THE KING ’S BUSINESS
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o f God.” What are they? W e must refer to the Acts for the answeh The calm man- ner, the determined- tread, the indomitable courage, the superhuman hope o f the Apos tles as manifested in Acts —may not all this have been the result o f remembering the directions, commands, and encouragement given them by our Lord during those forty days ? Third. The choice o f the twelfth apos tle — Matthias, 1 : 12 - 26 . , Note the, personnel o f the charter mem bership roll o f the primitive church. They were mostly despised Galileans (cf. 2 :7 with 1 Corinthians 1:26). But they were “the salt- o f the earth” and “the light of the world.” Jesus’ mother, and his breth- reh who doubtless had been converted since the resurrection (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:7) were there. Some godly women were there too (Acts 1:14; cf. Matthew 27:55, 56; Mark 15:40, 41; Luke 8:2, 3.). Was the election o f Matthias a mistake? Was Paul the twelfth apostle? Did the disciples, in their haste to fill up the apos tolic circle, run ahead o f God? W e think not, for Paul’s apostleship was not one to the Jews, but to the Gentiles (cf. Acts 9:15; 15:12; Galatians 1:11; 16). Indeed it is an open question as to whether Paul did not disclaim being one o f the twelve (cf. Galatians cc. 1 and 2 , especially 1 : 1 , 11, 12 , 16, 17; 2 : 6 ; 1 Corinthians 15:8, 9). May not this have been one o f the instruc tions given during the forty days? Appar ently no objection was made to it by those present. The number twelve must be com plete before the good news can be presented to Israel. I. THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH, 2:1-47. Four main thoughts are found under this section: 1 . The waiting company o f believers baptized with the Holy Ghost, 2 : 1 - 13 . This advent o f the Spirit may be consid ered next in importance to the advent of the Christ. The Church o f Christ is born o f the Spirit. The Church is the incarna tion o f the Holy Ghost.
The time o f this outpouring o f the Holy Spirit—(‘When the day -of Pentecost was fully come”—was exceedingly suggestive to a Jew, loving as he did Levitical types, rites, and seasons. This outpouring was connected with the sacrificial death qf Christ as our Passover (1 . Corinthians 5 :7) and is the answer o f the Father to the work o f the Son, indicating that He is satisfied and well pleased with the offering. This outpouring must have been, exceed ingly significant to the twelve , apostles, especially as they would recall the Master’s parting discourse in John, chapters 14-17, the conversation o f the. forty days, and the words of the parting on Olivet. Note the inward and outward effects o f this outpouring o f the Holy Spirit. Inward marks: What a transformation in the lives and works o f the apostles! What boldness and courage.before the peo ple and the Jewish Sanhedrin (2:14, 23, 36; 4:5, 20) ! What power they had in their preaching (4:33; 5:12; 2:41; 4 :4 )! : Outward marks o f the Spirit’s: presence: wind, indicating energized and life-giving power; tongues o f fire, suggesting purify ing energy, also indicating the means by which the kingdom is to be propagated— by confession, speaking, talking; speaking with Jongues, setting forth the practical intent o f His presence, namely, the evan gelization o f all peoples, tongues, and tribes. Peter’s Sermon. Peter’s sermon, and it§ effects, is really an outward mark o f the outpouring o f the Holy Spirit. This is a remarkable ser mon. There is probably nothing superior to it in all inspired literature, and yet it was the work o f a fisherman, and his maiden effort at that. It is a sermon worthy o f every preacher’s consideration. Note its structure : I. Introduction 1. Defense 2 . Explanation II. Jesus is the Christ—Proved to be the Messiah J 1. By His works, 22
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