doubting Thomas was among the rest。
But there were others present beside the Apostles。 The 〃women〃 were
there of whom some had long followed our Lord and ministered to His
necessities； and been last at the Cross； and first at the tomb。 I have
little doubt that Mary Magdalene and Salome； and Susanna； and Joanna
the wife of Chuza； Herod's steward； formed part of the pany （Luke
8：2…3）。 And Mary the mother of Jesus was there； whom our Lord had
mitted to the special care of John； and where he was； she was sure
to be。 Truly the prophecy of old Simeon had been fulfilled in her case。
〃The sword〃 of deep and keen sorrow had pierced 〃through her soul〃
（Luke 2：35）。 For she was only flesh and blood； like any other woman。
This is the last occasion on which her name appears in the pages of
Holy Scripture。 From henceforth she sinks out of sight； and all stories
about her after…life are mere baseless traditions。
And； finally； our Lord's 〃brethren〃 were there。 They were his cousins
in all probability； or the sons of Joseph by a former marriage。 Never
let it be forgotten that at one time they did not believe on Jesus
（John 7：5）； but now their unbelief was gone； and they were true
disciples； while Judas Iscariot had fallen away。 The mention of them
teaches the grand lesson that men may begin ill； and end well； and that
many who now seem faithless may one day believe。 So true it is that the
last are sometimes first； and the first last。
Such was the congregation which assembled in the 〃upper room〃 after the
Ascension。 Never； I suppose； has there been such a pure and spotless
gathering of Christians from that day down to this。 Never has there
been； and probably never will be； such a near approach to the 〃 one
Holy Catholic Church；〃 the 〃mystical body of the Son of God； which is
the blessed pany of all faithful people。〃 Never has there been
together so much wheat without tares； and such a singular proportion of
grace； and penitence； and faith； and hope； and holiness； and love in
one room together。 Well would it be for the visible Church of Christ if
all her assemblies were as free from unsound members； spots； and
blemishes as the congregation which met together in the 〃upper room。〃
（2） We should notice； secondly； the unity which characterized this
first meeting in the 〃upper room。〃 We are told expressly； 〃that they
were all there with one accord；〃 that is； of one mind。 There were no
divisions among them。 They believed the same thing。 They loved the same
Person； and at present there was no disagreement among them。 There was
nothing of High； or Low； or Broad in that 〃upper room。〃 Heresies； and
strifes； and controversies were as yet unknown。 Neither about baptism；
or the Lord's Supper； or vestments； or incense； was there any
contention or agitation。 Happy would it have been for Christendom if
this blessed state of things had continued！ At the end of eighteen
centuries we all know； by bitter experience； that the divisions of
Christians are the weakness of the Church； and the favourite argument
of the world； the infidel； and the devil against revealed religion。
Well may we pray； when we see this blessed picture of the upper room；
that God would heal the many ecclesiastical diseases of the nineteenth
century； and make Churchmen especially bee more of one mind。
（3） We should notice； thirdly； the devotional habits of this first
congregation in the 〃upper room。〃 We are told expressly that they 〃were
continuing in prayer and supplication。〃 Here； again； we should mark the
original Greek。 The expression denotes that prayer was a continued and
habitual practice at this crisis。 What things these holy worshippers
prayed for we are not told。 Like our Lord's discourse with the two
Apostles journeying to Emmaus； one would like to know what their
prayers were （Luke 24：27）。 We need not doubt that there was much prayer
for grace to be faithful and not fall away； refer wisdom to do the
thing that was fight in the new and difficult position which they had
to take up；for courage； for patience； for unwearied zeal； for abiding
recollection of our Lord's example； our Lord's teaching； and our Lord's
promises。 But in perfect wisdom the Holy Ghost has thought fit to keep
back these things from us； and we must not doubt that this is right。
One thing； at any rate； is quite certain。 We are taught clearly that
nothing is such a primary duty of a Christian assembly as united prayer
and supplication。 Let us never forget the first charge which the meat
Apostle of the Gentiles gave to Timothy when he wrote to him about his
duties as a minister of the Church； 〃I exhort； therefore； first of all；
that supplications； prayers； intercessions； and giving of thanks be
made for all men； for kings and all that are in authority； that we may
live a quiet end peaceable life〃 （1 Tim。 2：1； etc。）。 I dare to believe
that the names of Annas； Caiaphas； and Pontius Pilate were not
forgotten in the supplications and intercessions of the 〃upper room。〃
（4） We should notice； lastly； the address given in this upper room by
the Apostle Peter； on one of the ten days which elapsed between the
Ascension and the day of Pentecost。 It is an interesting fact that this
is the first address which is recorded to have been given to any
assembly of Christians after the Lord left the world。 It is no less
interesting that the first speaker was the Apostle Peter；the very
Apostle who； after denying his Master； had been mercifully raised
again； and mended to prove his love by feeding His sheep；the very
Apostle who had received a charge before his fall； 〃When thou art
converted； strengthen thy brethren〃 （Luke 22：32）。 There was a peculiar
fitness in Peter being the first to stand up and address the little
pany of 〃one hundred and twenty names。〃
（a） Mark how he begins his address with a reverent reference to Holy
Scripture。 He puts down his foot firmly on the supremacy of God's
written Word as the Church's rule of faith。 He says； 〃This scripture
must needs have been fulfilled。〃 He says； 〃It is written in the book of
Psalms；〃 and takes a quotation for his text。 Well and wisely does the
late Dean Alford remark in his Homilies on the Acts： 〃The first act of
the Church by her first superintendent minister was an appeal to the
text of Scripture。 Let that never be forgotten。 Would that every appeal
by every one of her ministers since had been an appeal equally direct
and equally justified！〃
（b） Mark； next； how Peter humbly acknowledges the liability of the
highest and most privileged ministers of the Church to fall。 He says of
Judas Iscariot； 〃He was numbered with us； and had obtained part of this
ministry；〃 and then mentions his miserable end。 〃He fell by
transgression；〃 and then 〃went to his own place。〃 Let that also never
be forgotten。 He lays down the grand principle； which should always be
remembered in the Church； that no infallibility belongs to the
ministerial office。 A chosen Apostle of Christ fell sadly； and so also
may any successor of the Apostles。 Bishops； priests； and deacons may
err； and have erred greatly； like Hophni； and Phinehas； and Annas； and
Caiaphas； who were in direct succession to Aaron。 We are never to
suppose that ordained and consecrated men can make no mistakes。 We are
never to follow them blindly； or to believe as a matter of course that
all they say is truth。 The Bible is the only infallible guide。
（c） Mark； next； how he calls upon the Church to fill up the place which
Judas had left vacant； and to choose one who might be numbered with the
eleven Apostles。 He speaks with unfaltering confidence； like one
convinced that a work was beginning which the world and the devil could
never stop； and that workmen must be appointed to carry it on in
regular order。 He speaks with a clear foresight of the battles the
Church would have to fight； but with an evident conviction that they
would not be fought in vain； and that the final issue was sure。 He
seems to say； 〃Stand firm； though a standard…bearer has fallen away。
Fill up the gap。 Close up your ranks。〃
（d） Mark； lastly； how he winds up his address with a plain declaration
of what a minister and successor of the Apostles ought to be。 He was to
be 〃a witness of Christ's resurrection。〃 He was to be a witness to the
fact that the foundation of the Gospel is not a vague idea of God's
mercy； but an actual living Person； a Person who lived for us； died for
us； and above all； rose again。 Let that also never be forgotten。 I
affirm； without hesitation； that in these latter days we do not make
enough of the resurrection of Christ。 We certainly do not make as much
of it as the Apostles did； judging from the Acts and the Epistles。 When
Paul went to Athens； we are told that 〃he preached Jesus and the
resurrection〃 （Acts 27：18）。 When he went to Corinth； one of the first
truths he proclaimed was； that 〃 Christ rose again according to the
Scriptures〃 （1 Cor。 15：4）。 When the same Paul was brought before Festus
and Agrippa； Festus said that the plaint against him was about 〃one
Jesus who was dead； whom Paul affirmed to be alive〃 （Acts 25：19）。
Let no one misunderstand my meaning。 I do not say that we dwell too
much on the sacrifice and the blood of Christ； but I do contend that we
dwell too little on His resurrection。 Yet our Lord Himself told the
Jews more than once that the resurrection would prove Him to be the
Messiah。 St。 Paul told the Romans； in the beginning of his Epistle；
that Jesus was 〃declared to be the Son of God with power by the
resurrection from the dead〃 （Rom。 1：4）。 The resurrection pleted the
work of redemption； which our Lord came into the world to effect。 It is
written； that 〃He was delivered for our offences； and raised again for
our justification；〃 and the Corinthians are expressly told； 〃If Chr