the rest of the apostles prayed to God to let them know which He had chosen. How did they expect God to answer their prayer? Did God speak? Did an angel come? No!

The apostles cast lots.

There are many ways of casting lots. Perhaps the apostles cast lots in this way. Perhaps they wrote the name of Joseph Justus on one little piece of wood called a tablet, and the name of Matthias on another, and then shook these two tablets in the end of a robe, till one tablet fell out. The tablet that fell out had the name of Matthias written on it. It was a great honour to be one of the twelve apostles. Yet we never hear again of Matthias. But he will sit on one of the twelve thrones that Jesus promised to His apostles.

The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.'-Prov. xvi. 33.

II.

THE PROMISED GIFT.

Acts, ii. 1-15, 22-24, 32-38.

TEN days had now passed away since Jesus had gone up to heaven. How long did Jesus spend on earth after He had risen? Forty days. days make fifty days.

Ten more

It was now fifty days since Jesus rose. There was a feast of the Jews at that time, called 'the feast of firstfruits,' when the Jews brought their first sheaves of wheat to present to the Lord. Thousands of Jews came up from all countries to keep this feast. One name for the feast was Pentecost.* It was now just fifty days after the Passover. It was the first day of the week. On that day the believers in Jesus met together in the large room to pray.

* 'Pente' means 'fifty.'

It was early in the morning-about eight o'clock. Suddenly a great sound was heard. It was like the sound of a very strong, high wind. This great sound filled the place where the believers were sitting, and shook the whole house. There came also what looked like fire-divided into many parts, each part appearing to be a tongue of fire and these came and sat on each of the believers,—on the women as well as on the men. At the same time they all were able to speak many strange languages which they had never learned. Jesus had once told His apostles to preach the Gospel to every creature, and they may have wondered how they should be able to teach strange nations; but now they were made able to speak to every one in his own language.

The great noise which had shaken the house had been heard in all Jerusalem, and people came running towards the place. They could not all get into

the house, but the people in the house could come out to the people in the street. The bright tongues were still to be seen upon them. There were

Jews who lived in other countries, as well as Gentiles, and they heard the believers speaking in the languages they spoke in the countries where they were born. They were very much astonished, and said, 'How do these men of Galilee speak all these languages?' Some thought this was a miracle, and said to each other, 'What is the meaning of it?' But others only mocked, and said, 'These men have drunk too much wine.'

Then Peter stood up, and all the other apostles stood near him. He spake in a very loud voice, that all the multitude might hear.

He began by saying,-These men are not drunken, as you suppose; for men do not get drunk so early in the morning. But,' said he, 'God has sent

down His Holy Spirit, as He promised. Hear my words,' cried out Peter; 'Jesus of Nazareth, who did so many miracles among you, as you know, has been crucified by your wicked hands. But He has been raised from the dead, and taken to God's right hand, and now He hath shed forth THIS which ye now SEE and hear.'

The multitude could see the brightness of the Spirit. Many now believed that Jesus was the Son of God, and felt very unhappy for having crucified Him; and they were pricked in their hearts, and came to the apostles, saying very sorrowfully, 'What shall we do?'

Then Peter answered, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the Holy Ghost.'

Three thousand were baptized that day.

Then was fulfilled what John the