this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in His own power; but you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and

JESUS ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN TO SIT ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.

in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth." And when He had said these things, while they looked on, He was raised up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they were beholding Him, two men stood by them in white garments, who also said: 'Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen Him going into heaven.' (Mark xvi.; Acts i.)

THE CHRISTIAN HISTORY AFTER THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST

BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME.

Divided into Three Eras.

The Conflict with the Roman Empire till the Conversion of Constantine. The Conversion and Civilisation of the barbarian Tribes of Europe. Missionary Orders and Missionary Enterprise in all Parts of the World.

The Second Era of the Christian History.

THE FIRST BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH, AND ITS CONFLICT WITH THE ROMAN EMPIRE THE FIRST THREE CENTURIES OF APOSTOLIC PREACHING AND MARTYRDOM.

§ 44. The descent of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, and the events that happened before. The first miracle of St. Peter, AFTER the company that was assembled on the Mount of Olives had heard the words of the angel, saying, 'Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up into heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you shall so come, as you have seen Him going into heaven,' they returned to the city, and there continued in their upper chamber persevering in prayer with Mary the Mother of Jesus.

Peter now rose up in the midst of the brethren (the number of persons was about 120), and said:

'Men and brethren, the Scriptures must be fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them who apprehended Jesus, who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged burst asunder in the midst and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the same field was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that is, the field of blood. For it is written in the book of the Psalms, Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein; and his bishopric let another take (Ps. cviii. 8). Wherefore of these men that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day wherein He was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of His resurrection.'

Thus spoke the vicar of Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, and complying with his words, the assembly appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias; and praying, they said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of

these two Thou hast chosen to take the place of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place. And they gave them lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.

And when the days of Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. Now there were dwelling

at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these, that speak, Galileans? And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphilia, Egypt, and the parts

of Lybia about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all astonished, and wondered, saying one to another: What meaneth this? But others mocking said: These men are full of new wine.

But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them.

FIRST MISSIONARY SERMON OF ST. PETER.

Ye men of Judea, and all that dwell | foresaw the Lord before my face; because in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and He is at my right hand that I may not with your ears receive my words. be moved. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day;

Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their hearts, and said to Peter and to the rest of the Apostles: 'Men and brethren, what shall we do? But Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy

Ghost. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call. And with very many other words did he testify, and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation. They therefore that received his word were baptised; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. And they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul; many wonders also and signs were done by the Apostles in Jerusalem, and there was great fear in all. And all they that believed were together, and had all things common. Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as every one had need. And continuing daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart; praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord brought in daily such as should be saved.

Shortly after the descent of the Holy Ghost and the miraculous gift of languages, Peter and John went up into the Temple at the ninth hour of prayer; and a certain man who was lame from his mother's womb was being carried, whom they laid every day at the gate of the Temple which is called 'Beautiful,' that he might ask alms of them that went into the Temple. The lame man, when he had seen Peter and John about to go into the Temple, asked an alms. But Peter, with John, fastening his eyes upon him, said, 'Look upon us.' He looked earnestly at them, hoping to receive something of them. But Peter said: 'Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give unto thee; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk.' And taking him by the right hand he lifted him up, and forthwith his feet and soles received strength. And leaping up, he stood and walked, and went up with them into the Temple, walking and leaping and praising God; and all the people saw him walking and praising God, and they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful gate of the Temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened.

Peter at once began to preach to the multitude in the Temple, saying to them that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had that day glorified His Son Jesus, whom they had denied before Pilate and crucified, who, nevertheless, on the third day had risen from the dead, of which they were witnesses.' As St. Peter was continuing his discourse in this strain to the people, certain of the priests, with the keeper of the Temple, and a party of the Sadducees, came and laid hold of both him and St. John, and put them in the hold till the next day, for it had then grown late. Both Apostles were brought before the council in the morning, and were dismissed this time, with threats of worse punishment if they still continued to preach their doctrines publicly. They had, however, received a command from a higher authority to preach their doctrines, and consequently neither of them made any account of the prohibition of the members of the council.