CHAP. XLVIII.

BOOK OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST. PETER. JOHN. STEPHEN. PHILIP.

A. D. 33. I HAVE more than once taken an opportunity to point out, that, in the popular expectation of a triumphant Messiah, which prevailed during our Lord's day, the twelve who were admitted into his closest confidence, shared to the last. Even after his resurrection, while attending him to the mount where it was God's will that he should be parted from them, they continued to ask, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" But while they looked stedfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

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The words of the angels stirred strange thoughts in their minds. They remembered now that the Lord had often foretold both the things which they had just witnessed, and those of which the angels spake; and visions of the truth,-imperfect indeed, yet bright and consolatory, rose up before them. They felt that some great work would be assigned them; and though as yet they could not tell of what nature it might be, they returned to Jerusalem, that they might there give themselves to continual supplication and prayer. One point, however, they did settle. Their number was incomplete; for Judas, repenting of his crime when it was too late, had destroyed himself. They resolved to fill up the blank by the admission into their body of one of the

DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST.

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Lots were

seventy whom the Lord had chosen. cast, according to the usage of the times, and Matthias became an apostle in Judas' room.

The Lord's ascension took place on the fortieth day after the passover. Ten days more brought on the feast of Pentecost, on which occasion, from year to year, there came up to Jerusalem from all quarters devout men as well Jews born, as proselytes,- to worship in the temple, and to offer the customary oblations. It was a convenient season for the fulfilment of Christ's great promise, and it did not pass unimproved. The disciples were gathered together "in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." The Spirit of God was upon them. All doubts, all misgivings, passed from their minds. They saw into the councils of the great Creator clearly, and knew that it was their privilege to render it clear to others. They ran out into the streets. They spoke to men from every nation under heaven, of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. They called upon all who heard to search the Scriptures for themselves; and such was the power of truth, and of the eloquence which attended this declaration of it, that numbers who 'heard "were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter told them what to do - to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins; and not fewer than three thousand persons accepted that same hour the joyful invitation.

From that day forward the work of conversion went on. Every believer took his part in it; but the leading instruments especially referred to in St. Luke's treatise were, at the outset, Peter, John, James, Stephen, and Philip; by and by Barnabas and Paul. Peter and John seem to have been the great preachers on the day of Pentecost. By the third hour of that day, that is so early as nine in the morning, they had laid the foundations of the Church; and at noon, going up to the temple to pray, they wrought their first miracle of healing. As they passed one of the gates, which, being made of Corinthian brass, was called "The Beautiful Gate," they saw a lame man, who had long been accustomed to beg there; and perceiving that he gazed at them with an expression more earnest than that of a common mendicant, they stopped and addressed him. "Then Peter said unto him, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." The man rose immediately. He followed the Apostles into the temple, and leaping and walking, and praising God, became scarcely less than the workers of the miracle, a means of leading converts to Christ.

An immense crowd gathered round the Apostles, to whom Peter was beginning to explain, that as the power of Christ had done this deed, so it would yet do more, when the priests, as well Sadducees as Pharisees, rendered furious by the success of the morning's appeal, came with a guard of soldiers, and seized the speaker. He was dragged, with John, to the common prison, and there shut up. But on the morrow when the Sanhedrim met, no charge could be substantiated against the apostles and they were dismissed, after having been straitly charged to teach no more in their master's name.

ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA.

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They did not so much as affect to recognise the justice of the command. They returned to their labours forthwith, and in a few hours more the three thousand converts had grown to five thousand, with a manifest tendency to enlarge the borders of the infant Church still further.

From day to day, and from hour to hour, the work of conversion went on. It produced, likewise, the purest morals, and the most unselfish generosity. No believer accounted his goods to be his own, so long as others of the faithful were in want; and many, carried away by the impulse of a newly awakened zeal, sold all their property, and laid the proceeds at the Apostles' feet. We read of no directions given to this effect. The act, when accomplished, might earn the praise of the believers, and secure to its performer influence in their community; but the Apostles neither commanded nor advised it, though they could not refuse to sanction it when performed. But the infant Church was composed of men, liable to the same infirmities which affect us at this day, and the proceedings of one Ananias, and of his wife Sapphira, gave great public scandal. They sold only a portion of their property; yet desiring to acquire influence, while at the same time they provided against contingencies, they brought the produce to Peter, and assured him that they had sold all. No mercy was shown to them. Their sin was of the deepest dye, and involved consequences most disastrous to the Church. They were smitten one after the other with sudden death, and "Great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things."

It would occupy more space than I can command were I to describe in detail the labours and the sufferings of the Apostles. Imprisoned, threatened, scourged, persecuted, they still published, in the

temple and in the streets, the wonderful works of God. Moreover, so prodigious was the influx of all classes into the Church, and especially of the poor, both within and without the city, that a third order of ministers was created, in order that all grounds of jealousy might be removed regarding the distribution of the common fund. These, called Deacons, a word which signifies in Greek, "attendants," were seven in number, namely, Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas. Selected from among the Jews of the dispersion, they had it in charge to provide for the wants of the needy, and especially of the widows; and they were farther commissioned, wherever an opening might present itself, to preach the gospel and baptize. Doubtless they all did their duty. But above the rest, Stephen and Philip stand conspicuous; the former, because to him was granted the privilege of first laying down his life for the truth-the latter, inasmuch as through him, and by one whom he converted, a knowledge of the gospel was first spread into lands far removed from Judæa. The circumstances of each case were these.

A. D. 36. Stephen seems to have been filled, from the outset, with the Holy Ghost. He spoke, too, with such a force of argument, and in such a dauntless spirit, that the chief priests, no longer able to endure his reproofs, determined to destroy him. Now it happened that at this time, the authority of Rome was interrupted, so to speak, in Jerusalem. Pontius Pilate had been recalled, and no successor as yet arriving, the Sanhedrim, under the pretext of maintaining order in the province, claimed again the right to decide in capital cases, and put Stephen on his trial. False witnesses were not wanting. He was charged with blasphemy,