Apostleship: "Wherefore of these men which have companied
with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken
up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his
resurrection." Two faithful disciples were nominated by the Eleven,
Joseph Barsabas and Matthias. In earnest supplication the assembly
besought the Lord to indicate whether either of these men, and if so
which, was to be chosen for the exalted office; then, "they gave forth
their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the
eleven apostles."

The proceeding throughout is deeply significant and instructive. The
Eleven fully realized that on them lay the responsibility, and in them
was vested the authority, to organize and develop the Church of Christ;
that the council or quorum of the apostles was limited to a membership
of twelve; and that the new apostle, like themselves, must be competent
to testify in special and personal witness concerning the earthly
ministry, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The selection of
Matthias was accomplished in a general assembly of the Primitive Church;
and while the nominations were made by the apostles, all present appear
by implication to have had a voice in the matter of installation. The
principle of authoritative administration through common consent of the
membership, so impressively exemplified in the choosing of Matthias, was
followed, a few weeks later, by the selection of "seven men of honest
report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom," who having been sustained by
the vote of the Church, were set apart to a special ministry by the
laying-on of the apostles' hands.[1406]

THE BESTOWAL OF THE HOLY GHOST.[1407]

At the time of Pentecost, which fell on the fiftieth day after the
Passover,[1408] and therefore, at this particular recurrence, about nine
days after Christ's ascension, the apostles "were all with one accord in
one place," engaged in their customary devotions, and waiting, as
instructed, until they would be endowed with a particular bestowal of
power from on high.[1409] The promised baptism by fire and the Holy
Ghost befell them on that day. "Suddenly there came a sound from heaven
as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled w