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PERSONS OF THE STORY, _The Disciples, especially Peter_.
_A lame man_.
_Ananias_.
_Sapphira_.
_Stephen_.
_Simon, the Sorcerer_.
_A Queen"s Officer_.
_Dorcas_.
_A Roman Captain_.
_Annas, Caiaphas, Priests, Officers, Messengers_.
PLACES OF THE STORY.
_Jerusalem_.
_The country of Palestine and surrounding regions_.
_Joppa_.
_Caesarea_.
_Lydda_.
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I
THE DAY OF PENTECOST
_The First Meeting of the Disciples in Jerusalem_.
(After Jesus had left the company of the apostles, and was seen no more by them, they remained quietly in Jerusalem. They chose a man named Matthias to take the place of Judas, but they had no definite plan of action, not yet quite realizing the importance of the work which they were to do. Suddenly, on the day of Pentecost, there came the great inspiration from G.o.d to go forward and take up the work of redeeming the world where Jesus laid it down. They began to preach about Jesus, of his beautiful life, and his death for men upon the cross. And everywhere the people listened eagerly and gladly to this wonderful story, and believing, were baptized, becoming the disciples of the new faith. This is the story of the simple beginning of the great movement called Christianity, as the experience made its impression upon the disciples themselves.)
And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this {326} sound was heard, the mult.i.tude came together, and were amazed, because every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they marveled, saying, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we, every man in our own language, wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we do hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of G.o.d."
And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What meaneth this?"
But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke forth unto them, saying, "Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto 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 hath been spoken by the prophet Joel:--
"And it shall be in the last days, saith G.o.d, I will pour forth 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: Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days {327} Will I pour forth my spirit; and they shall prophesy.
And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of G.o.d unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs, which G.o.d did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of G.o.d, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay: whom G.o.d raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden by it. For David said concerning him,--
"I beheld the Lord always before my face; For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.
Thou madest known unto me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of gladness with thy countenance."
"Brethren, I may speak unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that G.o.d had sworn with an oath to him, that he would set one of his family upon his throne; he foreseeing this spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus did G.o.d raise up, whereof we all are {328} witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of G.o.d exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear. For David ascended not into the heavens: but he said himself,--
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet."
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know a.s.suredly, that G.o.d hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified."
Now when they heard this, they were p.r.i.c.ked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
And Peter said unto them, "Repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our G.o.d shall call unto him." And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles" teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders {329} and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, according as any man had need. And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising G.o.d, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved.
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II
A MIRACLE OF THE NEW FAITH.
_How a Lame Man Was Healed, and What Came of it_.
Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man that was lame from his birth was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. This man seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, "Look on us."
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.
But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising G.o.d.
And all the people saw him walking and praising G.o.d: and knowing that it was he who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
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And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon"s, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or G.o.dliness we had made him to walk? The G.o.d of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the G.o.d of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life; whom G.o.d raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. By faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But the things which G.o.d foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof G.o.d spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began.
Moses indeed said, "A prophet shall the Lord G.o.d raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me; to him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever {332} he shall speak unto you. And it shall be, that every soul, which shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people."
"Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days. Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which G.o.d made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, "And in thy race shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Unto you first, G.o.d, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."
And as they spoke unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in prison unto the morrow: for it was now eventide. But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
And it came to pa.s.s on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?"
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, "Ye rulers of the people, and elders, if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to a lame man, by {333} what means this man is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom G.o.d raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole. He is the stone which was set at naught of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner. And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, "What shall we do to these men? that a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name."