As the disciples returned
from Olivet to Jerusalem, the people looked on them, expecting
to see on their faces expressions of sorrow, confusion, and defeat;
but they saw there gladness and triumph. The disciples did not
now mourn over disappointed hopes. They had seen the risen Saviour,
and the words of His parting promise echoed constantly in their
ears.
In obedience to Christ's
command, they waited in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father--the
outpouring of the Spirit. They did not wait in idleness. The record
says that they were "continually in the temple, praising
and blessing God." Luke 24:53. They also met together to
present their requests to the Father in the name of Jesus. They
knew that they had a Representative in heaven, an Advocate at
the throne of God. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating
the assurance, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My
name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My
name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."
John 16:23, 24. Higher and still higher they extended the hand
of faith, with the mighty argument, "It is Christ that died,
yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Romans 8:34.
As the disciples waited
for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled their hearts
in true repentance and confessed their unbelief. As they called
to remembrance the words that Christ had spoken to them before
His death they understood more fully their meaning. Truths which
had passed from their memory were again brought to their minds,
and these they repeated to one another. They reproached themselves
for their misapprehension of the Saviour. Like a procession, scene
after scene of His wonderful life passed before them. As they
meditated upon His pure, holy life they felt that no toil would
be too hard, no sacrifice too great, if only they could bear witness
in their lives to the loveliness of Christ's character. Oh, if
they could but have the past three years to live over, they thought,
how differently they would act! If they could only see the Master
again, how earnestly they would strive to show Him how deeply
they loved Him, and how sincerely they sorrowed for having ever
grieved Him by a word or an act of unbelief! But they were comforted
by the thought that they were forgiven. And they determined that,
so far as possible, they would atone for their unbelief by bravely
confessing Him before the world.
The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ. Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship. They drew nearer and nearer to God, and as they did this they realized what a privilege had been theirs in being permitted to associate so closely with Christ. Sadness filled their hearts as they thought of how many times they had grieved Him by their slowness of comprehension, their failure to understand the lessons that, for their good, He was trying to teach them.
These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching. The disciples felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy unction that was to fit them for the work of soul saving. They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely. They were weighted with the burden of the salvation of souls. They realized that the gospel was to be carried to the world, and they claimed the power that Christ had promised.
During the patriarchal age the influence of the Holy Spirit had often been revealed in a marked manner, but never in its fullness. Now, in obedience to the word of the Saviour, the disciples offered their supplications for this gift, and in heaven Christ added His intercession. He claimed the gift of the Spirit, that He might pour it upon His people.
"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."
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 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 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.
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 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 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 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 them with the luster of perfect truth. The veil that had prevented them from seeing to the end of that which had been abolished, was now removed, and they comprehended with perfect clearness the object of Christ's mission and the nature of His kingdom. They could speak with power of the Saviour; and as they unfolded to their hearers the plan of salvation, many were convicted and convinced. The traditions and superstitions inculcated by the priests were swept away from their minds, and the teachings of the Saviour were accepted.
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
The Jewish leaders had supposed that the work of Christ would end with His death; but, instead of this, they witnessed the marvelous scenes of the Day of Pentecost. They heard the disciples, endowed with a power and energy hitherto unknown, preaching Christ, their words confirmed by signs and wonders. In Jerusalem, the stronghold of Judaism, thousands openly declared their faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah.
The disciples were astonished
and overjoyed at the greatness of the harvest of souls. They did
not regard this wonderful ingathering as the result of their own
efforts; they realized that they were entering into other men's
labors.
Ever since the fall of Adam,
Christ had been committing to chosen servants the seed of His
word, to be sown in human hearts. During His life on this earth
He had sown the seed of truth and had watered it with His blood.
The conversions that took place on the Day of Pentecost were the
result of this sowing, the harvest of Christ's work, revealing
the power of His teaching.
The arguments of the apostles alone, though clear and convincing, would not have removed the prejudice that had withstood so much evidence. But the Holy Spirit sent the arguments home to hearts with divine power. The words of the apostles were as sharp arrows of the Almighty, convicting men of their terrible guilt in rejecting and crucifying the Lord of glory.
Under the training of Christ the disciples had been led to feel their need of the Spirit. Under the Spirit's teaching they received the final qualification, and went forth to their lifework. No longer were they ignorant and uncultured. No longer were they a collection of independent units or discordant, conflicting elements. No longer were their hopes set on worldly greatness. They were of "one accord," "of one heart and of one soul." Acts. 2:46; 4:32. Christ filled their thoughts; the advancement of His kingdom was their aim. In mind and character they had become like their Master, and men "took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13.
Pentecost brought them the
heavenly illumination. The truths they could not understand while
Christ was with them were now unfolded. With a faith and assurance
that they had never before known, they accepted the teachings
of the Sacred Word. No longer was it a matter of faith with them
that Christ was the Son of God. They knew that, although clothed
with humanity, He was indeed the Messiah, and they told their
experience to the world with a confidence which carried with it
the conviction that God was with them.
They could speak the name of Jesus with assurance; for was He not their Friend and Elder Brother? Brought into close communion with Christ, they sat with Him in heavenly places. With what burning language they clothed their ideas as they bore witness for Him! Their hearts were surcharged with a benevolence so full, so deep, so far-reaching, that it impelled them to go to the ends of the earth, testifying to the power of Christ. They were filled with an intense longing to carry forward the work He had begun. They realized the greatness of their debt to heaven and the responsibility of their work. Strengthened by the endowment of the Holy Spirit, they went forth filled with zeal to extend the triumphs of the cross. The Spirit animated them and spoke through them. The peace of Christ shone from their faces. They had consecrated their lives to Him for service, and their very features bore evidence to the surrender they had made.
