_And when the day of Pentecost was fully come._ THE DAY OF PENTECOST I. In the occurrences of the day of Pentecost we discover evidence of a special Divine influence. This idea is too prevalent, that the agency of the Supreme is only of a general character--that the repentance and salvation of sin... [ Continue Reading ]
_And suddenly there came a sound from heaven._ THE SOUND FROM HEAVEN AN ANSWER TO PRAYER The united prayer of the apostles was a cry to heaven, well pleasing to God, and this sound was a delightful answer and counter-cry from heaven; thus was this ἦχος at the same time an echo. So faithful is Go... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost._ THE HISTORIC MOVEMENT TOWARDS SPIRITUALLY The succession which is indicated by the words Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is neither nominal nor accidental, it is a philosophicaI progress and culmination. 1. When we go back towards the origin of things,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation._ THE FIRST CONGREGATION APPEALED TO BY THE APOSTLES I. It consisted of men of many lands. The fifteen countries remind us of the dispersion of the Jews. They had been scattered on account of their sins; but the mercy of G... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they were all amazed._ WHIT SUNDAY, OR WHAT OUR CHURCHES NEED Notice-- I. Three things immediately preceding the outpouring of the Spirit--things which if not the direct cause of a revival, always herald it--the shadows cast by the coming blessing. 1. A complete congregation. “They were all... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Peter standing up with the eleven._ THE SCENE Never was such an audience assembled as that before which this poor fisherman appeared: men of different nations, rapidly and earnestly speaking in their different tongues; one in Hebrew, mocking and saying, “These men are full of new wine”; anothe... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it shall come to pass in the last days._ THE GOSPEL AGE Four things taught here determine the gospel age. I. It is connected with an extraordinary effusion of the Divine Spirit, “I will pour out My Spirit.” II. It is connected with prodigious revolutions, “I will show wonders,” etc. III. I... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sun shall be turned into darkness._ DOWNFALL OF CHRISTIANITY Solar eclipse is here prophesied to take place about the time of the destruction of ancient Jerusalem. Josephus says that the prophecy was literally fulfilled. Christianity is the sun of our time, and men bare tried, with the vapours... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved._ SALVATION I. Its nature. 1. Deliverance from-- (1) The guilt of sin. (2) The power of sin. (3) The punishment of sin. 2. Deliverance to-- (1) Acceptance with God. (2) Conquest of evil. (3) Heaven. II. Its Condition. Calling on... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye men of Israel, hear these words._ PERSONAL PREACHING One of the old English worthies said that a great many sermons were like carefully written letters dropped into the post-office without any address written upon them. They were not intended for any one in particular, and they never reached a... [ Continue Reading ]
_For David speaketh concerning Him._ A PROPHETIC PANORAMA OF THE LIFE OF JESUS These words of David show Jesus-- I. In His relation to the Father. 1. He had a constant recollection of God. “I saw the Lord always,” etc. In His early life He said, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s busi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David._ AN ANTI-RATIONALIST ARGUMENT Peter avers-- I. That david could not have said of himself the words here quoted, For this he states the threefold reason, that David had died, that he had been buried, and that his tomb was stil... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted._ THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD The phrase imports-- I. The unspeakable felicity into which Christ’s human nature--for it is of Christ incarnate that this is said, and as the reward of His sufferings as a man--had now entered; for “in Thy presence is fuln... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?_ IT IS THE PREACHING THAT PRICKS MEN’S CONSCIENCES THAT SAVES THEM It may not be well that some of you should be pleased. Sometimes, when a man grows... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart._ THE EFFECTS OF GOSPEL PREACHING 1. Peter having explained the events of Pentecost, an immediate effect was produced. “They were pricked in their hearts.” So the Holy Ghost was poured out upon them as He had been poured out upon the assem... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Peter said, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus._ PETER’S DIRECTION In getting the exact meaning of Peter’s directions to these inquirers, observe-- (1) “Repent” is literally to perceive afterwards, and hence to change the mind, including one’s view of lif... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the promise is unto you, and to your children._ WHY CHRISTIANITY HAS FAILED 1_._ One of the earliest and most vital errors into which the Church fell was the conception that the Church’s power is proportionate to her wealth. 2. The second great error of the Church was made when it began to d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Save yourselves from this untoward generation._ MUCH EXHORTATION IS NEEDED Concerning salvation, we need only preach one sermon by way of explanation, but men need _ten_ sermons by way of exhortation. (_C. H. Spurgeon._) SAVE YOURSELVES Let the word of God be like one who, during the great flood... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then they that gladly received his word were baptized._ MARKS OF HAVING RECEIVED THE WORD 1. A public profession of faith. 2. A desire to fulfil all the ordinances laid upon them by our Lord. 3. A desire to unite in fellowship with other believers. 4. Continuance in the Word. 5. Prayer and st... [ Continue Reading ]
_All that believed were together, and had all things common._ THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANS, AS HERE DEPICTED I. Presented a new social development, marked-- 1. By community of goods. 2. By judicious distribution to the needy. Poor people had, of course, been relieved before, but not in the systemati... [ Continue Reading ]
_Praising God, and having favour with all the people._ AT ONCE GODLY AND POPULAR I. Piety. “Praising God.” Behold the natural history of regeneration. Those who are bought with a price are constrained to glorify God. Thanksgiving is a constituent element of prayer without which it is ineffectual.... [ Continue Reading ]