The Acts of the Apostles

182 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
2. A great missionary sermon of St. Peter on the
occasion of the outpouring of the Spirit which had
been manifested in the fiery tongues and in the miracle
by which those who heard understood what was said
(ii. 14—36). St. Peter in his sermon presupposes that
this outpouring was accompanied by " repara,'''' of
which nothing is said in the narrative.
3. The extraordinary success (about 3000 con-
versions) of the miracle and the sermon (ii. 37-41);
further result : they continue in the doctrine of the
Apostles and in the fellowship, in the breaking of
bread and in the prayers; fear came upon every
soul; the Apostles work great miracles; all that
believed were always together and had all things
common ; they were daily together in the Temple,
and also in their own homes they held their sacred
feasts in gladness and singleness of heart, having
favour with all the people (ii. 42-47).
4. The Apostles are thrown into prison by the
Jewish authorities [the Sadducees are specially men-
tioned], but are set at liberty by an angel who directs
them to go into the Temple and to preach there to
all the people; this they do (v. 17-2P).
5. The Jewish authorities, who wish to condemn
them, in vain seek for them in the prison ; being, how-
ever, informed that the Apostles were teaching in the
Temple, they command that they should be brought
before them (" not with violence ; for they feared the
people ") and forbid -^ them to preach the Gospel.
^ Here St. Luke expressly introduces the prohibition as a reminiscence
of an earlier one—thus as a second prohibition—because he
had already narrated it once before.