rs who came out of all countries to
keep the feast of Pentecost: yea, Acts ii. 9, they are said expressly to
be "dwellers of Mesopotamia, Cappadocia," &c., and so might erect
churches where they came.

_Ans_. 1. 'Tis said, Acts ii. 14, "Peter standing" (when he began to
preach this sermon wherein the three thousand were converted) "said, Ye
men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, hearken to my voice;"
intimating that these he preached to dwelt at Jerusalem.

But grant that some of these men that heard Peter's sermon were formerly
dwellers in Mesopotamia and Cappadocia, what hinders but that they might
be now dwellers at Jerusalem?

3. The occasion of their coming up to Jerusalem at this time was not
only the observation of the feast of Pentecost, (which lasted but a
day,) but also the great expectation that the people of the Jews then
had of the appearance of the Messiah in his kingdom, as we may collect
from Luke xix. 11, where it is said, "They thought the kingdom of God
should immediately appear;" so that now they might choose to take up
their dwellings at Jerusalem, and not return, as they had been wont, at
the end of their usual feasts.

4. The Holy Ghost makes mention that in the particular places mentioned,
ver. 9, 10, that of all those nations there were some that dwelt at
Jerusalem; read Acts ii. 5, "There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews,
devout men out of every nation under heaven;" if out of every nation,
then out of those nations there specified; and even there dwelling at
Jerusalem. 5. Those who were scattered by reason of persecution into
Judea and Samaria, and other parts of the world, did not erect new
churches, but were still members of that one church in Jerusalem; so
saith the Scripture expressly, that "they" (of the church of Jerusalem)
"were all scattered abroad throughout the region of Judea and Samaria,"
Acts viii. 1.

_Except_. Although it should be granted that before the dispersion
mentioned Acts viii. 1, 2, the number was so great that they could not
meet together in one place, yet the persecution so wasted and scattered
them all, that there were no more left than might meet in one
congregation?

_Ans_. After the dispersion there were more believers in Jerusalem than
could meet together in one place for all acts of worship, as appears by
Acts ix. 31, "The churches had rest throughout all Judea," &c., "and
were multiplied;" Acts xii. 24, "The word of God grew and multiplied;"