The founding of the kingdom

Front matter

Chap. Copyright No.

SheilLiZP^-,

UNiTED STATES OF AMERICA.

Part I. First Beginnings

Time, a.d. 30-33.

Read Acts i.

1. Who were the first messengers to whom Christ entrusted the founding of His Kingdom ?

Acts i. 13, 14. They were all simple people whom no one else but Christ would have thought capable of doing great things.

2. How had they been prepared for their work ?

He Himself had taught them. By beautiful words and noble deeds, He had unfolded to them the plan of the Kingdom of God.

3. Had they understood His teaching ?

Only in part. Their imaginations were so filled with other visions of earthly glory. " Wilt Thou," they asked Him, when His last message had been delivered to them and He was about to return to His Father, " Wilt Thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel ? "

4. Why probably had Christ chosen such simple men ? Because they would the better know their need of God, and

would rely on Him and not on themselves, and so the Spirit of God could workthroiigh them. (I. Cor. i. 27, 28, 29.)

5. What promise did He make them before His ascension ? That God's Spirit should descend upon them, that they

should speak and act with divine power and divine wisdom, and courage and strength should be given them to be His messengers. (Acts I. 8.)

6. How did the disciples await the fulfilment of this promise ? Waiting and wondering, the little band clung closely together. In the city of Jerusalem, hallowed by so many holy memories, there was one spot peculiarly sacred to them. It was

"the upper room," where Christ had spent the last Passover with His disciples, where He had given them the great Sacrament and where He had appeared to them after His resurrection. There they gathered together for prayer, and to remind one another of the sayings and doings of their Master.

7. What step did the Apostles first take ?

Judas the traitor had perished. There were but eleven Apostles now. It seemed to them necessary that a twelfth should be appointed.

8. How did they proceed to choose the new Apostle ?

The new Apostle must first be a witness, for Christ would not return to reign until His messengers had made Him known to all His people. The choice was therefore limited to two, for of those who had been with Jesus from the day of His baptism by John until His ascension, Joseph, surnamed Justus, and Matthias were esteemed by all most worthy of filling the office vacated by the traitor.

9. How did they decide between these men ?

They left it to God to decide. *' The upper room " was hushed in prayer. The names of the two were written upon tablets and were placed in the folds of a mantle, which was shaken to and fro. The first to fall out was the tablet containing the name of Matthias, "and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles."

10. Was this manner of choosing ever repeated ?

No; the Apostles learned that this was not the wisest way; that God woula mark out by unmistakable signs of fitness the men who should be appointed for His work. So was it, for example, with St. Paul and St. Barnabas.

1. What was the field wherein the Apostles were to toil ? Jesus had told them that the field was the world. Wherever man was to be found, there the good news of. the Kingdom must be proclaimed.

2. Did the Apostles at once realize the full extent of their mission ?

No; God in His goodness hid it from them. These men had never journeyed beyond the borders of their own country.

and knew but little of the great world to which they were to bring the message.

3. Why was this best ?

Had they known, the largeness of their task would only have terrified them and paralyzed their energies. Little by little God would open their eyes, and the full vision of the Kingdom could come only after many strange and sad experiences.

4. What great power in those days ruled the larger portion of the civilized world ?

Rome. Once an unimportant village of Italy, in a wonderful way, by victory after victory, it had added dominion to dominion, until it had grown to be the centre of a vast Empire surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

5. How was this Empire governed ?

In the days of the Apostles all the power was practically in the hands of a single ruler, responsible to no man. He was supreme commander, supreme law-giver, supreme judge. He was known as the Emperor.

6. How did he control his dominions ?

The Empire was divided into provinces, over each of which a governor was placed. These governors were responsible to the Emperor and his Senate. Sometimes a native king would be allowed to continue his rule over his subjects, but only as a vassal of Rome.

7. How did the Emperors seek to unify the Empire ?

It was no light task to combine into a firm unity so many peoples, different in creeds and customs and prejudices. The policy of the Emperors was two-fold. First, colonies of Roman citizens were established throughout the Empire, which should serve as centres whence Roman ideas and Roman customs might spread themselves throughout the surrounding regions. (England has adopted this policy in her great Empire.) Second, the rights of Roman citizenship were bestowed upon men of every race ; sometimes as a reward of faithful service, sometimes for political, sometimes for commercial reasons. This citizenship brought many privileges and was highly esteemed. (Our own country adopts a similar policy.)

8. What else did the Emperors seek to do ?

To establish a great national religion. All other religions were recognized, and all other worships allowed, but supreme over them all was to be the worship of the Spirit of the Empire, incarnate in the Emperors. The high priests of this religion took precedence over all other priests.

9. How was order preserved throughout the Empire ?

The soldiers of the Emperor preserved order. Along the borders of the Empire, and wherever disturbances were in the least likely to occur, there were to be seen the eagles of the Roman army.

10. What did this method of government necessitate ?

A net-work of splendid roads throughout the Empire, over which large bodies of men could be rapidly moved. It was along these roads that the messengers of the Gospel of Peace would make their way.

Bo* 3» XTbe fftelD (Continued).

1. Of all the many peoples included in the vast Roman Empire, which were the most troublesome ?

The Jews. It was impossible for them to accept the national religion the Emperors sought to establish, nor would they alter their own peculiar ways and customs and mingle with the other races included in the Empire.

2. Was the Province of Judea in itself of any great importance ?

No ; it possessed no great commercial towns ; there were no really good harbors along its coast ; the people were poor, nor could the Emperor find there many recruits for his armies.

3. Why did not Rome at once destroy this troublesome province ?

Because of the Jews of the Dispersion, as they were called. Throughout the whole Empire the Jewish people had spread themselves. In almost every large city there was to be found a Jewish colony, for wherever there was an opportunity for commerce, there the Jew appeared. Many of these Jews of the Dispersion became immensely rich and powerful.

4. Separated thus from his native land, did the Jew mingle more readily with his neighbors ?

Perhaps to some slight extent, but as a rule, wherever found, the Jew was always a Jew. The Jews lived, where possible, in the same quarter of a city. They held firmly to their peculiar faith and customs and erected their synagogues everywhere. Yearly, and sometimes at tremendous sacrifices, they would seek to make a pilgrimage to some one of the great national festivals at Jerusalem.

5. What peculiar power did this clannishness give them ? The synagogues were news-centres where tidings of what

was going on in the world were first jeceived. Jewish merchants were constantly journeying from town to town, but what they saw and what they heard they kept for the ears of their brethren. The Judaism of the Dispersion resembled a vast secret society with its chapters in every important town.

6. How did the Jews endeavor to extend their influence? They were ever seeking to win to their religion influential

heathen, both men and women. These converts were called proselytes. This was not so difficult an undertaking where faith in the old gods was fast passing away. The pure and honest lives which the Jews led attracted good men on every side. Their efforts met with considerable success.

7. What did the Jews demand of their converts ?

There were various degrees of proselytism. The highest was attained when the convert became circumcised and agreed to observe all the Jewish laws and customs. But this was not always required, and many proselytes were accepted, who, for reasons of policy, were allowed to conceal from the world their partial conversion. The Jews had friends everywhere, and were rapidly building up an empire within the Empire.

8. How were the Jews regarded throughout the Empire ? The people affected to despise them because of their peculiarities, but really dreaded them. They had immense influence with the magistrates of the cities, but less with the higher officials. In some cities they were so numerous and powerful that they were allowed to have their own magistrates and govern themselves in their own way. The Emperors made many concessions to them, and they were permitted to collect their own taxes and send them to Jerusalem for the support of the Temple.

9. How did their power finally terminate ?

With the destruction of Jerusalem, which began in the year 70. The Emperors could no longer allow the growing power of these rivals.

10. Where would the Apostles naturally begin their labors ?

In their own great city and amongst their own countrymen. Jerusalem, indeed, was a most fitting place for this beginning — Jerusalem with its flowing and ebbing tide of pilgrims. What was proclaimed there was, as it were, proclaimed " upon the housetop."

Bo. 4. Zbc Great UxoakcninQ.

Read Acts ii. to 41.

1. What great feast of the Jews occurred fifty days after the Passover ?

The Feast of Pentecost (Pentecost means fifty). At the Passover the first fruits of the harvest were offered. Pentecost marked the conclusion of the wheat harvest. It was a Jewish Thanksgiving Day, an occasion of great joy. In the time of the Apostles it was also believed that it was upon this day that God gave the Law to Moses. Another harvest was now to begin and the new law of love to be proclaimed.

2. How did devout Jews prepare for this feast ?

They spent the night previous in prayer and meditation, reciting appropriate Psalms and reading from the Law and the Prophets.

3. What transpired on the morning of Pentecost in the " upper room " ?

Probably the Apostles and their companions had thus spent the night in devotions. Morning was come. But it was not the morning light that filled the room where they knelt in prayer, but a strange appearance as of tongues of fire resting on the heads of each one of them. And it was not the morning wind that entered in at the open windows, but a power, mighty, irresistible, that made the building to tremble.

4. What change was wrought in the disciples ?

The fire that they had seen was but a sign of the fire of enthusiasm which was kindled in their souls. The power that had manifested itself seems to have entered into and possessed them.

5. What did they do ?

Their new joy and enthusiasm would not let them remain longer in the little upper room. They must go forth and share their gladness with others. The streets of the city were always thronged at the festivals. To whoever would stop to listen they spoke. Some laughed and said: These wretched people are already drunken so early in the morning. Others wondered what it could all mean. Especially were they startled by the fact that these seemingly ignorant men spoke now to this one, now to that, in the language of their native land. Soon the streets were crowded with people. Then St. Peter ascended the staircase that ran up the outside of the building where the wonder had taken place, and, when silence was obtained, preached the first Christian sermon.

6. What was the substance of this sermon ?

He told them that it was not wine that had filled their hearts with gladness, but the power of God's Spirit, which the prophets had foretold and Christ had promised. He reminded them of Jesus whom many of them perhaps had known and seen, and of His cruel death. He announced to them His resurrection, whereby God had marked Him out as the Messiah. He pleaded with them not to resist the appeal which God on this day was making. Save yourselves," he cried, "out of the midst of this blind and foolish generation that is daring to defy God."

7. What was the result of this sermon ?

The hearts of his listeners were touched and their consciences awakened. " What shall we do ? " they cried out. " What shall we do to be saved ? "

8. What was St. Peter's answer ?

He bade them repent and by baptism acknowledge themselves Christ's disciples. He told them that the same power of God which they had seen manifested that day would also possess and transform them. " And the same day there were added to the church about three thousand souls."

9. Was the gift of languages a permanent possession of the Apostles ?

No; and there are no indications that this power was ever given them again. It was but a sign that accompanied the first outpouring of God's Spirit — a sign that the Gospel was meant for all the world.

10. On what day do we commemorate this event ?

On Whitsunday, which some suppose to mean Wisdom Sunday.

lO

IFlo. 5, %n^inQ tbe ffounDations*

Read Acts ii. 41 to iv. 32.

1. After the great awakening, how did the Church continue its work ?

The enthusiasm still glowed in the hearts of the disciples, and they gladly made use of every opportunity to teach and help, but their work was carried on quietly and without attracting especial notice.

2. Were the first Christians readily to be distinguished from the Jews?

Only by their gladness. They continued their various occupations as formerly. They frequented the Temple courts and were present at the daily sacrifices. To those who knew not the secret of their lives, they must have seemed especially devout Jews, strangely contented and happy.

3. What custom did they maintain among themselves ? When the day's work was over, they would gather in one

another's homes, and, after the evening meal, the bread would be broken and the wine partaken of in memory of Jesus. They seem to have believed that their Master was an unseen guest at these feasts.

4. What event brought the Christians again into prominence ? A lame man had asked for alms of the Apostles, St. Peter

and St. John, as they were entering the Temple by the splendid gate of Corinthian bronze known as *' The Beautiful." They could not give him money, but remembering the promise of Christ and the wonderful works God had wrought by Him, St. Peter took the poor man by the hand and bade him, in the name of the Lord Jesus, arise and walk.

5. What was the result.?

St. Peter's faith in God was rewarded, and the man's ailment was healed. His noisy demonstrations immediately drew a crowd about the Apostles, to whom he clung gratefully. It was in that portion of the Temple known as Solomon's Porch, where Jesus often had taught, that the multitude gathered. Taking the wonder that had been wrought as his text, Peter again preached to the people about Jesus, whom God had shown to be the promised Christ in that He had raised Him from the grave ; and again many were convinced.

II

6. What happened while he was yet speaking ?

Some of the priests and the Temple guards, attracted by the clamor, drew nigh and arrested the Apostles. It being late in the afternoon, they were put in prison to be examined on the following day before the council.

7. What transpired at this examination ?

With undaunted courage the Apostles preached Jesus even to the men who had been His 'murderers. Such was the change that the Day of Pentecost had wrought in these followers of Christ, who had all forsaken Him at His trial. The council was greatly impressed and " took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus."

8. What action did the council take ?

They could not deny that a great miracle had been wrought ; they did not dare to punish the Apostles for having wrought it ; so they could only try to terrify them with threats. They must no longer preach about Christ.

9. Did this avail ?

No; the Apostles only answered bravely that they must hearken to God and not to man, and God had commanded them to preach. And then they went back to their friends and all united in a prayer that God would make them even braver and more fearless now that danger was come. 10. Was their prayer answered ?

Again the same power was manifested as on the Day of Pentecost, and the building trembled where they knelt, and the great enthusiasm once more filled their souls.

IRo^ 6. Ube ffirst Bnemtes.

Read Acts v. 14 to vi.

I. How did the majority of the Jews probably now regard Jesus 1

After they had voted for His crucifixion and had witnessed His tragic death, a reaction must have set in in His favor. They missed the kind friend and helpful teacher, once so familiar a figure in the streets of their city, and many wondered if they had done wisely in suffering themselves to be misled by their rulers, to seek His destruction.

2. How would many of the Jews therefore regard the Apostles ?

They were glad to hear these men who spoke to them of Jesus, who could assure them that He was not dead but living. They were glad to see the same wonderful works of mercy and love wrought in His name by their hands. This accounts, to some extent at least, for the rapid growth of the Church in the first days of its existence.

3. Who then were the first enemies of the Church ?

The same men who had been the enemies of Christ — the priests, the scribes and Pharisees. The work thej^. had begun they could not leave unfinished. They had slain Jesus. To permit His Apostles to carry on His work was to admit that they had been in error.

4. Of these, who were the bitterest in their enmity ?

Those who held Sadducean views, for the Sadducees claimed that there was no life after death. The preaching of the resurrection was therefore especially exasperating to them.

5. What measures did they take to silence the Apostles ? They proceeded to carry out their threats and arrested

the twelve Apostles and put them in the common prison. If they could silence these men, it were an easy matter to deal with the others.

6. How were their plans thwarted ?

By the fearless courage of the Apostles. In some strange way they were delivered from prison, bat they made no effort to escape from their enemies, and when the council assembled in the morning it was reported to them that their prisoners, in startling defiance of their commands, were preaching the Gospel they hated to excited throngs in the porticos of the very Temple itself.

7. What did they then do ?

They sent their officers to bring the Apostles, with as little violence as possible, into their presence, for they feared the consequences of a tumult and the interference of the Roman power.

8. Did the Apostles lose heart when in their presence ?

No; when examined as to their disobedience, they made the same bold reply as before, that in preaching Jesus they were obeying God, and God they would obey, come what might. They told, too, their would-be judges, that it was they who were disobedient, for in slaying the Christ they had defied God. 9. What was the consequence of this boldness?

Many were for putting the Apostles immediately to death, but Gamaliel, a Pharisee of great influence, saved them. He reminded his fellow-judges how there had been other rebellions against their authority, and how in the end, without violence on their part, they had come to nought. 'He counselled delay. "If this new enthusiasm be not of God, it will soon make its own mistakes and bring down the wrath of Rome upon it. If it be of God, dare we fight against Him ? It were best to wait and see." Convinced, by Gamaliel's speech, that they might expect only a half-hearted support from the Pharisees, the priests feared to proceed to extreme measures, so they were fain to content themselves with disgracing the Apostles by a public flogging, and then, with renewed threats, they let them go.

10. What were the consequences of this eff"ort of the priests ?

The courage of the Apostles, their evident joy in sufi^ering shame for Jesus' sake, only attracted the people more strongly towards them. Besides, in inflicting upon such utter defiance no severer punishment than scourging, often employed for petty offences, the rulers had shown a pitiful weakness that could only proceed from uncertainty. There were great accessions to the Church in those days and even some of the priests acknowledged Christ.

1Flo, 7. Ube ffirst BifTiculties.

Read Acts ii. 44, 45; Acts iv. 34 to v.; Acts vi. i to 7.

1. What organization did the Church have in its infancy ? There could have been but little. Of the faithful few that

gathered in the " upper room " after the Ascension the Apostles were the natural leaders, and among the Apostles the impetuous character of St. Peter made him the ruling spirit. As the Church grew, the management of all its affairs continued at first in the Apostles' hands.

2. How did this at last become impossible 1

There was an unusual number of poor people in Jerusalem. It was not a great commercial city, and enterprising Jews would seek their fortunes elsewhere. Jews who loved their religion more than all else would remain and endure all manner of hardships. Such of the poor as joined the Church must be provided for. The Apostles discovered that they could not properly minister to the poor, without neglecting opportunities of preaching.

3. What circumstance especially revealed this to them ? Some women, widows, not natives of Jerusalem, thought

that in the distribution of charity a preference was being shown for those who had lived all their lives in the city. They complained and their complaint reached the Apostles' ears.

4. What step did they at once take ?

They called the brethren together and begged them to select seven men, honest, good business men and yet full of divine enthusiasm, who might administer the charities of the Church.

5. What men were chosen ?

Seven men, who were all, to judge from their Grecian names, Jews of the Dispersion, that is Jews of like description with the women who had murmured, and one of them was a proselyte. Their names were Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas. Upon them, after prayer, the Apostles laid their hands, thus appointing them to their work. These men are usually called the Seven Deacons.

6. Whence came the means for this charity ?

It was the free gift of those who were rich. Many sold their possessions and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles' feet. There was a general willingness to share with one another the blessings God had bestowed.

7. What man was especially generous?

Joses, a rich Jew of the tribe of Levi, sold all his estate in the Island of Cyprus and gave the proceeds to the Church. This noble deed was done in so noble a spirit that the Apostles named him ''Barnabas/' the "son of consolation."

8. What two Jews attempted to gain credit for being more generous than they really were ?

A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira. They brought a portion of their wealth to the Apostles pretending that it was their all, and that they were as generous as Barnabas had been, but God punished them, and they died with the lie on their lips.

9. What great danger had the Church to fear from its rapid growth :

When it became evident that the old enemies of Christ were powerless in the presence of His Church, many would undoubtedly join its ranks who neither fully understood the teaching of Jesus nor the mission of His disciples. There was a danger therefore of the Church being absorbed in Judaism, and of its life being suffocated in the close atmosphere of narrow Jewish prejudice.

lo. What great man seems to have foreseen this danger ?

St. Stephen, one of the Seven Deacons. To avert it, he sacrificed his life.

1Ro» S. first IReptevv^

1. Before the Day of Pentecost what conception did the Apostles have of the Kingdom of Christ ?

2. What position did the Jews occupy in the Roman Empire ?

3. Describe what happened on the Day of Pentecost ?

4. What practice did the Christians continue daily amongst themselves }

5. Tell the story of the first miracle.

6. Tell the story of the first trial.

7. Tell the story of the second trial.

8. Why did the Apostles appoint the Seven Deacons ?

9. Who was St. Barnabas ?

10. What danger did St. Stephen seek to avert ?

Part II. The Dying Of The Seed

Read Acts vi. 9 toviii.

1. Did the deacons merely administer to the poor ?

No; whenever opportunity offered they, too, preached the Gospel, and one of them, St. Stephen, soon became famous for his eloquence.

2. Where did he preach ?

Chiefly in those synagogues in Jerusalem which were frequented by Jews of the Dispersion.

3. What was the peculiar nature of his preaching ?

i6

Probably he taught that the time was now come when the Church had outgrown the garment of Judaism. The old order was passing away ; a new order was beginning. The Church did not belong to the Jews only, nor could it confine its work to them. It could no longer remain huddled about the Temple, it must awake and go forth to conquer the world. A little while and the Temple and its ceremonies would be a thing of the past, but the Kingdom of Christ would last forever.

4. How was this novel preaching received ?

It aroused the most intense anger. The Jew, proud of the history of his nation and believing in its final triumph over its enemies, would not listen to such teaching. The Pharisees, who had hitherto, when the matter in dispute was only the resurrection, been but lukewarm opponents, now became even more bitter than the priests. What the Pharisees undertook was not likely to end in mere threats. Further, it now became possible by an appeal to their patriotism to turn the mass of the people against the Church. St. Stephen's clear and startling announcement of the truth was indeed a second awakening both for the Church and its enemies.

5. What were the consequences of this boldness for himself ? He was seized and brought before the Sanhedrin for trial.

He was accused of blasphemy against Moses and against God. False witnesses revived the old charge that had been used with such fatal effect against Jesus. They said that St. Stephen, too, had spoken against the Temple and had foretold its destruction by the Prophet of Nazareth. "Are these things so ? " said the high priest.

6. What was Stephen's answer ?

He was not in the least afraid. His face was so grand and his bearing so noble, as he stood there in the presence of his accusers, that men said afterwards he had seemed to them as an angel. Calmly and dispassionately he reviews the history of their nation — that history of which they were so proud. He ventures to tell them that really it was a history to weep over. Again and again had God shown them especial kindness, but they had always been cruel, blind, and obstinate. It was only through much tribulation that God's messengers had dragged them on from truth to truth. At last, when, notwithstanding their folly, the promised land was reached and the great Temple was built, they were mad enough to believe that they owned God, and that He must dwell forever in that little shrine of stone and timber they had built for Him — the God whose throne was Heaven and earth His footstool.

7. With what glowing words did St. Stephen conclude ? Acts vii. 51-53.

8. How did his words affect his hearers ?

They ground their teeth together in rage as they listened. While he was still speaking, they started from their seats to seize him. But he, gazing up towards Heaven, heeded them not. He was as one in a trance. " Behold, I see the heavens opened," he murmured, " and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." Blasphemy ! blasphemy ! " yelled his enemies. Stone the blasphemer ! " and putting their fingers in their ears lest they might hear him further, they crowded around him, and, pushing and dragging him out of the council chamber, they hurried him through the streets of the city, and forth by a gate near to which probably repairs were being made in the city wall.