the acts of the apostles-第5章

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Luke　23：31。

Jesus　had　several　times　attempted　to　open　the　future　to　His　disciples；　but
they　had　not　cared　to　think　about　what　He　said。　Because　of　this　His　death
had　come　to　them　as　a　surprise；　and　afterward；　as　they　reviewed　the　past　and
saw　the　result　of　their　unbelief；　they　were　filled　with　sorrow。

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When　Christ　was　crucified；　they　did　not　believe　that　He　would　rise。　He　had
stated　plainly　that　He　was　to　rise　on　the　third　day；　but　they　were　perplexed
to　know　what　He　meant。　This　lack　of　comprehension　left　them　at　the　time　of
His　death　in　utter　hopelessness。　They　were　bitterly　disappointed。　Their
faith　did　not　penetrate　beyond　the　shadow　that　Satan　had　cast　athwart　their
horizon。　All　seemed　vague　and　mysterious　to　them。　If　they　had　believed　the
Saviour's　words；　how　much　sorrow　they　might　have　been　spared！

Crushed　by　despondency；　grief；　and　despair；　the　disciples　met　together　in
the　upper　chamber；　and　closed　and　fastened　the　doors；　fearing　that　the　fate
of　their　beloved　Teacher　might　be　theirs。　It　was　here　that　the　Saviour；
after　His　resurrection；　appeared　to　them。

For　forty　days　Christ　remained　on　the　earth；　preparing　the　disciples　for　the
work　before　them　and　explaining　that　which　heretofore　they　had　been　unable
to　comprehend。　He　spoke　of　the　prophecies　concerning　His　advent；　His
rejection　by　the　Jews；　and　His　death；　showing　that　every　specification　of
these　prophecies　had　been　fulfilled。　He　told　them　that　they　were　to　regard
this　fulfillment　of　prophecy　as　an　assurance　of　the　power　that　would　attend
them　in　their　future　labors。　〃Then　opened　He　their　understanding；〃　we　read；
〃that　they　might　understand　the　Scriptures；　and　said　unto　them；　Thus　it　is
written；　and　thus　it　behooved　Christ　to　suffer；　and　to　rise　from　the　dead
the　third　day：　and　that　repentance　and　remission　of　sins　should　be　preached
in　His　name　among　all　nations；　beginning　at　Jerusalem。〃

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And　He　added；　〃Ye　are　witnesses　of　these　things。〃　Luke　24：45…48。

During　these　days　that　Christ　spent　with　His　disciples；　they　gained　a　new
experience。　As　they　heard　their　beloved　Master　explaining　the　Scriptures　in
the　light　of　all　that　had　happened；　their　faith　in　Him　was　fully
established。　They　reached　the　place　where　they　could　say；　〃I　know　whom　I
have　believed。〃　2　Timothy　1：12。　They　began　to　realize　the　nature　and　extent
of　their　work；　to　see　that　they　were　to　proclaim　to　the　world　the　truths
entrusted　to　them。　The　events　of　Christ's　life；　His　death　and　resurrection；
the　prophecies　pointing　to　these　events；　the　mysteries　of　the　plan　of
salvation；　the　power　of　Jesus　for　the　remission　of　sinsto　all　these　things
they　had　been　witnesses；　and　they　were　to　make　them　known　to　the　world。　They
were　to　proclaim　the　gospel　of　peace　and　salvation　through　repentance　and
the　power　of　the　Saviour。

Before　ascending　to　heaven；　Christ　gave　His　disciples　their　commission。　He
told　them　that　they　were　to　be　the　executors　of　the　will　in　which　He
bequeathed　to　the　world　the　treasures　of　eternal　life。　You　have　been
witnesses　of　My　life　of　sacrifice　in　behalf　of　the　world；　He　said　to　them。
You　have　seen　My　labors　for　Israel。　And　although　My　people　would　not　come　to
Me　that　they　might　have　life；　although　priests　and　rulers　have　done　unto　Me
as　they　listed；　although　they　have　rejected　Me；　they　shall　have　still
another　opportunity　of　accepting　the　Son　of　God。　You　have　seen　that　all　who
come　to　Me　confessing　their　sins；　I　freely　receive。

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Him　that　cometh　to　Me　I　will　in　no　wise　cast　out。　To　you；　My　disciples；　I
commit　this　message　of　mercy。　It　is　to　be　given　to　both　Jews　and
Gentilesto　Israel；　first；　and　then　to　all　nations；　tongues；　and　peoples。
All　who　believe　are　to　be　gathered　into　one　church。

The　gospel　commission　is　the　great　missionary　charter　of　Christ's　kingdom。
The　disciples　were　to　work　earnestly　for　souls；　giving　to　all　the　invitation
of　mercy。　They　were　not　to　wait　for　the　people　to　come　to　them；　they　were　to
go　to　the　people　with　their　message。

The　disciples　were　to　carry　their　work　forward　in　Christ's　name。　Their　every
word　and　act　was　to　fasten　attention　on　His　name；　as　possessing　that　vital
power　by　which　sinners　may　be　saved。　Their　faith　was　to　center　in　Him　who　is
the　source　of　mercy　and　power。　In　His　name　they　were　to　present　their
petitions　to　the　Father；　and　they　would　receive　answer。　They　were　to　baptize
in　the　name　of　the　Father；　the　Son；　and　the　Holy　Spirit。　Christ's　name　was
to　be　their　watchword；　their　badge　of　distinction；　their　bond　of　union；　the
authority　for　their　course　of　action；　and　the　source　of　their　success。
Nothing　was　to　be　recognized　in　His　kingdom　that　did　not　bear　His　name　and
superscription。

When　Christ　said　to　the　disciples；　Go　forth　in　My　name　to　gather　into　the
church　all　who　believe；　He　plainly　set　before　them　the　necessity　of
maintaining　simplicity。　The　less　ostentation　and　show；　the　greater　would　be
their　influence　for　good。　The　disciples　were　to　speak　with　the　same
simplicity　with　which　Christ　had　spoken。　They　were　to

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impress　upon　their　hearers　the　lessons　He　had　taught　them。

Christ　did　not　tell　His　disciples　that　their　work　would　be　easy。　He　showed
them　the　vast　confederacy　of　evil　arrayed　against　them。　They　would　have　to
fight　〃against　principalities；　against　powers；　against　the　rulers　of　the
darkness　of　this　world；　against　spiritual　wickedness　in　high　places。〃
Ephesians　6：12。　But　they　would　not　be　left　to　fight　alone。　He　assured　them
that　He　would　be　with　them；　and　that　if　they　would　go　forth　in　faith；　they
should　move　under　the　shield　of　Omnipotence。　He　bade　them　be　brave　and
strong；　for　One　mightier　than　angels　would　be　in　their　ranksthe　General　of
the　armies　of　heaven。　He　made　full　provision　for　the　prosecution　of　their
work　and　took　upon　Himself　the　responsibility　of　its　success。　So　long　as
they　obeyed　His　word；　and　worked　in　connection　with　Him；　they　could　not
fail。　Go　to　all　nations；　He　bade　them。　Go　to　the　farthest　part　of　the
habitable　globe　and　be　assured　that　My　presence　will　be　with　you　even　there。
Labor　in　faith　and　confidence；　for　the　time　will　never　come　when　I　will
forsake　you。　I　will　be　with　you　always；　helping　you　to　perform　your　duty；
guiding；　comforting；　sanctifying；　sustaining　you；　giving　you　success　in
speaking　words　that　shall　draw　the　attention　of　others　to　heaven。

Christ's　sacrifice　in　behalf　of　man　was　full　and　complete。　The　condition　of
the　atonement　had　been　fulfilled。　The　work　for　which　He　had　come　to　this
world　had　been　accomplished。　He　had　won　the　kingdom。　He　had　wrested　it　from
Satan　and　had　become　heir　of　all　things。　He　was　on　His　way

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to　the　throne　of　God；　to　be　honored　by　the　heavenly　host。　Clothed　with
boundless　authority；　He　gave　His　disciples　their　commission；　〃Go　ye
therefore；　and　teach　all　nations；　baptizing　them　in　the　name　of　the　Father；
and　of　the　Son；　and　of　the　Holy　Ghost：　teaching　them　to　observe　all　things
whatsoever　I　have　commanded　you：　and；　lo；　I　am　with　you　alway；　even　unto　the
end。〃　Matthew　28：19；　20。

Just　before　leaving　His　disciples；　Christ　once　more　plainly　stated　the
nature　of　His　kingdom。　He　recalled　to　their　remembrance　things　He　had
previously　told　them　regarding　it。　He　declared　that　it　was　not　His　purpose
to　establish　in　this　world　a　temporal　kingdom。　He　was　not　appointed　to　reign
as　an　earthly　monarch　on　David's　throne。　When　the　disciples　asked　Him；
〃Lord；　wilt　Thou　at　this　time　restore　again　the　kingdom　to　Israel？〃　He
answered；　〃It　is　not　for　you　to　know　the　times　or　the　seasons；　which　the
Father　hath　put　in　His　own　power。〃　Acts　1：6；　7。　It　was　not　necessary　for
them　to　see　farther　into　the　future　than　the　revelations　He　had　made　enabled
them　to　see。　Their　work　was　to　proclaim　the　gospel　message。

Christ's　visible　presence　was　about　to　be　withdrawn　from　the　disciples；　but
a　new　endowment　of　power　was　to　be　theirs。　The　Holy　Spirit　was　to　be　given
them　in　its　fullness；　sealing　them　for　their　work。　〃Behold；〃　the　Saviour
said；　〃I　send　the　promise　of　My　Father　upon　you：　but　tarry　ye　in　the　city　of
Je