"Granny's Chapters" Part 18

During this time, Peter proposed, that from amongst the disciples who had accompanied them all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, they should choose one to take the place of Judas Iscariot, and be with them a witness of the Resurrection of Christ; thus making the number of the Apostles twelve, as it had been at first, by the Lord's appointment. Peter's suggestion was at once followed. "And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias," both of whom appeared to be in every way fit for the office they were to fill; and then, not trusting in their own judgment, "they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."

The mode of deciding doubtful matters by lot had been appointed by the Law of Moses; and was, at the time we are speaking of, a solemn way of seeking the Will of G.o.d, who directed the lot as He saw fit.

Matthias, now chosen to be an Apostle, was probably one of the seventy, whom our Lord during His life sent out by twos to teach the people, and work miracles, in order to prepare the way for Him. It is believed that Matthias first went about teaching in Judaea, and that he afterwards travelled eastward, where he met with cruel treatment from the barbarous nations of Asia. With great labour and suffering, he did convert many of the heathens to Christianity; but at last he was put to death for the sake of Jesus. But these things did not, of course, happen until many years after Matthias was chosen to fill up the number of the Apostles.

Jesus had remained on earth for forty days from the day of His resurrection; and during that time He showed himself at different times to His disciples. The day on which He rose from the grave we call "Easter Day," from an old word, meaning "to rise." The Apostles kept a feast every year afterwards on that day, in memory of this glorious event; and our Church teaches us also to observe Easter as a season of especial joy.

In consequence of Christ having risen on the First Day of the week, the disciples, and all Christians since their time, have observed that day as a day of holy rest, and called it the Lord's Day: this is Sunday, which amongst us is dedicated to the special service of G.o.d, instead of the Seventh Day, or Jews' Sabbath, our Sat.u.r.day.

Forty days after Easter Day, Jesus went up, or "ascended," into heaven; and our Church keeps that day holy, and calls it "The Ascension Day," because "ascension" means going up.

For ten days after the Ascension, the disciples, who had seen their Lord ascend, remained quietly at Jerusalem, praising G.o.d for all that had been done, and praying continually both in private and in public.

Another great feast of the Jews was now drawing near: this feast is spoken of under different names in the Old Testament, and we must now say something about it.

In the Law of Moses, the Jews were, as has already been said, commanded to offer up a sheaf of corn on the day after the Sabbath which followed the Feast of the Pa.s.sover; that is, on the first day of the week, after the Pa.s.sover week. This sheaf was offered up as a thank-offering at the beginning of harvest, for they began to cut the barley (the first corn crop) immediately after the Pa.s.sover.

Seven weeks after this beginning of harvest, the Jews were to keep one of the three great feasts, ordained by the Mosaical, or Levitical Law.

This great feast was called "The Feast of Weeks," because it was observed seven weeks after that of the Pa.s.sover: seven weeks were called "a week of weeks," because seven days make a week, and there were seven times seven days in the Feast of Weeks. It was also called "The Day of First Fruits," because it was then the time to begin to gather in the other crops and productions of the ground; and in thankfulness for all these fruits of the earth, a new meat offering was offered unto the Lord.

The Jewish Rabbis also called this great feast, "The Day of the Giving of the Law," because the Law was given by G.o.d to Moses on Mount Sinai, fifty days after the Children of Israel ate the first Pa.s.sover in Egypt; and this feast, as we have said, was kept on the fiftieth day after the Feast of the Pa.s.sover. In the New Testament this feast day is called "The Day of Pentecost": because in Greek, "Pentecost" means fiftieth, and as we have said, the Jews were to number fifty days from the morrow after the Pa.s.sover Sabbath, and then to keep this great feast.

As Jesus rose on the morrow after the Pa.s.sover Sabbath, our Easter Day (or Easter Sunday), the fiftieth day, would again be on the first day of the week, Sunday with us: seven weeks or fifty days from the blessed day on which our Lord rose from the grave, and ten days after His Ascension.

This Day of Pentecost, distinguished already as a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving for many blessings, temporal and spiritual, and called "The Feast of Weeks," "of First Fruits," and of "The Giving of the Law," was now chosen by G.o.d as the day on which the promised gift of the Holy Spirit was to be poured out upon the Apostles, to their great spiritual benefit, as well as to that of all who were to look to their teaching, for the knowledge of what Jesus Christ has done for sinners.

We read in the Book of Acts, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." Fire was looked upon by the Jews as a sign of the presence of G.o.d. And those upon whom these tongues of fire descended, were at once "filled with the Holy Ghost": a visible and miraculous sign immediately followed, for they "began to speak with other tongues," that is, in strange and foreign languages, which they had never learnt, "as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Thus were accomplished the promises of Jesus, to send the Comforter upon His Apostles, and that they should be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

The power of speaking strange languages was a most valuable gift, enabling the Apostles to obey the command "to teach all nations,"

which they could not have done had they not been able to make themselves understood by all men.

One miracle had, as a punishment, confounded the language of men, so that they ceased to have intercourse with each other: now another miracle mercifully removed this barrier, so that all nations might hear from the Apostles the glad tidings of salvation--the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the time when the Holy Ghost descended so miraculously upon the Apostles, "there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." By "devout men," is meant worshippers of the one true G.o.d: these were mostly Jews, either from having been born so, or from having turned from idolatry to follow the religion of the Jews. These Jews were scattered over the face of the world; and wherever they went, they endeavoured to make proselytes: the Feast of the Pa.s.sover would naturally bring numbers of them to Jerusalem, to add to those who dwelt in the city. "Now when this," that had happened to the Apostles, "was noised abroad, the mult.i.tude came together, and were confounded (or astonished beyond measure), because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed, and marvelled, 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? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, (or Persians), and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of G.o.d."

Most of the countries here mentioned are parts of what we call Asia: but in the New Testament, when Asia is spoken of, it seems to mean only the parts about Lydia; that part of Asia, in short, known to us as Asia Minor, which borders on the Archipelago, or aegean Sea. Libya, as well as Egypt, was a part of Africa. One of the kings of Egypt, Ptolemy Lagus, the father of that Ptolemy who employed seventy-two learned men to translate the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, did place a good many captive Jews in Cyrene, and other parts of Libya. The descendants of these people, and the proselytes they had made, were amongst the number of Jews gathered together to the city of Jerusalem at this time.

Chapter II.--THE LAME MAN HEALED BY PETER AND JOHN.

When the mult.i.tude of Jews from all parts of the earth, heard twelve poor ignorant men of Galilee, able to speak easily in many different languages, which they had most probably never even heard spoken before, "they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?" The great truths of the Gospel thus proclaimed, must indeed have startled them, for they could not but perceive that G.o.d was with these men in a very remarkable manner. Some of them, unwilling to believe the words spoken by the Apostles, tried to make out that they had been drinking so much wine, that they did not know what they were talking about, and ought not, therefore, to be listened to. "Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine,"--as if being drunk, could make any man speak a real language, of which, in his sober moments, he knew nothing.

It was of the greatest importance that all men should clearly understand that the Apostles were really and truly the messengers of G.o.d, and that the Holy Spirit had been wonderfully given to them, to enable them to teach all nations: and therefore, when the accusation of being drunk was brought against them, they stood up, and Peter, no longer timid and fearful as to what man might do to him, lifted up his voice, and spake boldly to the a.s.sembled mult.i.tude. It is most probable that all this took place in some part of the temple.

Peter began by declaring to the people, that he and his fellows were not drunk, reminding them that it was only the third hour of the day.

The third hour, nine o'clock in the morning with us, was the time appointed for service in the temple, and the pious and devout Jews did not eat nor drink _anything_ before they attended it. Then Peter told his hearers, that what they had now seen, was only the fulfilment of the prophecies, that the Lord would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. Then he went on, and spake to them of many solemn things, and of the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth; and how David, whom all the Jews acknowledged to be a prophet, had declared beforehand those things which had happened unto Jesus. Peter also told the people, that "this Jesus, being by the right hand of G.o.d exalted"

into heaven, "and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear": and he ended his discourse with these plain and fearless words, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know a.s.suredly, that G.o.d hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

These words seem to have had a great effect on the people, for "when they heard this, they were p.r.i.c.ked in their heart," that is, their consciences told them that they had greatly sinned in putting Jesus to death; and now, feeling their need of help and guidance, they "said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" The answer was ready: "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, to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our G.o.d shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation,"--that is, separate yourselves from the unbelieving and sinful mult.i.tude, and so save yourselves from the wrath of G.o.d, which will rest upon all impenitent sinners.

The success of Peter's words, proving the reality of the power given to them by the Holy Spirit, must have been a great encouragement to the Apostles to continue their labours, in humble confidence that the same help would be ever with them. We read, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them," to the company of disciples, "about three thousand souls"--a large number. Nor was it a momentary feeling that actuated them, for we read, "And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles'

doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers"; that is, they continued to listen to the blessed truths taught by the Apostles of the forgiveness of sins for Jesus Christ's sake, partaking with them of the Lord's Supper in remembrance of His death, and joining in earnest prayer for grace, to enable them to serve G.o.d acceptably. "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles." Those who saw such miracles performed, were more and more convinced that the Apostles were the messengers of G.o.d; and they would naturally fear to offend the Almighty G.o.d, Whose power was thus shown, and of Whose goodness the Apostles spake.

"And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising G.o.d, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Those who now became Christians, devoted themselves and all their possessions to the service of G.o.d: content with food for the supply of their daily wants, their whole object was to do the work of G.o.d with "singleness of heart"; that is, with a heart wholly filled with love towards Him, and to their fellow creatures for His sake,--a heart whose single purpose it was to do the Will of G.o.d. No wonder that those who acted in such a manner, found favour with all the people, and that their example was followed, so that many were daily added to the Church, or body of believers in Jesus Christ.

We read just now, that those who believed had all things common, and sold their possessions so as to make one common fund, out of which the daily wants of each were supplied. Thus those who had goods and riches gave them up; and those who had none were supplied out of their abundance.

This giving up of all private property by the rich, so that the poor believers might be supported, was necessary at that time: for the poorer cla.s.s of people on becoming Christians, would get neither employment nor help from their Jewish brethren; nor would they receive any part of those sacrifices offered in the temple, which were devoted to the relief of the poor. But however desirable this arrangement was then, it was not _commanded_; it was a sacrifice made willingly by the rich, for the benefit of the poorer brethren. In these days, to have everything in common would be impossible; but though we are not called upon to do this, we _are_ called upon and _commanded_ to help others; and to deny ourselves, and sacrifice our own wishes, that we may be able to do good to our fellow creatures; and thus show our love for Jesus, Who says, "If any man seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his compa.s.sion from him, how dwelleth the love of G.o.d in him?" And again, "To do good and to distribute forget not, for with such sacrifices G.o.d is well pleased." Many other pa.s.sages of Scripture teach us the same lesson, and it is summed up as it were in the command, "Do unto all men as ye would they should do unto you."

The next act we hear of as done by the Apostles is, that "Peter and John went up together into the temple, at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour." There were three fixed times for public prayer in the temple: the third hour (or 9 o'clock in the morning), when the morning sacrifices were offered; the sixth hour, that is, 12 o'clock or noon; and the ninth hour, 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the evening sacrifices were offered. The gates of the temple were the favourite resorts of cripples, who caused themselves to be carried to them, that they might beg for money from those who were continually pa.s.sing and re-pa.s.sing. Peter and John, going up to prayer in the middle of the day, saw a poor man who had been lame ever since he was born, and "whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple." When this man begged of the Apostles they said unto him, "Look on us." The man readily gave heed unto them, and did as they told him, "expecting to receive something of them"; and so he did, though not of the kind he expected. "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he, leaping up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising G.o.d." When the people saw this man, whom they had long known as a helpless cripple, "walking, and praising G.o.d," they were naturally full of wonder and amazement. "And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them, in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering."

This porch was, you must remember, a sort of colonnade or piazza, built over the same spot on which that built by Solomon in the first temple, had stood. When Peter saw such a number of people a.s.sembled, he spake to them, and said, "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this?

or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?" And then he told them, that this cripple was made whole, because he had faith in Jesus Christ, who was truly the Son of G.o.d the promised Messiah, though they had refused to believe in Him, and had forced Pilate to crucify Him. But that, although they had preferred a murderer, and had killed Him Who was the Prince of Life, G.o.d had raised Him from the dead; as all the Apostles could bear witness, and that in His name and by His power alone, was this miracle worked. Peter then went on to say, that they did not know what they were about when they persecuted Jesus even unto death; and that if now, they would repent, and believe all that the Apostles could tell them of Jesus Christ, their sins should be "blotted out."

And he reminded them, that Moses, and all the prophets since his time, had spoken of the coming of Christ; and that to them, as the descendants of the Children of Israel with whom the first covenant was made, G.o.d had now sent His son Jesus Christ, to bless them, in turning away every one from his iniquities. Peter and John were not long left to preach undisturbed to the people: for "as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide." The captain of the temple was one of the Priests, who directed and looked after all the guards and watches of the Priests and Levites, who were appointed to keep the temple from being in any way profaned. Before the death of Jesus, the Scribes and Pharisees were His chief enemies; but now that His disciples declared and taught that He had risen from the dead, the Sadducees became the most violent opposers of the Apostles, who taught the doctrine of the Resurrection.

Chapter III.--ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA.

Although the Priests and the Sadducees did for the time put a stop to Peter's discourse, they could not undo the effect which it produced; for we read, "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand."

The next day Peter and John were taken before the Sanhedrim, where Annas, the High Priest, and Caiaphas, with many others, were a.s.sembled. "And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, immediately told the members of the Council, that the lame man was healed solely and entirely by the name or power of the very Jesus of Nazareth, Whom they had crucified, Whom G.o.d had raised again from the dead. And further he told them, that Jesus, Whom they had rejected, was the corner stone as it were, the foundation of Christ's Church; and that none who would not believe in Him could be saved; saying also, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

The boldness of the Apostles in thus speaking, greatly astonished their hearers; especially as they "perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men." Unlearned and ignorant according to the ideas of the world, but full of the best knowledge and wisdom; for by the Holy Spirit, they had been taught those things which make men wise unto salvation. All the learning in the world, although very useful and desirable, will be of no value in the day of death; but the wisdom which is from above, will then prove an inestimable treasure. Many who are ignorant of everything but what the Bible teaches them, will then be found more _truly wise_, than those who have spent their lives in acquiring knowledge, without searching the Scriptures.

The Priests and elders might well marvel; they knew the Apostles to be unlearned fishermen, and they despised them as being Galileans; "and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it." They saw that Peter and John were two of those who had always followed Jesus whilst He was on earth, and now it was certain that they had worked a great miracle: they could not deny this, for there, by the side of the two Apostles, stood the very man whom they had healed: a man well known to all at Jerusalem, as having never been able to stand upon his feet since he was born. The Priests and elders could not say the man was _not_ healed; and therefore, as they were determined _not_ to acknowledge the power of Jesus, they were in difficulty as to what they could do to the Apostles. "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? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them, is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name."

It is sad to hear of rulers who were only anxious to prevent the people from believing in the truth! How truly did they bring upon themselves the sentence p.r.o.nounced by our Lord, when he said, "Woe unto you lawyers, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."

Having made up their minds what to do, the members of the Council sent again for the Apostles: "And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of G.o.d to hearken unto you more than unto G.o.d, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." The Jews, who professed to obey the Law given to Moses by G.o.d, could not possibly say that it was right to obey man rather than G.o.d; and the sudden and complete cure of this man, who was above forty years old, had given such a proof that the Apostles acted under the immediate direction of the Almighty, that the Priests knew not what to say or do.

"So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified G.o.d for that which was done. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the Chief Priests and elders had said unto them." And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to G.o.d, and praised Him Who had done such great things, and had accomplished every word that David and the prophets had spoken concerning the Messiah, the holy child Jesus, against whom "both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."

And then the disciples prayed the Lord to grant them grace to speak the truth boldly, undismayed by the fear of man; and to continue those signs and wonders, which proved them to be acting by his special direction.

They were comforted and encouraged by an immediate answer to their prayers: for "when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were a.s.sembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of G.o.d with boldness. And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." They had well and fearlessly used the grace already given to them, and therefore the Lord increased the gift, and strengthened them still further for their work.

"And the mult.i.tude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul": united together in perfect love and harmony; believing the same truths, and having the same object in all they did; namely, that of bringing all men to serve and obey the Lord. Even as to worldly matters, as we have said, the same unity or oneness of feeling prevailed, "neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the Apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."

At this time the Church of Christ, that is, the company of believers, was joined by a man who afterwards took a great share in the work of the Apostles: we read, "And Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet." This Joses had either been born in the isle of Cyprus, which lies in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, or he had lived there so long, that it was quite like his native country. As a Levite, he could never at any time have had any inheritance of land in Judaea; but of course a Levite might _buy_ land in foreign countries, or even in Judaea itself, particularly now, when the distinction into tribes was almost lost.

Joses had land probably in Cyprus, and being convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, he determined to join the company of believers, and devote his future life to the service of G.o.d and man, by preaching the Gospel to others. He therefore gave up all that he possessed, and was henceforth content to receive merely what was necessary for his food and raiment, like the poorest disciple. His joining them, was a great comfort and encouragement to the Apostles in their work, and they therefore surnamed him Barnabas, which means the Son of Consolation.

By the name of Barnabas, he is always spoken of in Scripture.