Part 16 (1/2)

2.) _Mental effect._ There came to these disciples a revelation, once and for all, of Christ's kingdom, not as a political state, but as a spiritual inst.i.tution; a society of believers of which Jesus in glory is the invisible yet real head.

3.) _Spiritual effect._ This was the personal presence of the Holy Spirit with each member; an indwelling life given not merely to the apostles, but to each and every disciple; a divine enthusiasm, giving guidance, enlightenment, power. Nor was that divine life limited to that company. It has dwelt ever since in the church of Christ, and in each member of the church, (1 Cor. 3. 16; 6. 19).

3. =The Testimony of the Gospel.= 1.) The first effect of this new endowment of the Holy Spirit was a strong testimony to the gospel of Christ; a proclamation of _Jesus as the Messiah King_; and this testimony was the conquering weapon of the church. 2.) This testimony was given by _all_ the members. It is a mistake to suppose that the church settled down in Jerusalem with Peter as its pastor and preacher.

Peter was the leader, but not the ruler of the church. Find four addresses of Peter sketched in Acts 2-5; not ”sermons” after the modern method, but ardent declarations of Jesus as the Messiah; and similar testimonies were given by all the members everywhere, in synagogues, in houses, publicly and privately.

4. =The Apostolic Miracles.= 1.) At the opening of the history of the church we read of a _number of miracles_. a) A lame man healed. (Acts 3.

1-10). b) A miracle of judgment (Acts 5. 1-10). c) More miracles of healing (Acts 5. 12-16). 2.) We can see the _purpose of these_ miracles and how they were needed by the church in the day of its weakness. (a) They attracted _attention_ to the gospel. (b) They gave _authority_ to the apostles as teachers. (c) They were _ill.u.s.trations_ of the spiritual work of the gospel; i. e., healing of the lame man a type of salvation.

5. =The Persecution of the Apostles.= It was inevitable that the preaching of the apostles and the growing prominence of the church should arouse opposition from the men who a few months before had crucified Jesus. A persecution was begun, at first upon Peter and John, then upon all the apostles. It was not sharp, murderous, crus.h.i.+ng out the church. The apostles were first threatened (Acts 4. 17), then imprisoned (Acts 5. 18), then scourged (Acts 5. 40). The persecution only attracted greater notice to the gospel, and led to increasing numbers of believers.

6. =The Growth of the Church= went on through all these experiences.

Beginning with 120, on the day of Pentecost 3,000 were received by baptism (Acts 2. 41). There was a daily growth after (Acts 2. 47). Soon the number grew to 5,000, besides women and children (Acts 4. 4).

Another increase is named in Acts 5. 14; also again in Acts 6. 7.

7. The last event in this period was =the Appointment of the Seven=.

Read the account in Acts 6. 1-7. Notice for the first time in this history a reference to the two great cla.s.ses of Jews. 1.) _Hebrews_, Jews whose ancestors had lived in Palestine, and who spoke the Hebrew tongue, though with Syriac admixture. 2.) _Grecian Jews_ (frequently called h.e.l.lenists). Jews descended from exiles who had remained abroad in foreign lands, otherwise ”Jews of the Dispersion.” Everywhere except in Palestine these foreign Jews were far more numerous than the Hebrews, and they were also the richer and more intelligent. They spoke the Greek language.

Note also that the seven men named in this account are nowhere spoken of as ”deacons.” From Acts 21. 8 we learn that they were called ”the seven.” They were not an order in the church, but a committee appointed for a service.

Blackboard Outline

Per. 1. Ch. Jud. 2. Ch. Trans. 3. Ch. am. Gen. 4. E. A.

=Ch. in Jud.= 1. =Ev. Per.= 1. =Foll. Ch.= 1.) Num. 2.) Meet-pl. 3.) Rel. Con.

2. =Out Sp.= 1.) Phys. eff. 2.) Men. eff. 3.) Spir. eff.

3. =Tes. Gosp.= 1.) Jes. Mess. K. 2.) By all.

4. =Ap. Mir.= 1.) Num. mir. 2.) Pur. Att. Auth. Illus.

5. =Per. Ap.= 6. =Gro. Ch.= 120, 3,000, 5,000. ”Mult.i.tude.”

7. =App. Sev.= Heb. Gre. (h.e.l.len.)

Review Questions. Part One

How long a period is embraced in the history of the New Testament church? Name four periods in the history, and the events with which each begins and ends. How long a time is embraced in the first period?

By what name is the first period called? State in order the seven events in the first period. What was the number of Christ's followers in Jerusalem immediately after his Ascension? Where did they meet?

What was their religious condition? What took place ten days after the Ascension of Christ? On what day did this outpouring occur? What were the physical effects of this outpouring? What were the mental effects? What were the spiritual effects? What testimony was given by the apostles and church? How many addresses of Peter at this time are mentioned?

What miracles were wrought? How did these miracles benefit the church? What persecution arose? What was the nature of this persecution? Against whom was it directed? Did it harm the church? What is said of the growth of the church during this epoch? Who were ”the seven”? How were they chosen? For what were they appointed? What two cla.s.ses of Jesus are named? Define each cla.s.s.

PART TWO

II. Having studied the history we now look at the =General Aspects of the Pentecostal Church=.

1. =Its locality=: entirely in Judea, and apparently in and around Jerusalem. There is no mention during this early period of churches in Galilee, although most of the earliest members were Galileans (Acts 1.

11; 2. 7). Individual believers doubtless were to be found throughout the land, but outside of Jerusalem they were not yet gathered together in a.s.semblies and not yet endowed with the Spirit.

2. =Its members.h.i.+p= was composed wholly of Jews. As yet not a single Gentile had been received, and apparently there was no thought of Gentile believers. Christianity began as a Jewish society. Three cla.s.ses of Jews were embraced in its members.h.i.+p: 1.) _Hebrews_, or Palestinian Jews. 2.) _Grecians_ or h.e.l.lenists, Jews of the Dispersion. 3.) _Proselytes_, or Gentiles who had embraced Judaism and received circ.u.mcision (Acts 6. 5).