Part 262 (1/2)

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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 rus.h.i.+ng 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.'