THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDS UPON THE APOSTLES.
AFTER the apostles had received from the two angels the promise that their Lord would come again just as they had seen him disappear-in the clouds of heaven-they returned from the mount of Olives to Jerusalem, where they entered into an upper chamber, and there abode, continuing "with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."
At one time when about one hundred and twenty of the brethren were assembled, Peter stood up, and, referring to the death of Judas the traitor, advised that another be appointed to take his place; "For," said he, "it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein, and his bishoprick let another take.' Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection."
So the apostles selected two men, of the character described by Peter; and after praying that God would guide them in their choice, they cast lots. The lot fell upon Matthias, and so he was numbered with the eleven as one of the twelve apostles.
"And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
"Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men; from every nation under heaven. And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we, every man in our own language, wherein we were born? Parthians and Medea and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we do hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God. And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this? But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine.
"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his
voice, and spake forth unto them, saying, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that
dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words. For
these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the
day; but this is that which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall
be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my servants and on my
hand-maidens in those days will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall
prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth
beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: the sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord come, that great and notable day: and it shall be, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."