50 Q. How did he reveal himself to the Apostles when Thomas was absent the same evening?

4. When the doors were shut for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst of them; he blessed them, and gave them a commission, to preach the Gospel; he breathed on them, and bid them receive the Holy Ghost, John xx. 19-23.

51 Q. How did he appear to them when Thomas was with them?

A. A week after, Jesus stood in the midst of them again, when the doors were shut, and bid Thomas see and feel the marks of the nails in his hands, and of the spear in his side, and rebuked his unbelief, John xx. 24-27.

52 Q. Did Thomas confess him then?

A. Thomas with surprise and joy acknowledged him; he broke out into a rapture of zeal and worship, and said to him, My Lord and my God, ver. 28.

53 Q. How did he shew himself to them at the sea of Tiberias?

4. Some of them went a fishing, and caught nothing all night: Jesus stood on the shore in the morning, and bid them cast the net on the right side of the ship; and they took a multitude of fishes, John xxi. 1-6.

54 Q. What remarkable occurrence happened at this meeting?

A. When they knew it was their Lord, Peter cast himself into the sea; and when they were come to the shore, they eat some broiled fish, and Jesus eat with them, John xxi. 7. 13.

55 Q. How did Jesus reprove Peter for his want of love to him, and denying his Master?

A. He rebuked him in a very gentle manner of speech, by asking Peter three times, whether he loved him or no; and then he foretold that Peter should love him so well as to suffer and die for his sake, ver. 15-19.

56 Q. How did he appear to them on the mountain in Galilee?

A. Jesus appointed them to meet him there; he told them that all power in heaven and earth was given into his hand: he gave them their commission to preach the Gospel to all nations; and promised his presence with them, and a power to work miraoles, for the vindication of their doctrine, Matt. xxviii. 16-20.

SECTION III.

Of his Ascension to Heaven.

57 Q. How did he manifest himself to them near Jerusalem?

A. He met them, and led them out as far as to Mount Olivet, near Bethany; he bid them to tarry at Jerusalem till the promised Spirit should fall upon them; he repeated their commission, appointed them to be witnesses for him in the world; and, having blessed them, he ascended to heaven in a bright cloud, Luke xxiv. 49-51. Acts i. 4-11.

58 Q. Did he not appear to five hundred brethren at once?

A. St. Paul asserts it, 1 Cor. xv. 6. and it was neither the first nor the last time of his appearance ; but when it was is uncertain, Acts i. 12.

59 Q. What notice was there given from heaven of his return again?

A. While they were gazing towards heaven, two angels appeared, and assured them, that they should see him return in the same manner as he ascended, Acts i. 10, 11.

60 Q. Whither went the disciples then?

A. They worshipped Christ when he ascended to heaven, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, praising God, Luke xxiv. 52, 53.

CHAPTER XXV.

Of the Acts of the Apostles, chiefly Peter and John; and the Deacons, Stephen and Philip.

12. WHAT was the first remarkable thing the Apostles did toward their future ministry, after they returned to Jerusalem?

A. They chose two out of their company at Jerusalem, (which was one hundred and twenty) that one of them might be an Apostle and witness of the resurrection of Christ, in the room of Judas the traitor, Acts i. 15-22.

2 Q. How did they determine which of those two should be the man?

A. They called upon the Lord by prayer, then cast lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, who was numbered with the eleven Apostles, Acts i. 24—26. 3 Q. How long did they wait for the promised Spirit to fail on them?

A. On the day of Pentecost, which was ten days after the ascension of Christ, the Spirit of God was sent down upon them, Acts ii. 1, &c.

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, ver. 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 Jerusalem, ver. 4-11.

6 Q. Which of the apostles seemed to be the chief speaker at that time, and what was their doctrine? A. Peter preaches to this multitude, bears witness

to the resurrection and 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 profession of their faith in Jesus, by being baptized in his name, vēr. 14-41.

7 Q. What success had this sermon ?

A. Three thousand souls were added to the disciples of Christ, and baptised on that day, ver. 41. 8 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, ver. 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, ver. 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.

10 Q. What remarkable miracle was wrought by Peter and John at the Temple gate?

A. A beggar that was born a cripple received the use of his limbs, when they bid him rise up and walk in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, Acts iii. 1–9.

11 Q. What use was made of this miracle?

A. Peter took occasion from it to preach this new doctrine, namely, the resurrection of Christ, and salvation in his name, citing the ancient prophets to confirm it, Acts iii. 12–26.

12 Q. What was the effect of this sermon?

A. Five thousand were converted by it to the faith of Christ: but the priests and rulers put the Apostles in prison, Acts iv. 1—4.

13 Q. What defence did the Apostles make when they were brought the next day before the priests and rulers?

A. They took courage again, and preached to this court the doctrine of the Gospel of Christ: and silenced their enemies, by having the cripple that was healed stand among them, ver. 5—14.

14 Q. What became of them after this their defence? A. They were dismissed, and charged to preach no more in the name of Jesus; but Peter and John declared they would obey God rather than man, ver. 15-20.

15 Q. Whither went the Apostles after their discharge?

A. They went to their own company, and gave glory to God in prayer and praise; and their whole assembly was filled with the Holy Ghost, and boldly spake the word of God, ver. 23-31.

16 Q. What remarkable instance of goodness and compassion was practised by these first believers ?

A. The souls of all of them were so united in love to Christ, and one another, that they sold their possessions and goods, and threw all into a common stock, which the apostles divided to every man according to his need, Acts ii. 44, 45. and iv. 32–35. 17 Q. Were they all faithful and honest in bringing the price of their estates to the joint-stock?

4. There was one Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, who sold a possession, and secretly withheld part of