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Pentecost
191
these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our
own tongue, wherein we were born?”
The priests and rulers were greatly enraged at this wonderful
manifestation, which was reported throughout all Jerusalem and
the vicinity, but they dared not give way to their malice, for fear
of exposing themselves to the hatred of the people. They had put
the Master to death, but here were His servants, unlearned men
of Galilee, tracing out the wonderful fulfillment of prophecy and
teaching the doctrine of Jesus in all the languages then spoken.
They spoke with power of the wonderful works of the Saviour, and
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unfolded to their hearers the plan of salvation in the mercy and
sacrifice of the Son of God. Their words convicted and converted
thousands who listened. The traditions and superstitions inculcated
by the priests were swept away from their minds and they accepted
the pure teachings of the Word of God.
Peter’s Sermon
Peter showed them that this manifestation was the direct fulfill-
ment of the prophecy of Joel, wherein he foretold that such power
would come upon men of God to fit them for a special work.
Peter traced back the lineage of Christ in a direct line to the
honorable house of David. He did not use any of the teachings of
Jesus to prove his true position, because he knew their prejudices
were so great that it would be of no effect. But he referred them
to David, whom the Jews regarded as a venerable patriarch of their
nation. Said Peter:
“For David speaketh concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord always
before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be
moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad;
moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: because Thou wilt not
leave My soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to
see corruption.”
Peter here shows that David could not have spoken in reference
to himself, but definitely of Jesus Christ. David died a natural death
like other men; his sepulcher, with the honored dust it contained,
had been preserved with great care until that time. David, as king of
Israel, and also as a prophet, had been specially honored by God. In