ACTS ii. 1-4.
Origin and History of Pentecost--Gnosticism and Antinomianism-- Modern Aspect of Ancient Heresies--Ancient Union and Modern Divisions of Christendom--Jeremy Taylor's Prayer-- The Fiery Tongues--Protest against Persecution and Penal Laws in Religion--Ussher and Baxter, Mistakes of-- Death-Scene of Queen Caroline--Importance of Corporate Aspect of Christianity--Clergy and Laity in Apostolic Church--Gift of Tongues and Irvingism--Modern Theories about Pentecost--Hypnotism--Greek and Latin not Universal Languages in Apostolic Times--Ramsay's _Geography of Asia Minor_ 82-106
ACTS ii. 14.
Reports of Ancient Sermons, how Derived--Use of Shorthand among Ancients--St. Peter's Auditory--Celts of Britain at Crucifixion--Jews in Arabia--Homerite Martyrs--St. Peter's Conduct at Pentecost an Evidence for the Resurrection--Contrast with his Action at Antioch--St. Peter's Universal Conceptions and Language--A Protest against Ebionism and Unitarianism-- St. Peter and Christ's Descent into Hades-- Apollinarianism and the True Doctrine of Our Lord's Humanity--David's Sepulchre and Christ's Resurrection-- Jewish Traditions 107-126
ACTS ii. 37-39.
Contrast between Our Lord's Preaching and that of His Apostles--Proof of Extraordinary Work of the Spirit-- Evidence of Tacitus--Spiritual Power a Different Thing from Religious Knowledge--Character of St. Peter's Teaching--Repentance--Modern Antinomianism--Williams, Baxter, Stillingfleet, Wesley--St. Peter and Baptism-- Baptism in the _Didache_--Story of that Manual and its Discovery--The Baptismal Formula--Immersion--Infant Baptism--St. Peter and the Power of the Keys 127-147
ACTS iii. 1-6.
The Acts a Mirror of Church History--Pause after Pentecost, Reason of--Need of Pastoral Work--Relapses in Mission Field--The Corinthian Case--Rest and Spiritual Growth--Evils of Excitement--Contrast of Christianity with the Montanists and Cynics-- True Religion not, however, Purely Contemplative-- Circumstances of First Miracle--Which was Typical of Church's Future Work--Among the Poor and Sick-- Story of St. Crispin--St. Chrysostom's Sermons-- First Franciscans Contrasted with Early Methodists-- Medical Missions--Place of Miracle--Solomon's Porch--St. Peter's Address Model for Preachers--Shows Divinity of Christ--Exalts Christ--Is Bold and Prudent withal 148-172