sevenfold gifts of the Paraclete[17] in fuller measure than had
ever been vouchsafed to the Prophets and Teachers of old, as well as
with miraculous endowments, that so they might be enabled to carry out
the Commission entrusted to them by their Master.

[Sidenote: The gift of Tongues.]

One effect of this wonderful Visitation was {9} immediately and
strikingly apparent to all who stood by, for on these twelve unlearned
men of lowly birth was bestowed the power of speaking fluently and
intelligibly in languages of which, before, they had been altogether
ignorant. [Sidenote: The people come together.] The fame of this great
wonder soon spread amongst the multitude of foreign Jews who were then
gathered together at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Pentecost; many of
them were probably at that very time in the Temple, of which the "upper
room" is thought to have formed a part, and they quickly came around
the Apostles, anxious to judge for themselves of the truth of what had
been told them. [Sidenote: Their amazement.] Very great was their
astonishment at what they heard. It seems as if words are multiplied
in the Sacred Narrative to impress us with a sense of their awe and
wonder. It is said that they "were confounded" or "troubled in mind,"
that "they were all amazed and marvelled;" and again, that "they were
all amazed, and were in doubt" at this startling exhibition of the
"Power" of God[18]. [Sidenote: Though some refused to believe.] Some
indeed "mocked," despising the work of the Spirit, as they had before
despised the work of the Son; but many opened their hearts to the
softening influence, and of them it may truly be said that "the fear of
the Lord" was "the beginning of wisdom."

{10}

Section 4. _St. Peter's First Sermon, and its Results._

[Sidenote: A.D. 33. Conversion of the 3000.]

And now at once the converting power of the Church was exercised. St.
Peter, the chief of the Apostles, took the lead, as he had already done
in the election of St. Matthias, and preached to the impressed and
eager multitude that first Christian sermon, which was followed by the
conversion and baptism of "about 3000 souls[19]."

[Sidenote: The promise of St. Peter fulfilled.]

Thus was fulfilled, in one sense at least, the promise of Christ to St.
Peter: "Upon this rock I will build My Church[20];" and he, who first
of the Twelve had faith to confess the Godhead of our Blessed Lord, was
rewarded by being the first