the acts of the apostles-第6部分

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The　Spirit　came　upon　the　waiting；　praying　disciples　with　a　fullness　that
reached　every　heart。　The　Infinite　One　revealed　Himself　in　power　to　His
church。　It　was　as　if　for　ages　this　influence　had　been　held　in　restraint；　and
now　Heaven　rejoiced　in　being　able　to　pour　out　upon　the　church　the　riches　of
the　Spirit's　grace。　And　under　the　influence　of　the　Spirit；　words　of
penitence　and　confession　mingled　with　songs　of　praise　for　sins　forgiven。
Words　of　thanksgiving　and　of　prophecy　were　heard。　All　heaven　bent　low　to
behold　and　to　adore　the　wisdom　of　matchless；　incomprehensible　love。　Lost　in
wonder；　the　apostles　exclaimed；　〃Herein　is　love。〃　They　grasped　the　imparted
gift。　And　what　followed？　The　sword　of　the　Spirit；　newly　edged　with　power　and
bathed　in　the　lightnings　of　heaven；　cut　its　way　through　unbelief。　Thousands
were　converted　in　a　day。

〃It　is　expedient　for　you　that　I　go　away；〃　Christ　had　said　to　His　disciples；
〃for　If　I　go　not　away；　the　Comforter　will　not　come　unto　you；　but　if　I
depart；　I　will　send　Him　unto　you。〃　〃When　He；　the　Spirit　of　truth；　is　come；
He　will　guide　you　into　all　truth：　for　He　shall　not　speak　of　Himself；　but
whatsoever　He　shall　hear；　that　shall　He　speak：　and　He　will　show　you　things
to　come。〃　John　16：7；　13。

Christ's　ascension　to　heaven　was　the　signal　that　His　followers　were　to
receive　the　promised　blessing。　For　this　they　were　to　wait　before　they
entered　upon　their　work。　When　Christ　passed　within　the　heavenly　gates；　He
was　enthroned　amidst　the　adoration　of　the　angels。　As　soon　as　this　ceremony
was　completed；　the　Holy　Spirit　descended　upon　the　disciples　in　rich
currents；　and　Christ　was　indeed　glorified；　even

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with　the　glory　which　He　had　with　the　Father　from　all　eternity。　The
Pentecostal　outpouring　was　Heaven's　communication　that　the　Redeemer's
inauguration　was　accomplished。　According　to　His　promise　He　had　sent　the　Holy
Spirit　from　heaven　to　His　followers　as　a　token　that　He　had；　as　priest　and
king；　received　all　authority　in　heaven　and　on　earth；　and　was　the　Anointed
One　over　His　people。

〃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　Holy
Spirit；　assuming　the　form　of　tongues　of　fire；　rested　upon　those　assembled。
This　was　an　emblem　of　the　gift　then　bestowed　on　the　disciples；　which　enabled
them　to　speak　with　fluency　languages　with　which　they　had　heretofore　been
unacquainted。　The　appearance　of　fire　signified　the　fervent　zeal　with　which
the　apostles　would　labor　and　the　power　that　would　attend　their　work。

〃There　were　dwelling　at　Jerusalem　Jews；　devout　men；　out　of　every　nation
under　heaven。〃　During　the　dispersion　the　Jews　had　been　scattered　to　almost
every　part　of　the　inhabited　world；　and　in　their　exile　they　had　learned　to
speak　various　languages。　Many　of　these　Jews　were　on　this　occasion　in
Jerusalem；　attending　the　religious　festivals　then　in　progress。　Every　known
tongue　was　represented　by　those　assembled。　This　diversity　of　languages　would
have　been　a　great　hindrance　to　the　proclamation　of　the　gospel；　God　therefore
in　a　miraculous　manner　supplied　the　deficiency　of　the　apostles。　The　Holy
Spirit　did　for　them　that　which

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they　could　not　have　accomplished　for　themselves　in　a　lifetime。　They　could
now　proclaim　the　truths　of　the　gospel　abroad；　speaking　with　accuracy　the
languages　of　those　for　whom　they　were　laboring。　This　miraculous　gift　was　a
strong　evidence　to　the　world　that　their　commission　bore　the　signet　of
Heaven。　From　this　time　forth　the　language　of　the　disciples　was　pure；　simple；
and　accurate；　whether　they　spoke　in　their　native　tongue　or　in　a　foreign
language。

〃Now　when　this　was　noised　abroad；　the　multitude　came　together；　and　were
confounded；　because　that　every　man　heard　them　speak　in　his　own　language。　And
they　were　all　amazed　and　marveled；　saying　one　to　another；　Behold；　are　not
all　these　which　speak　Galileans？　and　how　hear　we　every　man　in　our　own
tongue；　wherein　we　were　born？〃

The　priests　and　rulers　were　greatly　enraged　at　this　wonderful　manifestation；
but　they　dared　not　give　way　to　their　malice；　for　fear　of　exposing　themselves
to　the　violence　of　the　people。　They　had　put　the　Nazarene　to　death；　but　here
were　His　servants；　unlettered　men　of　Galilee；　telling　in　all　the　languages
then　spoken；　the　story　of　His　life　and　ministry。　The　priests；　determined　to
account　for　the　miraculous　power　of　the　disciples　in　some　natural　way；
declared　that　they　were　drunken　from　partaking　largely　of　the　new　wine
prepared　for　the　feast。　Some　of　the　most　ignorant　of　the　people　present
seized　upon　this　suggestion　as　the　truth；　but　the　more　intelligent　knew　it
to　be　false；　and　those　who　understood　the　different　languages　testified　to
the　accuracy　with　which　these　languages　were　used　by　the　disciples。

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In　answer　to　the　accusation　of　the　priests　Peter　showed　that　this
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　the