s and had all
things in common. To them faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was of greater
worth than the wealth of earth.[1412] Among them, there was nothing
called "mine" or "thine," but all things were theirs in the Lord.[1413]
Signs and wonders followed the apostles, "and the Lord added to the
church daily such as should be saved."

Through the bestowal of the Holy Ghost the apostles had become changed
men. As made clear to them by the Spirit of Truth, the scriptures
constituted a record of preparation for the events to which they were
special and ordained witnesses. Peter, who but a few weeks earlier had
quailed before a serving-maid, now spoke openly, fearing none. Seeing
once a lame beggar at the Gate Beautiful which led into the temple
court, he took the afflicted one by the hand, saying: "Silver and gold
have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth rise up and walk."[1414] The man was healed and leaped in
the exuberance of his newly found strength; then he went with Peter and
John into the temple, praising God aloud. An amazed crowd, which grew to
include about five thousand men, gathered around the apostles in
Solomon's Porch; and Peter, observing their wonderment, seized on the
occasion to preach to them Jesus the Crucified. He ascribed all praise
for the miracle to the Christ whom the Jews had delivered up to be
slain, and in unambiguous accusation declared: "The God of Abraham, and
of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son
Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate,
when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the
Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the
Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are
witnesses." In merciful recognition of the ignorance in which they had
sinned, he exhorted them to expiatory penitence, crying: "Repent ye
therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the
times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he
shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the
heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which
God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world
began." There was no encouragement to a belief that their sins could be
annulled by wordy profession; a due season of repentance was their
privilege, if so be they wou