莱尔主教upper_room-第2章
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Philip of Bethsaida was there； the first Apostle to whom Jesus said；
〃Follow Me；〃the Apostle who told Nathanael to 〃e and see〃 the
promised Messiah （John 1：43）。
Thomas was there； who was once so desponding and weak in faith； but
afterwards cried out with such grand Athanasian confidence； 〃 My Lord
and my God〃 （John 20：28）。
Bartholomew was there； who； by general consent； is the same as that
very Nathanael who at first said； 〃Can any good thing e out of
Nazareth？〃 Yet this is he whom our Lord pronounced to be 〃an Israelite
without guile；〃 and who said； 〃Thou art the Son of God； Thou art the
King of Israel〃 （John 1：46…49）。
Matthew the publican was there； who forsook his worldly calling at the
bidding of our Lord； and sought lasting treasure in heaven； and who was
afterwards privileged to hold the pen which wrote the first Gospel
（Matt。 9：9）。
James the son of Alphaeus was there； who had the honour of being the
presiding Apostle at the first Council held in Jerusalem； and of whom
St。 Paul tells the Galatians that； together with Peter and John； James
was a 〃pillar of the Church〃 （Gal。 2：9）。
Simon Zelotes was there； of whom we know little certain except that he
was also 〃called the Canaanite；〃 and may possibly have lived at Cana of
Galilee； and seen the first miracle our Lord worked。 His name Zelotes
seems to indicate that he was once a member of the famous Zealot party；
a fierce advocate of Jewish home…rule； and an enemy of Roman supremacy。
He was now zealous only for the kingdom of Christ。
Judas was there； the brother of James； called also Lebbaeus or
Thaddaeus； the writer of the last Epistle in the New Testament； and the
Apostle who asked the remarkable question；〃 How is it that Thou wilt
manifest Thyself unto us and not unto the world？〃 （John 14：22）。 In
short； the whole pany of the eleven faithful Apostles was assembled
in that 〃 upper room。〃 On this occasion there were no absentees； and
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
