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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
but notwithstanding the disciples were intimately acquainted with
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them, they felt that their own judgment was imperfect, and trusted the
selection only to the Lord, whose eyes could read the hidden secrets
of the heart. There is a lesson for our time in this occurrence. Many
who are apparently well qualified to labor for God, are urged into the
ministry, without a proper consideration of their case, and at length
become a grievous burden to the church instead of burden-bearers. If
the church of the present time would act as cautiously and wisely as
did the apostles in filling the vacancy among them, much perplexity
and serious injury might be saved the cause of God. The work has
often suffered much by ting persons forward to do that which they
were not capable of doing.
After filling the vacancy in the apostolic number, the disciples
gave their time to meditation and prayer, being often in the temple,
testifying of Christ, and praising God. The Pentecost was a feast
celebrated seven weeks after the passover. Upon these occasions the
Jews were required to repair to the temple and to present the first-fruits
of all the harvest, thus acknowledging their dependence on the great
Giver of all good, and their obligation to render back to God, in gifts
and offerings to sustain his cause, that which he had intrusted to them.
On this day of divine appointment, the Lord graciously poured out his
Spirit on the little company of believers, who were the first-fruits of
the Christian church.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all
with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from
heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where
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they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like
as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance.” The Holy Ghost assuming the form of tongues
of fire divided at the tips, and resting upon those assembled, was an
emblem of the gift which was bestowed upon them of speaking with
fluency several different languages, with which they had formerly been
unacquainted. And the appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal
with which they would labor, and the power which would attend their
words.
Under this heavenly illumination, the scriptures which Christ had
explained to them, stood forth in their minds with the vivid luster