the acts of the apostles-第4部分

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house　are　many　mansions：　if　it　were　not　so；　I　would　have　told　you。　I　go　to
prepare　a　place　for　you。　And　if　I　go　and　prepare　a　place　for　you；　I　will
come　again；　and　receive　you　unto　Myself；　that　where　I　am；　there　ye　may　be
also。　And　whither　I　go　ye　know；　and　the　way　ye　know。〃　John　14：1…4。　For　your
sake　I　came　into　the　world；　for　you　I　have　been　working。

22

When　I　go　away　I　shall　still　work　earnestly　for　you。　I　came　to　the　world　to
reveal　Myself　to　you；　that　you　might　believe。　I　go　to　My　Father　and　yours　to
co…operate　with　Him　in　your　behalf。

〃Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；　He　that　believeth　on　Me；　the　works　that　I
do　shall　he　do　also；　and　greater　works　than　these　shall　he　do；　because　I　go
unto　My　Father。〃　John　14：12。　By　this；　Christ　did　not　mean　that　the　disciples
would　make　more　exalted　exertions　than　He　had　made；　but　that　their　work
would　have　greater　magnitude。　He　did　not　refer　merely　to　miracle　working；
but　to　all　that　would　take　place　under　the　agency　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　〃When
the　Comforter　is　come；〃　He　said；　〃whom　I　will　send　unto　you　from　the　Father；
even　the　Spirit　of　truth；　which　proceedeth　from　the　Father；　He　shall　testify
of　Me：　and　ye　also　shall　bear　witness；　because　ye　have　been　with　Me　from　the
beginning。〃　John　15：26；　27。

Wonderfully　were　these　words　fulfilled。　After　the　descent　of　the　Holy
Spirit；　the　disciples　were　so　filled　with　love　for　Him　and　for　those　for
whom　He　died；　that　hearts　were　melted　by　the　words　they　spoke　and　the
prayers　they　offered。　They　spoke　in　the　power　of　the　Spirit；　and　under　the
influence　of　that　power；　thousands　were　converted。

As　Christ's　representatives　the　apostles　were　to　make　a　decided　impression
on　the　world。　The　fact　that　they　were　humble　men　would　not　diminish　their
influence；　but　increase　it；　for　the　minds　of　their　hearers　would　be　carried
from　them　to　the　Saviour；　who；　though　unseen；　was　still　working　with　them。
The　wonderful　teaching　of　the　apostles；　their

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　23

words　of　courage　and　trust；　would　assure　all　that　it　was　not　in　their　own
power　that　they　worked；　but　in　the　power　of　Christ。　Humbling　themselves；
they　would　declare　that　He　whom　the　Jews　had　crucified　was　the　Prince　of
life；　the　Son　of　the　living　God；　and　that　in　His　name　they　did　the　works
that　He　had　done。

In　His　parting　conversation　with　His　disciples　on　the　night　before　the
crucifixion　the　Saviour　made　no　reference　to　the　suffering　that　He　had
endured　and　must　yet　endure。　He　did　not　speak　of　the　humiliation　that　was
before　Him；　but　sought　to　bring　to　their　minds　that　which　would　strengthen
their　faith；　leading　them　to　look　forward　to　the　joys　that　await　the
overcomer。　He　rejoiced　in　the　consciousness　that　He　could　and　would　do　more
for　His　followers　than　He　had　promised；　that　from　Him　would　flow　forth　love
and　compassion；　cleansing　the　soul　temple；　and　making　men　like　Him　in
character；　that　His　truth；　armed　with　the　power　of　the　Spirit；　would　go
forth　conquering　and　to　conquer。

〃These　things　I　have　spoken　unto　you；〃　He　said；　〃that　in　Me　ye　might　have
peace。　In　the　world　ye　shall　have　tribulation：　but　be　of　good　cheer；　I　have
overcome　the　world。〃　John　16：33。　Christ　did　not　fail；　neither　was　He
discouraged；　and　the　disciples　were　to　show　a　faith　of　the　same　enduring
nature。　They　were　to　work　as　He　had　worked；　depending　on　Him　for　strength。
Though　their　way　would　be　obstructed　by　apparent　impossibilities；　yet　by　His
grace　they　were　to　go　forward；　despairing　of　nothing　and　hoping　for
everything。

24


Christ　had　finished　the　work　that　was　given　Him　to　do。　He　had　gathered　out
those　who　were　to　continue　His　work　among　men。　And　He　said：　〃I　am　glorified
in　them。　And　now　I　am　no　more　in　the　world；　but　these　are　in　the　world；　and
I　come　to　Thee。　Holy　Father；　keep　through　Thine　own　name　those　whom　Thou
hast　given　Me；　that　they　may　be　one；　as　We　are。〃　〃Neither　pray　I　for　these
alone；　but　for　them　also　which　shall　believe　on　Me　through　their　word；　that
they　all　may　be　one；　。　。　。　I　in　them　and　Thou　in　Me；　that　they　may　be　made
perfect　in　one；　and　that　the　world　may　know　that　Thou　hast　sent　Me；　and　hast
loved　them；　as　Thou　hast　loved　Me。〃　John　17：10；　11；　20…23。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（25）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　3

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Great　Commission


After　the　death　of　Christ　the　disciples　were　well…nigh　overcome　by
discouragement。　Their　Master　had　been　rejected；　condemned；　and　crucified。
The　priests　and　rulers　had　declared　scornfully；　〃He　saved　others；　Himself　He
cannot　save。　If　He　be　the　King　of　Israel；　let　Him　now　come　down　from　the
cross；　and　we　will　believe　Him。〃　Matthew　27：42。　The　sun　of　the　disciples'
hope　had　set；　and　night　settled　down　upon　their　hearts。　Often　they　repeated
the　words；　〃We　trusted　that　it　had　been　He　which　should　have　redeemed
Israel。〃　Luke　24：21。　Lonely　and　sick　at　heart；　they　remembered　His　words；
〃If　they　do　these　things　in　a　green　tree；　what　shall　be　done　in　the　dry？〃
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。

26

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。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　27

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。

28

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　n