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.”

So powerful and convincing was the apostle's eloquence that three thousand of the audience were converted by his preaching, and became and continued steadfast adherents to the Christian doctrines.

Some time after this great event, Peter and John, repairing to the Temple as usual, at the hour appointed for evening prayer, beheld a poor cripple, who sat begging at one of the gates. This gate, on account of the excellence of its architecture, was called Beautiful, and was consequently such an object of attention to those who visited Jerusalem that it was usually surrounded by a crowd of strangers. No more public opportunity could be afforded the apostles for the exercise of their miraculous powers; they restored him to the use of his limbs, not in their own name, but in that of Jesus of Nazareth. An immense concourse immediately gathered round the apostles, at the place called Solomon's porch. Peter reproved them for gazing at him as the author of the miracle, declaring that it was not by his own power that he had restored the poor cripple to health. He added,

"The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom he delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."

In conclusion, he urged on them so powerfully the danger of obstinate and ungrateful unbelief, and the

unspeakable benefits of speedy repentance and earnest faith, that five thousand of his hearers were converted, and added to the number of the disciples.

The new Church of Christ thus daily improved, and the multitude of the disciples was so much increased that the Chief Priests found it necessary to interfere. They summoned the apostles and the cripple before them, but when they saw the latter, whose previous infirmity was known to them all, from the publicity of the place where he used to sit asking alms, they were greatly perplexed. After a short enquiry, they ordered them to be removed, and, having discussed the matter amongst themselves, agreed to dismiss them for the present, with a strict injunction not to preach any more in the name of Jesus. Peter replied, "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 they had been dismissed from the Sanhedrim, Peter and John returned to their colleagues, and acquainted them with what had past, repeating the strict injunctions of the Priest and rulers, against their preaching in the name of Jesus. But the disciples, who had now learned to put confidence in the pro

L

phesies of their blessed Master, were aware that they should have to endure persecution for preaching in his name. Instead of being daunted, they lifted up their voices with one accord unto God, and said, "Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do what soever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus."

While they were praying, there was a second glorious manifestation of the Holy Spirit; the place where they were assembled was shaken, the Holy Ghost entered into their hearts. Strengthened and encouraged by such divine aid, they resolved to dis

regard the threatenings of the wicked rulers, and henceforth to preach the word of God with full confidence.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR.

THE Church of Christ now grew not only in numbers, but in the zeal and fervour, the holiness and charity of its members. They began a kind of heavenly life upon earth, having all property in common, selling their possessions, and laying the price at the feet of the apostles, to provide for the support of all, and especially the relief of the poorer brethren. Some hypocrites took advantage of this institution, particularly Ananias and Sapphira his wife, who kept back part of the price which they had received for their land, and added a fearful lie to conceal their guilt. For this crime, they were both struck dead, and this awful example produced such an effect that no further attempts were made to defraud the Church. In the mean time, the apostles gave several strong proofs of their mission, by working signal miracles in