record of creation, where, over and over again, it is implied that there has been an interference with the so-called

`laws of nature'. Incidentally, this rules out as untenable the objection that the second coming of Christ is

`unscientific'.

Many who heard the words of Peter on the day of Pentecost would afterwards read his letter to the dispersion

and realize the connection between his spoken and written word. Not all however desired to know the purport of the

miracle of Pentecost, for `Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine'. There were mockers also at

Athens (Acts 17:32) and there will be mockers in the last days (2 Pet. 3:3,4), who will ascribe the mighty acts of

God to mere natural causes.

Let us draw a practical lesson from the attitude of these scoffers. If even the Saviour's gracious miracles were

attributed by His enemies to power derived from fellowship with Beelzebub, is it not a small thing if His followers,

filled with spirit, are alleged to be full of new wine? In our own sphere we can say that there is scarcely an issue of

The Berean Expositor which does not call forth derision and criticism - and possibly with good cause. What then?

Realizing that the highest and the best have been subjected to brutal misunderstanding, let us not fall into the

weakness of turning our mole hills into mountains.

The association in the minds of the witnesses of these happenings, of wine with the filling of the spirit (Eph.

5:18) indicates something of the nature of enthusiasm in the deportment of the subjects of this outpouring, of `being

beside oneself' (2 Cor. 5:13). Is this a matter for wonder, when mortal man, the earthen vessel (2 Cor. 4:7) is filled

with power from on high?

We are now ready for Peter's inspired explanation of the meaning of the day of Pentecost, and may grace be

us

to

to

we may be delivered and kept from the error of `Pentecostalism', which is a system of teaching utterly

at variance with the inspired explanation found in Acts 2:14-36.

CHAPTER 10

With Peter's address (Acts 2:14) we commence a new section of the Acts, which is shown in the structure on

page 4 as:

C 2:14 to 8:1.

Ministry of PETER and others to the nation of Israel in Jerusalem and the land.

As one studies the Word of God, and the wonder of its every part opens out before one's apprehension: as all its

intricate beauty of design is revealed, the creature stands impotent. Not space, nor time, nor ability, suffices to set

forth more than the barest skeleton of the beauteous whole. The Lord alone can make the dry bones of our

presentation live. But we must not refrain from doing what we can, because we cannot do what we would, and so,

in the following structure, we draw attention to the inter-relation of the parts that compose the section and indicate

the movement of its teaching, without following out its ramifications or pointing out a tithe of the correspondence of

its design.

A1 2:14-47.

Wonders and signs in heaven and

EXPLAINED.

David's testimony.

Christ the King.

All things common.

Possessions sold.

The Lord added to the church.

B1 3:1 to 4:22.

The miracle of healing.

SYMBOLIZED.

The gate called `Beautiful'.