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"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. After conferring among themselves, they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered 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. And they returned to their company and repeated what the chief priests had said. After this the apostles were imprisoned again, and brought before the council, and the high priest asked them, saying, 'Did not we straitly command you, that ye should not teach in this name! and behold, ye have 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.' For the full account of these transactions we must refer the reader to the Acts of the Apostles, chapters 3, 4, 5.

St. John was among the twelve at the choosing the seven deacons. "Then Philip, who was one of their number went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. And when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John."

He is mentioned as being at Jerusalem after this at the first Council of the church held there, by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians. "And when James, Cephas, and John who seemed to be followers, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellow

ship."

His name is not mentioned after this in the Acts of the Apostles, but Ecclesiastical Historians inform us, he went to live at Ephesus, where his most intimate friends were Ignatius and Polycarp. He was banished to the Island of Patmos, a small island near the coast of Asia Minor, where he received the Revelation from heaven, which he committed to writing. Throughout all the writings of John, he gives evidence of his intense love, and adoration, and study of Jesus. His gospel abounds with proofs of his watching most minutely every trait and feature, and drinking in every word of Jesus. We are told, that he was the disciple who leaned upon Jesus' bosom; and he seems to have been the disciple that drank deepest into the spirit, and unveiled the greatest portion of the inner experience, of his Lord, in the precious gospel of which he is the author." Such are the observations of a beautiful writer, Dr. Cumming, in his Apocalyptic Sketches, to which we would refer you.

The same writer observes :-" In the next place, let me notice that John, through all his writings, dwells most prominently of all the Evangelists and writers of the New Testament, on the Deity of our blessed Lord. His gospel seems written especially to illustrate it; his Apocalypse is pervaded by frequent allusions to it. The gospel of St. Matthew was chiefly to demonstrate the humanity of Jesus; the Gospel of St. John seems to have been written especially to unfold the Deity of Jesus; and thus the four Gospels together, like the whole Bible itself, present a perfect Apocalypse of the character of the Son of God."

"We read that just before his departure, John went into the congregation or assembly of the christian church at Ephesus, supported by two young men who had been converted to the knowledge of the Gospel, and being unable to preach to the audience, or to address them so as to be heard, he was just able to give his dying testimony in these words, Little children, love one another.'"

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St. John died at Ephesus at the age of one hundred, after the destruction of Jerusalem, thus fulfilling our Saviour's prophecy.

St. John has related much of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, not recorded by the other Evangelists, which may be seen in the comparative statement of the contents of the four Gospels.

CONTENTS

OF THE

FOUR GOSPELS

ACCORDING TO THE DIVISIONS OF CHAPTERS

IN THE AUTHORIZED VERSION,

AND BY DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME

OBSERVED IN THE GOSPELS.

ACCORDING TO THE DIVISIONS OF

AND BY DIFFERENT

PERIOD I. CONTAINING THE PARTICULARS

AND OF OUR BLESSED LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST UP

ST. MATTHEW.

CHAP. I. 1-17. The Genealogy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of David the Son of Abraham.

18-25. Joseph and Mary being espoused, before they are married, she is found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Joseph seeking to put her away privately, is warned by an Angel in a dream, saying "Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." The prophecy of Isaiah fulfilled. Joseph takes unto him his wife.

CHAP. II. 1-12. When Jesus is born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, Wise men come from the East to Jerusalem, led by a star, saying "Where is he that is born King of the Jews."

Herod being troubled, gathers the chief priests and scribes together, and demands of them where Christ should be born. They reply, "In Bethlehem of

ST. MARK.

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