_Stephen_.
_Simon, the Sorcerer_.
_A Queen's Officer_.
_Dorcas_.
_A Roman Captain_.
_Annas, Caiaphas, Priests, Officers, Messengers_.

PLACES OF THE STORY.
_Jerusalem_.
_The country of Palestine and surrounding regions_.
_Joppa_.
_Caesarea_.
_Lydda_.

{325}

I

THE DAY OF PENTECOST

_The First Meeting of the Disciples in Jerusalem_.

(After Jesus had left the company of the apostles, and was seen no more
by them, they remained quietly in Jerusalem. They chose a man named
Matthias to take the place of Judas, but they had no definite plan of
action, not yet quite realizing the importance of the work which they
were to do. Suddenly, on the day of Pentecost, there came the great
inspiration from God to go forward and take up the work of redeeming the
world where Jesus laid it down. They began to preach about Jesus, of his
beautiful life, and his death for men upon the cross. And everywhere the
people listened eagerly and gladly to this wonderful story, and
believing, were baptized, becoming the disciples of the new faith. This
is the story of the simple beginning of the great movement called
Christianity, as the experience made its impression upon the disciples
themselves.)

And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in
one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing
of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like fire; and it
sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.

Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation
under heaven. And when this {326} sound was heard, the multitude came
together, and were amazed, because every man heard them speaking in his
own language. And they marveled, saying, "Behold, are not all these
which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we, every man in our own language,
wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers
in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia
and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and
sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we
do hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God."

And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another,
"What meaneth this?"