　would　not
have　removed　the　prejudice　that　had　withstood　so　much　evidence。　But　the　Holy
Spirit　sent　the　arguments　home　to　hearts　with　divine　power。　The　words　of　the
apostles　were　as　sharp　arrows　of　the　Almighty；　convicting　men　of　their
terrible　guilt　in　rejecting　and　crucifying　the　Lord　of　glory。

Under　the　training　of　Christ　the　disciples　had　been　led　to　feel　their　need
of　the　Spirit。　Under　the　Spirit's　teaching　they　received　the　final
qualification；　and　went　forth　to　their　lifework。　No　longer　were　they
ignorant　and　uncultured。　No　longer　were　they　a　collection　of　independent
units　or　discordant；　conflicting　elements。　No　longer　were　their　hopes　set　on
worldly　greatness。　They　were　of　〃one　accord；〃　〃of　one　heart　and　of　one
soul。〃　Acts。　2：46；　4：32。　Christ　filled　their　thoughts；　the　advancement　of
His　kingdom　was　their　aim。　In　mind　and　character　they　had　become　like　their
Master；　and　men　〃took　knowledge　of　them；　that　they　had　been　with　Jesus。〃
Acts　4：13。

Pentecost　brought　them　the　heavenly　illumination。　The　truths　they　could　not
understand　while　Christ　was　with　them　were　now　unfolded。　With　a　faith　and
assurance　that

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they　had　never　before　known；　they　accepted　the　teachings　of　the　Sacred　Word。
No　longer　was　it　a　matter　of　faith　with　them　that　Christ　was　the　Son　of　God。
They　knew　that；　although　clothed　with　humanity；　He　was　indeed　the　Messiah；
and　they　told　their　experience　to　the　world　with　a　confidence　which　carried
with　it　the　conviction　that　God　was　with　them。

They　could　speak　the　name　of　Jesus　with　assurance；　for　was　He　not　their
Friend　and　Elder　Brother？　Brought　into　close　communion　with　Christ；　they　sat
with　Him　in　heavenly　places。　With　what　burning　language　they　clothed　their
ideas　as　they　bore　witness　for　Him！　Their　hearts　were　surcharged　with　a
benevolence　so　full；　so　deep；　so　far…reaching；　that　it　impelled　them　to　go
to　the　ends　of　the　earth；　testifying　to　the　power　of　Christ。　They　were
filled　with　an　intense　longing　to　carry　forward　the　work　He　had　begun。　They
realized　the　greatness　of　their　debt　to　heaven　and　the　responsibility　of
their　work。　Strengthened　by　the　endowment　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　they　went
forth　filled　with　zeal　to　extend　the　triumphs　of　the　cross。　The　Spirit
animated　them　and　spoke　through　them。　The　peace　of　Christ　shone　from　their
faces。　They　had　consecrated　their　lives　to　Him　for　service；　and　their　very
features　bore　evidence　to　the　surrender　they　had　made。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　5

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Gift　of　the　Spirit


When　Christ　gave　His　disciples　the　promise　of　the　Spirit；　He　was　nearing　the
close　of　His　earthly　ministry。　He　was　standing　in　the　shadow　of　the　cross；
with　a　full　realization　of　the　load　of　guilt　that　was　to　rest　upon　Him　as
the　Sin　Bearer。　Before　offering　Himself　as　the　sacrificial　victim；　He
instructed　His　disciples　regarding　a　most　essential　and　complete　gift　which
He　was　to　bestow　upon　His　followersthe　gift　that　would　bring　within　their
reach　the　boundless　resources　of　His　grace。　〃I　will　pray　the　Father；〃　He
said；　〃and　He　shall　give　you　another　Comforter；　that　He　may　abide　with　you
forever；　even　the　Spirit　of　truth；　whom　the　world　cannot　receive；　because　it
seeth　Him　not；　neither　knoweth　Him：　but　ye　know　Him；　for　He　dwelleth　with
you；　and　shall　be　in　you。〃　John　14：16；　17。　The　Saviour　was　pointing　forward
to　the　time　when　the　Holy　Spirit　should　come　to　do　a　mighty　work　as　His
representative。　The　evil　that　had　been　accumulating　for　centuries

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was　to　be　resisted　by　the　divine　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit。

What　was　the　result　of　the　outpouring　of　the　Spirit　on　the　Day　of　Pentecost？
The　glad　tidings　of　a　risen　Saviour　were　carried　to　the　uttermost　parts　of
the　inhabited　world。　As　the　disciples　proclaimed　the　message　of　redeeming
grace；　hearts　yielded　to　the　power　of　this　message。　The　church　beheld
converts　flocking　to　her　from　all　directions。　Backsliders　were　reconverted。
Sinners　united　with　believers　in　seeking　the　pearl　of　great　price。　Some　who
had　been　the　bitterest　opponents　of　the　gospel　became　its　champions。　The
prophecy　was　fulfilled；　〃He　that　is　feeble。　。　。　shall　be　as　David；　and　the
house　of　D