illumination some of his subsequent actions fell!

We have only a summary of his exhortations, the gist of which was
earnest warning to separate from the fate of the nation by separating
in will and mind from its sins. Swift conviction followed the Spirit-
given words, as it ever will do when the speaker is filled with the
Holy Spirit, and has therefore a tongue of fire. Three thousand new
disciples were made that day, and though there must have been many
superficial adherents, and none with much knowledge, it is perhaps
not fanciful to see in Luke's speaking of them as 'souls' a hint
that, in general, the acceptance of Jesus as Messiah was deep and
real. Not only were three thousand 'names' added to the hundred and
twenty, but three thousand souls.

III. The fair picture of the morning brightness, so soon overclouded,
so long lost, follows. First, the narrative tells how the raw
converts were incorporated in the community, and assimilated to its
character. They, too, 'continued steadfastly' (Acts i. 14). Note the
four points enumerated: 'teaching,' which would be principally
instruction in the life of Jesus and His Messianic dignity, as proved
by prophecy; 'fellowship,' which implies community of disposition and
oneness of heart manifested in outward association; 'breaking of
bread,'--that is, the observance of the Lord's Supper; and 'the
prayers,' which were the very life-breath of the infant Church (i.
14). Thus oneness in faith and in love, participation in the memorial
feast and in devotional acts bound the new converts to the original
believers, and trained them towards maturity. These are still the
methods by which a sudden influx of converts is best dealt with, and
babes in Christ nurtured to full growth. Alas! that so often churches
do not know what to do with novices when they come in numbers.