1060. Relate our Saviour's approbation of the widow's mites.

1061. Give the substance of our Lord's prediction of Divine judgments upon Jerusalem.

1062. What intimation did our Saviour give concerning the progress of His kingdom?

1063. State and interpret the parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents.

1064. Relate our Saviour's description of the proceedings of the Day of Judgment.

1065. What said our Lord when told that some Greeks desired to see Him?

1066. How, probably, was the fourth day of the week (Wednesday) occupied ?

1067. Relate the events of the fifth day (Thursday).

1068. Say what took place at the Paschal meal; and relate especially the institution of the Lord's Supper.

1069. What discourses did our Saviour address to the disciples after they had risen from supper?

1070. Where do we find the record of our Saviour's intercessory prayer? 1071. Trace the steps of our Lord and His disciples after they quitted Jerusalem, at night.

1072. Relate the solemn events which took place in the Garden of Gethsemane.

1073. Describe, as fully as you can, and in due order, particulars connected with the betrayal - seizure mock trial sufferings and crucifixion of our blessed Saviour.

1074. Give the history of St. Peter and of the other Apostles, in connection with these events.

1075. What became of the traitor Judas Iscariot?

1076. Repeat the sayings of our Saviour on the cross.

1077. Give the history of the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus.

1078. What took place at the moment of our Saviour's death? 1079. Describe the burial of Jesus.

1080. Give the history of our Saviour's resurrection — first briefly, and then as fully as you can.

1081. How long did our Lord remain on earth after His resurrection? 1082. Relate the events which took place during this period. 1083. Give the history of our Saviour's ascension into heaven.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

1084. Describe the political parties into which the Jews were at this time divided.

1085. Explain the force of the captious questions proposed to our Saviour by the Jews, in their bearing upon the state of existing parties, political and religious.

1086. State exactly the value of a "mite."

1087. In what part of Scripture, besides the Gospels, do you find an account of the institution of the Lord's Supper?

1088. What is the meaning of the word Gethsemane ?

1089. What is the meaning of "Golgotha"? Whence comes the word Calvary?

1090. On what grounds did the Sanhedrim condemn Jesus?

1091. On what charge did Pontius Pilate eventually pass sentence on Him?

1092. Show that the trial and condemnation of Jesus were informal and illegal.

1093. Where was, probably, the judgment-hall (prætorium) of Pilate?

CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE APOSTLES.

(Acts i.-xii.)

AFTER Our Saviour's ascension, His disciples who were in Jeru salem, including the Apostles, continued to assemble together, to the number of 120. One of their first cares was to elect an Apostle who should fill the place of Judas; and, having selected two members of their own company, Joseph Barsabas (surnamed Justus), and Matthias, they referred the final decision to the lot, accompanied with prayer to God. The election fell on Matthias, who was thus numbered with the Apostles, but of whose subsequent life and labours nothing certain is known; some placing the scene of his ministry in Macedonia, others in Cappadocia; while others say that he suffered martyrdom in Galilee.

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On the first of Pentecost*, fifty days after the Passover, the great promise of our Lord to His disciples concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit received a remarkable fulfilment. They i. e. the Apostles and other disciples at that time in Jerusalemwere 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"-i. e. there was an appearance of a lambent flame which settled upon each of the disciples. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues"-i. e. in various languages different from their own; one, doubtless, speaking in one language, and another in another as the Spirit gave them utterance." The subject of their discourse was "the wonderful works of God"-i. e. doubtless,

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* Called in the Old Testament the Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest.

the wonders which had been wrought by the Lord Jesus, and in connection with Him. Great astonishment was occasioned by this event among the large number of pious Jews and proselytes who had come up to celebrate the feast of Pentecost at Jerusalem from various parts of the world; and some of them ignorantly regarded the disciples as in a state of intoxication. Under these circumstances, Peter, as the spokesman of the Apostles, expounded the whole affair, first by a reference to the promise of the Spirit contained in the latter part of Joel ii., and then by a declaration of the death and resurrection of Jesus, which he set forth as a fulfilment of the prophecy contained in Ps. xvi. 8-11.; concluding his address with these words, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." The multitude having listened to this discourse, "were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about 3000 souls" (Acts ii. 36-41.). Thus thoroughly instructed had the Apostles now become with regard to the true nature of the Gospel, and concerning their office in relation to it.

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The disciples, in large numbers, now associated together in great unity and concord; meeting, no doubt, in their own synagogues, where they listened to the teaching of the Apostles, while they were continually witnessing many wonders and signs which were wrought by their hands. They continued stedfastly in the Apostles' doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles. 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, prais ing God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Act 42-47.).

One of the most remarkable among the early miracles w

the Lord wrought by the ministry of the Apostles is recorded in Acts iii. This was the healing of a cripple who used to lie as a beggar at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple (probably, the celebrated gate of Corinthian brass leading from the Court of the Gentiles into the Court of the Women); who, having asked alms of Peter and John, as they were about to enter the Temple, at the ninth hour, i. e. three o'clock, received from Peter this reply, “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." The Divine Redeemer immediately wrought the miracle indicated by His Apostle's word; the poor man went with Peter and John into the Temple, praising God; and, when a large multitude had been drawn together by the report of this miraculous cure, Peter delivered to them an address in which he proclaimed Jesus as the true Messiah, declared the power of faith in His name, spoke of His coming again in glory, and announced Him as the prophet whom Moses had foretold (Deut. xviii. 15. 18, 19.), and as the seed of Abraham in whom all the kindreds of the earth were to be blessed (Acts iii. 12-26.). The immediate result of this miracle and discourse was a large addition to the number of the disciples; who now amounted, in the whole, to five thousand.* (Acts iv. 4.)

The attention of the Jewish authorities having been now effectually aroused, and their hostility excited to the highest pitch, Peter and John were apprehended, and brought before the High Priest and his associates, by whom they were interrogated and put upon their defence. In their presence, Peter again boldly declared the Messiahship of Jesus, and affirmed that there is salvation in no other; and when Peter and John were charged for the future not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus, they answered, "Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye: for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." After this, having received a further charge and warning, they were dismissed. The report of these proceedings caused the church to engage in earnest prayer for strength and boldness needful to face persecution and danger; a prayer which was not made in vain, for, "when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word with

boldness."

The love and unity which prevailed among the first believers

Or, 8120; viz. 120 at first, 3000 after St. Peter's sermon, 5000 after the first apostolic miracle.

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in Christ was manifested by the assistance which they rendered to each other in temporal affairs. This mutual assistance was at once liberal and systematic; so that it appears to have been a prevalent custom for the members of the church to give more or less of their property by way of contribution to a common fund, under the management of the Apostles, for the use of all who were in need of assistance. These offerings, as they were entirely voluntary, so, for the most part, they were sincere; as in the case of Joses, a Levite, of Cyprus, who "having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet." But there were hypocrites, even in this first age of the Christian Church; and it pleased the great Searcher of Hearts to expose some of them, in the persons of Ananias and his wife Sapphirs, and to visit them with a fearful punishment, as a warning to the church in all ages. These persons, loving the praise of men, and loving money too, and loving both more than the favour of God, having pretended to commit the whole proceeds of their lands to the charge of the Apostles for the use of the disciples, but having secretly reserved a portion for themselves, were severely rebuked by Peter for their equivocation and hypocrisy; and, having been solemnly reminded that they lied not unto men but unto God, were by the Divine power suddenly smitten dead (Acts v. 1-11.). After this, the Apostles continued to preach, and to work miracles; and the number of believers continued to increase. Hereupon the High Priest and the Sadducees—(the Sadducees appearing as the chief opponents of the Apostles, most probably because one of their leading topics related to the resurrection of the dead)—threw the Apostles into prison; “but the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the Temple to the people all the words of this life." Again interrogated before the Sanhedrim concerning obedience to their mandate, "Peter and the other Apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men;" and once more, in the presence of that body, they proclaimed their testimony_con cerning Jesus, saying, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him." (Acts v. 30-32.) The members of the Sanhedrim then held a private conference on the matter; in the course of which Gamaliel reminded

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* Rabban Gamaliel, or Gam the elder, a celebrated Pharisee, tutor of St. Paul, and of Onkelos the Targumist.