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The Story of Redemption
prophetic vision he was shown the future life and ministry of Christ.
He saw His rejection, His trial, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and
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ascension.
David testified that the soul of Christ was not to be left in hell
(the grave), nor was His flesh to see corruption. Peter shows the
fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus of Nazareth. God had actually
raised Him up from the tomb before His body saw corruption. He
was now the exalted One in the heaven of heavens.
On that memorable occasion large numbers who had heretofore
ridiculed the idea of so unpretending a person as Jesus being the Son
of God, became thoroughly convinced of the truth and acknowledged
Him as their Saviour. Three thousand souls were added to the
church. The apostles spoke by the power of the Holy Ghost; and
their words could not be controverted, for they were confirmed by
mighty miracles, wrought by them through the outpouring of the
Spirit of God. The disciples were themselves astonished at the
results of this visitation, and the quick and abundant harvest of souls.
All the people were filled with amazement. Those who did not yield
their prejudice and bigotry were so overawed that they dared not by
voice or violence attempt to stay the mighty work, and, for the time
being, their opposition ceased.
The arguments of the apostles alone, although clear and con-
vincing, would not have removed the prejudice of the Jews which
had withstood so much evidence. But the Holy Ghost sent those
arguments home with divine power to their hearts. They were as
sharp arrows of the Almighty, convicting them of their terrible guilt
in rejecting and crucifying the Lord of glory. “Now when they heard
this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter
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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.”
Peter urged home upon the convicted people the fact that they
had rejected Christ because they had been deceived by the priests
and rulers; and if they continued to look to them for counsel, and
waited for those leaders to acknowledge Christ before they dared to
do so, they would never accept Him. Those powerful men, although
they made a profession of sanctity, were ambitious, and zealous