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SearchThe Story of Jesus Gains Large Following
It was about two o‘clock when Peter stood up in that very place where his Master had last taught
in this temple, and delivered that impassioned appeal which resulted in the winning of more than
two thousand souls. The Master had gone, but they suddenly discovered that this story about him
had great power with the people. No wonder they were led on into the further proclamation of
that which vindicated their former devotion to Jesus and at the same time so constrained men to
believe in him. Six of the apostles participated in this meeting: Peter, Andrew, James, John,
Philip, and Matthew. They talked for more than an hour and a half and delivered messages in
Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, as well as a few words in even other tongues with which they had
a speaking acquaintance.
The leaders of the Jews were astounded at the boldness of the apostles, but they feared to molest
them because of the large numbers who believed their story.
By half past four o‘clock more than two thousand new believers followed the apostles down to
the pool of Siloam, where Peter, Andrew, James, and John baptized them in the Master‘s name.
And it was dark when they had finished with baptizing this multitude.
Pentecost was the great festival of baptism, the time for fellowshipping the proselytes of the gate,
those gentiles who desired to serve Yahweh. It was, therefore, the more easy for large numbers
of both the Jews and believing gentiles to submit to baptism on this day. In doing this, they were
in no way disconnecting themselves from the Jewish faith. Even for some time after this the
believers in Jesus were a sect within Judaism. All of them, including the apostles, were still loyal
to the essential requirements of the Jewish ceremonial system.