CHAPTER XXY. 565 be the map ? A. They called on the Lord by prayer, then cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, who was numbered with the eleven apostles ; Acts i. 24-26. 3. Q. How long did they wait for the promised Spirit to fall upon them? A. On the day of the pentecost, which was ten days after the ascension of Christ, the Spirit of God was sent down upon them ; Acts ii. 1 -6. 4. Q. In what manner did the Spirit come upon them ? A. The house where they were met was filled with the sound of a rushing wind, and cloven tongues of fire appeared as sitting on all their heads ; Verses 2, 3. 5, Q. What was the first effect of the descent of the holy Spirit upon them? A. They all spake with various tongues the wonderful works of God, to the amazement of the Jews, and a multitude of proselytes of all nations, that were then at Jerusa- lem ; Verses 4-11. 6. Q. Which of the apostles seemed to be the chief speaker at that time, and what wastheir doctrine ? A. Peter preaches to this multitude, bears witness to the resurrectionand exaltation of Christ, and the pouring out of the Spirit of God on men, partly from his own knowledge, and from these present visible effects thereof among them, and partly from the prophecies and promises of scripture ; he leads them to Christ as a Saviour and Lord, calls them to repentance of their sins, and a profes- sion of their faith in Jesus, by being baptized in his name ; Verses 14-41. 7. Q. What success had this sermon ? A. Three thousand souls were added to the disciples of Christ, andbaptized on that day ; Verse 41. ß'. Q. What was the temper of spirit which was admirable in these primitive converts ? A. A spirit of devotion toward God and Christ, with a spirit of benevolence and intimate friendship toward each other ; so far, that they were daily in the temple praising God, they were most frequently, or rather, continually engaged in prayer, and in remembering the death of Christ, by breaking bread with joy; and they so liberally distributed to the poor, that none was in want. These were the glorious effects of Christianity in its first appearance; Verses 42-47. 9. Q. How did the apostles effectually prove their doctrine and their commission to preach ? A. By doing many signs and wonders among the people, which were the gifts of the Spirit proceeding from a risen Saviour; Verses 33, 43:_ Note, This was the proper beginning of the kingdom of Christ ; or the christian dispensation ; which was set up in the world in its glory, at the pouring down of the Spirit, after the ascension of Christ, and his exaltation to the government of the world and the church.
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