esh side. Then were the disciples glad,
and bones, as ye see me have. when they saw the Lord.

40. And when he had thus spoken, he
shewed them his hands and his feet.

41. And while they yet believed not
for joy, and wondered, he said unto
them, Have ye here any meat?

42. And they gave him a piece of a
broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43. And he took it, and did eat
before them.

44. And he said unto them, These 21. Then said Jesus to them again,
are the words which I spake unto Peace be unto you: as my Father
you, while I was yet with you, that hath sent me, even so send I you.
all things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the law of Moses,
and in the prophets, and in the
psalms, concerning me.

45. Then opened he their 22. And when he had said this, he
understanding, that they might breathed on them, and saith unto
understand the scriptures, them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

46. And said unto them, Thus it is
written, and thus it behoved Christ
to suffer, and to rise from the
dead the third day:

47. And that repentance and 23. Whose soever sins ye remit,
remission of sin should be preached they are remitted unto them; whose
in his name among all nations, soever sins ye retain, they are
beginning at Jerusalem. retained.

Three things are evident from comparing the report of St. John and St.
Luke:--

1. They speak of the same event, though one of them gives certain details
omitted by the other, as we find in the rest of the gospels.

2. The words of St. John, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted
unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained," are
explained by the Holy Ghost Himself, in St. Luke, as meaning that the
apostles shall preach repentance and forgiveness of sins through Christ. It
is just what our Saviour has Himself said in St. Matt. ix. 13: "But go ye
and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am
not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

It is just the same doctrine taught by Peter (Acts ii. 38): "Then Peter
said unto them, Repent, 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."

Just the same doctrine of the forgiveness of sins, not through auricular
confession or absolution, but through the preaching of the Word: "Be it
known unto you th