Pentecost
27
derided, smitten by cruel hands, and crucified, is the Prince of life,
now exalted to the right hand of God.
Some of those who listened to the apostles had taken an active part
in the condemnation and death of Christ. Their voices had mingled
with the rabble in calling for His crucifixion. When Jesus and Barabbas
[43]
stood before them in the judgment hall and Pilate asked, “Whom will
ye that I release unto you?” they had shouted, “Not this Man, but
Barabbas!”
Matthew 27:17
;
John 18:40
. When Pilate delivered Christ
to them, saying, “Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in
Him;” “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person,” they had cried,
“His blood be on us, and on our children.”
John 19:6
;
Matthew 27:24,
25
.
Now they heard the disciples declaring that it was the Son of God
who had been crucified. Priests and rulers trembled. Conviction and
anguish seized the people. “They were pricked in their heart, and said
unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what
shall we do?” Among those who listened to the disciples were devout
Jews, who were sincere in their belief. The power that accompanied
the words of the speaker convinced them that Jesus was indeed the
Messiah.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to
your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our
God shall call.”
Peter urged home upon the convicted people the fact that they had
rejected Christ because they had been deceived by priests and rulers;
and that if they continued to look to these men for counsel, and waited
for them to acknowledge Christ before they dared to do so, they would
never accept Him. These powerful men, though making a profession
[44]
of godliness, were ambitious for earthly riches and glory. They were
not willing to come to Christ to receive light.
Under the influence of this heavenly illumination the scriptures that
Christ had explained to the disciples stood out before them with the
luster of perfect truth. The veil that had prevented them from seeing to
the end of that which had been abolished, was now removed, and they
comprehended with perfect clearness the object of Christ’s mission
and the nature of His kingdom. They could speak with power of the