T

HE astonishment of these men of various countries

and tongues began to break out in doubts and

scorn; for some of them said, 'These men are full of new wine:'-a very poor and absurd account of the matter, and not the less a miracle, had it been true, that strong drink, taken early, would impart to uneducated men a dozen or more languages in addition to their own. 'But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days (saith God), I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall

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:

see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams and on my servants, and on my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'-ACTS ii.

No!

PETER HEALS THE LAME MAN.

OW Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth

hour. And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. And he `gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ

of Nazareth, rise up and walk and immediately his feet. and ankle-bones received strength. And he, leaping up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: and they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple and they were filled with wonder at that which had happened unto him.'-Acts iii.

ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA STRUCK DEAD.

N the early days of the Christian Church, a practice prevailed, which was not enjoined on Christians of succeeding ages, nor indeed was it compulsory on any, even then-the selling of property by those brethren who had possessions, and having all things common, by an even distribution to those who had need. 'But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his

ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA.

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wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife being also privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost. And about three hours after, his wife came in, not knowing what was done. And Peter said, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Then fell she down straightway, and yielded up the ghost.'-ACTS v.

T was not to be expected that the Jewish rulers, whose

crucify the Son of God, should look on with complacency or indifference whilst His apostles wrought miracles, and gathered multitudes of the people round them by their acts and doctrine. 'And believers were the more added to the Lord, both men and women; so that they brought their sick into the streets, that, if possible, the shadow of Peter might fall upon them. Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.'-ACTS v.