PART V.

EVENTS IN JERUSALEM AFTER THE ASCENSION, CONNECTED WITH THE FIRST MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLES.

SECT. CLV. AFTER OUR LORD'S ASCENSION THE APOSTLES RETURN TO JERUSALEM. THE ELECTION OF MATTHIAS IN PLACE OF JUDAS. A. D. 30.

THEN the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem. Jerusalem, within a sabbath-day's journey. And when they were come in they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

In those days Peter, rising up in the midst of the brethren, said (now the number of persons together was about a hundred and twenty*), Men brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spake before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus, who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. And he indeed purchased a field with the reward of iniquity, and being hanged burst

*This means the number present at Jerusalem; for elsewhere there were many more (see 1 Cor. xv. 6).

asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out; and it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the same field was called in their tongue Haceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein (Ps. lxviii. 26); and his bishopric let another take (Ps. cviii. 8). Wherefore of these men who have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of his resurrection.

And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen to take the place of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place.

And they gave their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

SECT. CLVI. THE DAY OF PENTECOST, and descent oF THE HOLY GHOST. PETER'S DISCOURSE.

And when the days of the pentecost* were accomplished, they were all together in one place; and suddenly there came a sound

Jerusalem.

*The word pentecost means "fiftieth;" that is, the fiftieth day from the Passover, from whence seven weeks were to be numbered for the offering of the first-fruits of the harvest. Hence it was also called the feast of weeks, and the feast of ingatherings. It is also thought to have been held in commemoration of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. It was one of the three principal feasts of the Jews, when all the males were to present themselves before the Lord. Hence the numbers of strangers in Jerusalem. (See Lev. xxiii. 15-21 and Deut. xvi.)

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from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.

Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men* out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed and wondered, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans? And how have we heard every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphilia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome both Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all astonished, and wondered, saying one to another, What meaneth this? But others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake to them, Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and give ear to my words; for these men are not drunk, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel, And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith the Lord, 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. Upon my servants also,

*

This expression is found repeatedly in the Acts, and means Jewish proselytes.

and upon my handmaids, will I pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood and fire, and vapour of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Joel ii. 28).

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 also know; this same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain. Whom God had raised up, having loosened the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it. For David saith concerning him, I foresaw the Lord before my face; for he is at my right hand that I may not be moved. For this my heart hath been glad and my tongue hath rejoiced; moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance (Ps. xv. 8).

Ye men brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David; that he died and was buried; and his sepulchre is with us to this present day. Whereas therefore he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that of the fruit of his loins one should sit upon his throne (Ps. cxxxi. 11). Foreseeing this, he spake of the resurrection of Christ. For neither was he left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised again, whereof all we are witnesses. Being exalted therefore to the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this which ye see and hear.

For David ascended not into heaven; but he himself said, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool (Ps. cix. 1). Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly that God hath made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, to be both Lord and Christ.

Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart, and said to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

But Peter said to them, Do penance, and be baptised every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call. And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

They therefore that received his word were baptised; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls.

SECT. CLVII. ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF THE INFANT CHURCH.

And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communion of the breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul. Many wonders also and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem, and there was great fear upon all. And all they that believed were together, and had all things common. Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided among all, according as every one had need. And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart; praising God and having favour with