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SECT. 1. The twelve Apostles called, and authorized by our blessed Lord, during the time of his ministry on earth, and after his resurrection from the dead. WHEN Jesus had called unto him his twelve Disciples, (also he named Apostles,) he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve Apostles are these; the first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John bis brother, Philip, and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the publican, James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose sirname was Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give. Ye are the salt of the earth; ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye in the house tops. He that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. that heareth you, heareth me; and be that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him. that sent me'. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. All power is given unto me in heaven, and in earth: Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of

§ 1. Matt. x. 1-4. d Matt. x. 27.

Matt. x. 41.

b Matt. x. 5-8.
e Matt. x. 40.

b Matt. ix. 37, 38.

Matt. v. 13, 14.
Luke, x. 16.

He

the Holy Ghost: And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world1*.

SECT. 2. His instructions relating to their duty and sufferings.

Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth God service. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord; if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

Jesus said unto them, every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that

1 Matt. xxviii. 18-20.

2. Matt. x. 16-20. d John, xvi. 2.

8 Matt. xiii. 52.

b Matt. x. 22.
Matt. x. 24, 25.

.f

© John, xv. 18, 19. John, xv. 20.

See further on this subject § 6, of the preceding chapter.

servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily, I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of; and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth".

SECT. S. Matthias numbered with the eleven Apostles. ·

In those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Wherefore, of these men which have companied with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was sirnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show 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".

SECT. 4. The effusion of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost.

"For this, see § 7. of the preceding chapter."

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SECT. 5. The first ministrations of the Apostles at Jerusalem.

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As they spake unto the people, the priests and captain of the temple 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 until next day. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders, and scribes 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 God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done. And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. And by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least, the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common 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. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence, and set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you, that should not teach in this name? And behold you ye have

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filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other Apostles answered, and said, We ought to obey God rather than men". And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ'.

SECT. 6. The election of the seven deacons.

In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians. against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you, seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the Apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom, and the spirit by which he spake*.

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