One miracle had, as a punishment, confounded the language of men, so that they ceased to have intercourse with each other: now another miracle mercifully removed this barrier, so that all nations might hear from the Apostles the glad tidings of salvation—the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time when the Holy Ghost descended so miraculously upon the Apostles, "there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." By "devout men," is meant worshippers of the one true God: these were mostly Jews, either from having been born so, or from having turned from idolatry to follow the religion of the Jews. These Jews were scattered over the face of the world; and wherever they went, they endeavoured to make proselytes: the Feast of the Passover would naturally bring numbers of them to Jerusalem, to add to those who dwelt in the city. "Now when this," that had happened to the Apostles, "was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded (or astonished beyond measure), because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed, and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, (or Persians), and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."
Most of the countries here mentioned are parts of what we call Asia: but in the New Testament, when Asia is spoken of, it seems to mean only the parts about Lydia; that part of Asia, in short, known to us as Asia Minor, which borders on the Archipelago, or Ægean Sea. Libya, as well as Egypt, was a part of Africa. One of the kings of Egypt, Ptolemy Lagus, the father of that Ptolemy who employed seventy-two learned men to translate the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, did place a good many captive Jews in Cyrene, and other parts of Libya. The descendants of these people, and the proselytes they had made, were amongst the number of Jews gathered together to the city of Jerusalem at this time.
Chapter II.—THE LAME MAN HEALED BY PETER AND JOHN.
When the multitude of Jews from all parts of the earth, heard twelve poor ignorant men of Galilee, able to speak easily in many different languages, which they had most probably never even heard spoken before, "they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?" The great truths of the Gospel thus proclaimed, must indeed have startled them, for they could not but perceive that God was with these men in a very remarkable manner. Some of them, unwilling to believe the words spoken by the Apostles, tried to make out that they had been drinking so much wine, that they did not know what they were talking about, and ought not, therefore, to be listened to. "Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine,"—as if being drunk, could make any man speak a real language, of which, in his sober moments, he knew nothing.
It was of the greatest importance that all men should clearly understand that the Apostles were really and truly the messengers of God, and that the Holy Spirit had been wonderfully given to them, to enable them to teach all nations: and therefore, when the accusation of being drunk was brought against them, they stood up, and Peter, no longer timid and fearful as to what man might do to him, lifted up his voice, and spake boldly to the assembled multitude. It is most probable that all this took place in some part of the temple.
Peter began by declaring to the people, that he and his fellows were not drunk, reminding them that it was only the third hour of the day. The third hour, nine o'clock in the morning with us, was the time appointed for service in the temple, and the pious and devout Jews did not eat nor drink anything before they attended it. Then Peter told his hearers, that what they had now seen, was only the fulfilment of the prophecies, that the Lord would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. Then he went on, and spake to them of many solemn things, and of the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth; and how David, whom all the Jews acknowledged to be a prophet, had declared beforehand those things which had happened unto Jesus. Peter also told the people, that "this Jesus, being by the right hand of God exalted" into heaven, "and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear": and he ended his discourse with these plain and fearless words, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
These words seem to have had a great effect on the people, for "when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart," that is, their consciences told them that they had greatly sinned in putting Jesus to death; and now, feeling their need of help and guidance, they "said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" The answer was ready: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation,"—that is, separate yourselves from the unbelieving and sinful multitude, and so save yourselves from the wrath of God, which will rest upon all impenitent sinners.