know the time or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His
own power," or authority. And then He added, "But ye shall
receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."

They wanted power, and He assured them that they should have it,
but said nothing of its nature, or the work and activities into
which it would thrust them, and for which it would equip them,
beyond the fact that they should be witnesses unto Him "in
Jerusalem and Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the
earth." After that the Holy Ghost Himself was henceforth to be
their Teacher.

And then Jesus left them. Earth lost its power to hold Him, and
while they beheld Him He began to ascend; a cloud bent low from
Heaven, receiving Him out of sight, and they were left alone,
with His promise of power ringing in their ears, and His command
to "wait for the promise of the Father" checking any impatience
that might lead them to "go a-fishing," as Peter had done some
days before, or cause an undue haste to begin their life-work of
witnessing for Him before God's appointed time.

For ten days they waited, not listlessly, but eagerly, as a maid
for her mistress, or a servant for his master, who is expected to
come at any moment; they forgot their personal ambitions; they
ceased to judge and criticise one another, and in the sweet unity
of brotherly love, "with one accord" they rejoiced, they prayed,
they waited; and then on the day of Pentecost, at their early
morning prayer meeting, when they were all present, the windows
of Heaven were opened, and such a blessing as they could not
contain was poured out upon them. "And suddenly there came a