of death: because it was not possible
that he should be holden of it." Citing the inspired outburst of the
psalmist, who had sung in jubilant measure of the soul that should not
be left in hell, and of the flesh that should not see corruption, he
showed the application of these scriptures to the Christ; and fearlessly
affirmed: "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of
the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which
ye now see and hear." With increasing fervency, fearing neither derision
nor violence, and driving home to the hearts of his enthralled listeners
the fearful fact of their guilt, Peter proclaimed as in voice of
thunder: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God
hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and
Christ."

The power of the Holy Ghost could not be resisted; to every earnest soul
it carried conviction. They that heard were pricked in their hearts, and
in contrition cried out to the apostles: "Men and brethren, what shall
we do?" Now that they were prepared for the message of salvation, it was
given without reserve. "Repent," answered Peter, "and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you,
and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call."

To the apostles' testimony, to the exhortation and warning, the people
responded with profession of faith and repentance. Their joy was
comparable to that of the spirits in prison, to whom the disembodied
Christ had borne the authoritative word of redemption and salvation.
Those who repented and confessed their belief in Christ at that
memorable Pentecost were received into the Church by baptism, to the
number of about three thousand. That their conversion was genuine and
not the effect of a passing enthusiasm, that they were literally born
again through baptism into a newness of life, is evidenced by the fact
that they endured in the faith--"and they continued steadfastly in the
apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in
prayers." So devoted were these early converts, so richly blessed with
the outpouring of the Holy Ghost was the Church in those days, that the
members voluntarily disposed of their individual possession