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On this occasion we find Peter addressing his brethren, but without assuming any pre-eminence or authority over them. His discourse is a plain narrative of what had happened, and a statement of the necessity they lay under to preserve the number of competent witnesses of our Saviour's miracles, and particularly of his resurrection from the dead.

At the feast of Pentecost, when the fame of the gift of tongues possessed by a few obscure Galileans, attracted the notice of the strangers who were at Jerusalem, Peter delivered a powerful discourse to the multitude, in which he vindicated himself and the other disciples from the aspersion that "they were filled with wine." He then proceeded to apply the prophecies to the Messiah, and proved that these were fulfilled in the person of Jesus, and the miraculous' foundation of his church. The apostle, fired with inspired eloquence, and feeling the truth he delivered, urged the necessity of repentance upon his hearers with so much effect, that the same day there were added to the number of Christian believers three thousand souls.

This extraordinary conversion was followed by another, the occasion of which was the miraculous ture of a cripple by Peter and John, as they went nto the temple at the hour of prayer. When the man who had been lame from his birth, asked alms of the apostles, Peter said to him, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." The command was no sooner uttered than it was obeyed; the contracted limbs obtained the power of motion, and the poor mendicant "entered the temple, walking, leaping, and praising GOD." This miracle in so public a place excited general observation; the people crowded round the apostles } and when they beheld the man who had been healed clinging in gratitude to his benefactors, they were struck with admiration. Peter, with his usual eagerness, seized the opportunity of turning the attention

of the people to the real cause of this wonderful recovery. "Ye men of Israel," said he, "why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? He then proceeded to declare that faith in the name of Jesus, the Son of Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had made this man strong. The apostle concluded his discourse by an exhortation to repentance, and the submission of their hearts to the Messiah.

While Peter was preaching, the priests and Sadducees, irritated at this doctrine, informed the captain of the guard that his concourse of people had a tendency to sedition. Upon this the officer sent a band of soldiers to apprehend the two apostles, who were committed to prison. The next day they were brought before the Sanhedrim, who, having consulted what measures to adopt, came to the resolution of dismiss.ng them with a charge to "preach no more in the name of Jesus." But the apostles, instead of being intimidated by the menaces of the council, replied with confidence, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than to God, judge ye; for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

The Sanhedrim could not deny that a miracle had been wrought; and it was evident that the impression made by it upon the people was in favour of the apostles; having, therefore, "further threatened them, they let them depart."

At this period were added to the church five thousand persons; and the account of this primitive assembly of Christians, though as yet the believers were not called by that name, affords a beautiful picture of unity and charity. "The multitude of them that believed, were of one heart, and of one soul; neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common. Acts iv. 32, 35.

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This community of goods was voluntary, every

member of the society being left to his own discretion in the disposition of his estates. But when any one made a profession of contributing the produce of the sale of his houses or lands to the common stock, it was justly expected that he should give in the full amount.

Thus we are told that "Barnabas, a native of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money to the apostles." This liberal conduct of Barnabas, a stranger, is introduced as a contrast to that of a wealthy disciple of Jerusalem, in whom the sense of religion was not sufficiently strong to counteract the force of avarice.

A rich Jew, named Ananias, and his wife Saphira, were among those disciples who professed to devote all their worldly interests to the common good. Ananias accordingly sold his estate; but when he came to the apostles, he reserved a part of the price for his private use. This man made the same pretensions with his brethren; and his deportment when he entered the congregation was in appearance sincere and devout, for," having brought a certain part of the money, he laid it at the apostles' feet."

Peter, however, detected the deceit; and, penetrating the soul of the hypocrite, said, "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

The apostle had no sooner finished this reproof, than Ananias fell down and expired, a remarkable monument of a judgment of heaven against hypocrisy and sacrilege. About three hours after this, Saphira, not knowing what had happened, came in, and persisting In the same declaration which had been made by Ananias, she also fell down dead, and was buried by the side of her husband. The reasoning of the apostle in his address to Ananias, is a sufficient

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