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And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.” And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, "Peace be unto you." But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, "Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and astonishment, he said unto them, "Have ye here any meat?" And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. a

41.

JESUS APPEARS TO THOMAS, AND TO THE DISCIPLES, AT THE SEA OF GENNESARET. BUT Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said unto them, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and

a Luke xxiv. 13–43.

AND TO THE DISCIPLES.

put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be unto you." Then saith he to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God." Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."a

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After this the disciples returned again to their trade as fishermen on the sea of Tiberias, and cast their nets into the sea a whole night without taking any thing. And when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore; and the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them, "Children, have ye any meat?" They answered, "No." And he said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Then said John to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he cast himself into the sea, and swam to the shore.

As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, "Bring of the fish which ye have now caught." Simon Peter full of great

went up, and drew the pet to land

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a John xx. 24-29.

JESUS APPEARS TO THE DISCIPLES.

fishes, an hundred and fifty and three and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, "Come and dine." And none of the disciples durst ask him, "Who art thou?" knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" He saith unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." He saith unto him, "Feed my lambs." He saith to him again the second time, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" He saith unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." He saith unto him, "Feed my sheep." He saith unto him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." Jesus saith unto him, "Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.' This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. b

Another time, Jesus appeared at a place where more than five hundred of his disciples were assembled together. Thus there was an abundance of witnesses of his resurrection.

b John xxi. 15-19.

THE ASCENSION OF JESUS.

42. THE ASCENSION OF JESUS.

BEFORE Jesus took leave of his disciples, he gave them the following important commands and promises. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, into all the world, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." a

When Jesus assembled his disciples together for the last time, he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait until they should receive the fulfilment of the promise that they should be baptized with the Holy Ghost. And they asked of him, saying, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

a Matt. xxviii. 18-20; Mark xvi. 15--18.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." b

43. THE DAY OF PENTECOST.

AFTER the ascension of Christ, the disciples remained together at Jerusalem in retirement, and they continued constantly to pray for the promised Holy Spirit. To supply the place of the unhappy traitor Judas, they chose by lot, after praying to the Lord, Matthias, that the number of twelve might be again complete. They assembled together every day in the expectation of some great events; and their number amounted to about an hundred and twenty.

Fifty days after the passover, ten days after the ascension of Christ to the throne of God in heaven, at the feast of Pentecost, which was observed among the Jews in commemoration of the giving of the law, and likewise of the beginning of harvest, they were all gathered together. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And the Holy Ghost appeared to them in the form of cloven tongues

b Acts i. 6-11.

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