therefore, if they were convinced by it, even three thousand of them in one single hour, we may be sure that the evidence was clear and irresistible. If " by his resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus was proved to be the Son of God with power," much more was he by his visible ascension to heaven, and his sending forth of the Holy Spirit according to his word.]
2. As the reward of his sufferings —
[The Father had engaged in covenant with the Lord Jesus, that if he would " make his soul an offering for sin, he should see a seed who should prolong their days, and the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hands : yea, that he should see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied1*." And now this promise was fulfilled. By the sending down of the Holy Spirit, the recompence was accorded to him: " the great were divided to him for a portion, and the strong for a spoil, because he had poured out his soul unto death, and been numbered with transgressors, and borne the sins of many, and made intercession for transgressors0." It was in the prospect of this that he had " endured the cross, and despised the shame, and had sat down at the right hand of the throne of Godd:" it had been declared unto. him, that " he should receive gifts for men, even for the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them : and his being empowered to " confer these gifts" was, on the Father's part, a fulfilment of the engagement he had entered intoe, and a bestowment of " the benefits which he had purchased with his own bloodf."]
3. As the pledge and earnest of his glory —
[" The prophets, speaking by the Spirit of Christ, had from the beginning testified respecting the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow g." Now, this sending forth of the Holy Spirit was the commencement of the Saviour's glory, both amongst Jews and Gentiles11: and to this had John the Baptist and our Lord himself referred, as the pledge and earnest of his triumphs1. Our blessed Lord, previous to his ascension, had taught his Disciples to expect this: but it was not till the renewal of this miracle to the Gentile converts, six years afterwards, that Peter recollected his words ; and then they were brought most forcibly to his remembrance : " Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the
b Isai. liii. 10, 11. c Isai. liii. 12. d Ileb. xii. 2
e Compare Ps. Ixviii. 18. with Eph. iv. 8 ; and mark the distinc- tion between "received" and "gave."
f Acts xx. 28. e 1 Pet. i. 10, 11.
h Acts xi. 15. ' Matt. iii. 11. Acts i. 4, 5.