Then like Peter they could say to those present, “This that you see and hear and feel, it is the promise of the Father, it is the Holy Ghost.”
The Son was pleased with their prayer, and with their faith and courage, and the place was shaken—the building where they were assembled—and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the word with boldness.
Beloved, see, this was a greater baptism. They needed it to prepare them for the work they had to do. After this they had greater success. God did mighty signs and wonders at the hands of the apostles; great fear fell on all the church, and on all that heard, and saw, these things. Multitudes of men and women came flocking to Christ, and were added to the Lord.
Multitudes means thousands. They came from Jerusalem, and all the cities round about, bringing their sick folk in beds, and cots; placing them along the streets, that the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow them. You see that the power went forth from their bodies, like as when Paul laid handkerchiefs on his body, and sent them to the sick, and the devils or disease went out, and they were healed.
Oh! Praise God, I am a witness to these things. We see the same thing today, some of the greatest miracles of healing, and salvation I have ever seen, have been done in the same way, hundreds of miles away. He gave gifts to men.
Read carefully the twelfth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians. Paul shows that the church is in possession of all the gifts, power, and calling and work of the Holy Ghost. That they are in the Body of Christ, His Church.
Oh! beloved, we ought to come up to this, in all places in these last days, when the Bride is making herself ready. He says he does not want us to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts: “Covet earnestly the best gifts,” “Follow after charity,” or love. “Desire spiritual gifts,” for God has set them in the church.
Gifts for the rebellious also. Thank God, the sinner need no longer be rebellious, but fall at His feet, and settle the old account. He says He has a gift for you. Oh, “The Gift of God is Eternal Life,” and then you are God’s man. No longer a stranger or foreigner, but have been brought near by the Blood of Christ. Through him we will have access by one Spirit unto the Father. You are a citizen with the saints, and of the Household of God;
