the acts of the apostles-第3部分

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eloquence　of　the　Jewish　Sanhedrin　or　the　power　of　Rome。　Passing　by　the
self…righteous　Jewish　teachers；　the　Master　Worker　chose　humble；　unlearned
men　to　proclaim　the　truths　that　were　to　move　the　world。　These　men　He
purposed　to　train　and　educate　as　the　leaders　of　His　church。　They　in　turn
were　to　educate　others　and　send　them　out　with　the　gospel　message。　That　they
might　have　success　in　their　work　they　were　to　be　given　the　power　of　the　Holy
Spirit。　Not　by　human　might　or　human　wisdom　was　the　gospel　to　be　proclaimed；
but　by　the　power　of　God。

For　three　years　and　a　half　the　disciples　were　under　the　instruction　of　the
greatest　Teacher　the　world　has　ever　known。　By　personal　contact　and
association；　Christ　trained　them　for　His　service。　Day　by　day　they　walked　and
talked　with　Him；　hearing　His　words　of　cheer　to　the　weary　and　heavy…laden；
and　seeing　the　manifestation　of　His　power　in　behalf

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of　the　sick　and　the　afflicted。　Sometimes　He　taught　them；　sitting　among　them
on　the　mountainside；　sometimes　beside　the　sea　or　walking　by　the　way；　He
revealed　the　mysteries　of　the　kingdom　of　God。　Wherever　hearts　were　open　to
receive　the　divine　message；　He　unfolded　the　truths　of　the　way　of　salvation。
He　did　not　command　the　disciples　to　do　this　or　that；　but　said；　〃Follow　Me。〃
On　His　journeys　through　country　and　cities；　He　took　them　with　Him；　that　they
might　see　how　He　taught　the　people。　They　traveled　with　Him　from　place　to
place。　They　shared　His　frugal　fare；　and　like　Him　were　sometimes　hungry　and
often　weary。　On　the　crowded　streets；　by　the　lakeside；　in　the　lonely　desert；
they　were　with　Him。　They　saw　Him　in　every　phase　of　life。

It　was　at　the　ordination　of　the　Twelve　that　the　first　step　was　taken　in　the
organization　of　the　church　that　after　Christ's　departure　was　to　carry　on　His
work　on　the　earth。　Of　this　ordination　the　record　says；　〃He　goeth　up　into　a
mountain；　and　calleth　unto　Him　whom　He　would：　and　they　came　unto　Him。　And　He
ordained　twelve；　that　they　should　be　with　Him；　and　that　He　might　send　them
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

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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。

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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
pea