27. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning" (John 15:26, 27).

Again, the gift of the Holy Spirit promised to His apostles by Jesus was absolutely necessary to them in three most essential particulars, to enable them to be His witnesses and to extend His kingdom on the earth.

1. He would convince of sin, righteousness, and judg

ment.

5. "But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

6. But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9. Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" (John 16:5-11).

2. He would guide them into all truth, show them things to come and would glorify Jesus Christ.

12. "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

15. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore

said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16: 12-15).

3. He would afford them all needful power, that they might be witnesses unto Jesus Christ everywhere.

6. "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7. And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight" (Acts 1:6-9).

XXXI

THE APOSTLES RETURNED TO JERUSALEM AND CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER. THE HOLY GHOST WAS POURED OUT UPON THEM. THEY WERE ENDUED WITH POWER, ACCOMPANIED WITH MARVELOUS RESULTS

After Jesus ascended into heaven from His apostles on the Mount of Olives, they returned to Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father, as Jesus had commanded them. They went up into an upper room where most of the apostles abode. There they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with the brethren.

A. The Choosing of Matthias. In one of these meetings when there were present one hundred and twenty, Peter addressed them and assured them that another must be chosen as an apostle to fill the place vacated by Judas Iscariot.

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

16. Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

17. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

20. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habi

tation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein and his bishoprick let another take.

21. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22. Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

26. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles" (Acts 1: 15-17; 20-26).

B. Pentecost. The Holy Ghost was then poured out upon the apostles of Jesus and they were endued with great power which was accompanied with marvelous beneficial results.

1. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord 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. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude

came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans?

8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9. Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

II. Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13. Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine" (Acts 2:1-13).

This was the answer to the promise and command of Jesus to His Apostles on the Mount of Olives just before His ascension.

49. "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).

Since Jesus had departed from His apostles the enduement of power as bestowed upon them at this time was absolutely necessary to qualify them for the work they were commanded to do.

The wonderful manner in which this enduement of power was bestowed upon the apostles afforded them. undoubted evidence that it was sent from God. Assured by the cloven tongues like as of fire, that sat upon each