CHAPTER III.

Peter speaks to the People. What is meant by the Christian Church.

WHILE those people of different nations, who had heard their own languages thus miraculously spoken, reasoned with each other what this should mean, Peter, with the rest of the Apostles, came forward. Peter, no longer weak and timorous as when for fear of the Jews he had denied his Master,-spoke with boldness to the people. He re

minded them that all those things which had come to pass on that day, had been foretold by their own prophets, many hundred years ago. Their prophet Joel had said, " And it shall come to pass, saith God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; ... and I will shew wonders in heaven above and in the earth beneath." Peter then went on to speak to them of Jesus; "Ye men of Israel," said he, "hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man shown forth by God among you, by signs and wonders which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know; ... Him ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain; .... this

Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.”

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Now when the people heard these words, "they were pricked in their hearts," (their conscience, that means, reproached them,) " and they said unto Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter answered, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission" (forgiveness) "of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Then

those who really repented, and gladly received the Apostle's words, were baptized. But this was not all. That day three thousand persons more were baptized into Christ's name; and thus was the first Christian Church formed.

But you will ask perhaps,—what building could hold all these people?

I must tell you, then, that I am not now speaking of the building in which these Christians met together. By the Christian Church I mean, not a building, but a set of people; that is, all Christ's faithful servants upon earth,—all who are baptized into his name, and own Him for their Head; to whatever particular society they may belong,-in what

or

ever country they may live, under whatever buildings they meet together.

At the time of which we are speaking, the Church of Christ consisted of but one society of Christians, viz. this Church at Jerusalem. As the number of Christians increased, there were of course many different societies or Churches formed, which were governed by their own Clergy or Ministers, but all belonged to, forming part of, the one universal Church of Christ.

But I know you will ask,-had these Christians no such places as our Churches to meet together in, and worship God as we do?

No: they met in private rooms

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