LUKE'S GOSPEL HISTORY-PART II.

BEING THE HistorY OF

The ACTS of the APOSTLES.

CHAP. I.

PART OF CHRIST'S HISTORY REPEATED.

THE first book, (Luke i. 3.) I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus both did and taught, 2. Until the day of his ascension to heaven, after having by the Holy Spirit given commands to the apostles whom he had chosen; 3. To whom also he shewed himself alive, after his suffering, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God: 4. And then assembling them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, (till endued with the Holy Spirit, Luke xxiv. 49.) but to wait for the Spirit, as promised by the Father, of which, said he, you have heard me speak, (John xiv. 26). 5. For John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit, (taught, enlightened, and purified by him) not many days

hence.

6. Now being assembled, they asked him, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (as in the time of David). 7. But he said to themIt is not fit for you to know the times or the sea: sons which the Father hath kept in his own power, (and kept hid). 8. But ye shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you; and ye shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the utmost parts of the earth.

9. And having spoken these things, while they

beheld, he ascended; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10. Now while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; 11. Who said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking towards heaven: this Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall come again in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is (a mile) from Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey. 13. And be ing come in, they went into an upper room, where abode Peter, James, and John, Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, (Nathanael) Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James. 14. These all continued with one consent in prayer and supplication, with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his kindred.

15. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, the number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty, and he said,

16. Men and brethren, this scripture ought to have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake before by David, concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus. 17. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this (apostolic) ministry. 18. Now, this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and, falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19. And it was known to all that dwelt at Jerusalem, so that the field is called in their own idiom, Aceldama, or The field of blood. 20. For it is written in the Psalms, His habitation shall be desolate, for no man shall dwell therein; and his office shall another take, (cix.) 21. Wherefore, of these men who accompanied us all the time that

22.

the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, From the baptism of John, until the day that he was taken up from us, one must be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23. So they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24. Then they prayed, saying, Thou Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew which of these two thou hast chosen, 25. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, to go to his own place.

26. Then they cast their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias; so he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

CHAP. II.

THE APOSTLES RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Now the day of Pentecost, (fifty days after the passover, when the law was given at Sinai, and White Sunday, when the converts dressed in white), being fully come, they were all with one consent in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3. Then there appeared to them the likeness of divided tongues of fire, which alighted on each of them. 4. Then they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5. Now there were abiding at Jerusalem Jews, religious men, out of every nation under heaven. 6. Now this being reported abroad, the multitude came together, and were astonished, because every man heard them speak in his own language.

7. So they were all amazed and wondered, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these who speak, Galileans? 8. And how hear we every man in our own language, wherewith we were born? 9. Parthians,

Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10. In Phrygia, and Pamphylia; in Egypt, and in the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and strangers from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11. Cretes and Arabians, we hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12. So they were all amazed, and doubted, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13. Others, mocking, said, These men are full of new wine.

14. But Peter standing up with the eleven, said to them with a loud voice, Ye Jews, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and hearken to my words: 15. These are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17. And in the last days (or gospel times), saith God, I will pour out (the influences) of my Spirit on all men, (Gentiles as well as Jews); and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream (divine) dreams. 18. Even on my servants and my handmaids, I will pour out in those days my Spirit, and they shall prophesy: 19. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood and fire, and vapour of smoke, (in war and burning of cities). 20. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood-(all the light and glory of the Jewish church and state, city and temple, and nation, shall be darkened and desolated by bloody wars, and the smoke of burning cities) before the great and notable day of the Lord come, (which will put a period to it). 21. But whoever calls on the name of the Lord (Jesus), believing in him, shall be saved (from that destruction, and future misery.)

22. Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God among you, by miracles, and wonders and signs, which God did by

him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know; 23. Having taken him who was delivered up to you by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have crucified and slain him with wicked hands; 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the bands of death; because it was not possible that he could be holden by it. 25. For David speaketh concerning him thus: I kept his glory always in view, for he is at my right hand (to uphold me), that I be not moved: 26. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope (of a resurrection). 27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in the separate state, nor let (the body of) thy holy One suffer corruption. 28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy favourable countenance.

29. Brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David, who is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us to this day. 30. Therefore, being a prophet, and God having sworn to him, that of his offspring he would raise up Christ, to possess the throne of which his was the type: 31. He, foreseeing this, spake of Christ's resurrection, that his soul was not to be left in the separate state, nor his body to suffer corruption. 32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. 33. Therefore, being exalted at the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured out this which ye now see and hear. 34. For David (in his body) is not ascended into the heavens; but he himself saith, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, (possess the highest honour) 35. Until I make thy foes thy footstool, (by subduing them under thee).

36. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus M m

VOL. III.

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