only
two were sent, viz. Peter and John: but suppose it were granted, that
upon some special occasions the apostles went out from Jerusalem, can it
be imagined that the apostles' ordinary abode would be at Jerusalem, to
attend only one single congregation, as if that would fill all their
hands with work?

_Except_. The apostles were well employed when they met in an upper
room, and had but one hundred and twenty for their flock, and this for
forty days together; now if they stayed in Jerusalem when they had but
one hundred and twenty, and yet had their hands filled with work, the
presence of the apostles argues not more congregations in Jerusalem than
could meet in one place for all acts of worship.

_Ans_. 1. From Christ's ascension (immediately after which they went up
to the upper chamber) to the feast of Pentecost, there were but ten
days, not forty; so that there is one mistake.

2. During that time betwixt Christ's ascension and the feast of
Pentecost, (whether ten or forty days is not very material,) the
apostles were especially taken up in prayer and supplication, waiting
for the promise of the Spirit to qualify them for the work of the
ministry: now, because the twelve apostles, before they had received the
extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, did continue for a short time in
Jerusalem with a small number in prayer, will it therefore follow that
after they had received these extraordinary gifts, that they were bound
up within the limits of one single congregation?

_Except_. The argument that there were many teachers in Jerusalem,
proves not that there were more congregations in Jerusalem than one,
because there were then many gifted men, which were not officers, which
yet occasionally instructed others, as Aquila did Apollos; therefore it
seems they were only gifted persons, not officers.

_Ans_. 1. Grant that in those times there were many gifted men, not in
office, which might occasionally instruct others, as Aquila did Apollos;
yet it is further to be noted, that,

2. This instructing must be either private, or public; if private only,
then the objection is of no force, (because these teachers instructed
publicly;) if in public, then if this objection were of force, it would
follow, that women might instruct publicly, because Priscilla, as well
as Aquila, instructed Apollos.

3. The current of expositors say, that the seventy disciples were at
Jerusalem among the one hundred and twenty, Acts i. 16, wh