Thousands Baptized at Pentecost in JerusalemBible World
2:47Acts 2:47
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The verse closes the Pentecost story by showing believers praising God with gladness and singleness of heart while enjoying favor with the people, and the Lord himself adding each day those who were being saved. It follows ten days of prayer and putting away differences, the outpouring of the Spirit, the addition of about three thousand in one day, and a continuing life steadfast in doctrine and fellowship and prayers with all things shared. That praise and daily growth belonged to a church harmoniously united and filled with the Spirit, living in love and simplicity, meeting daily with one accord and eating house to house with gladness. The increase came not by human strength but by the Lord bringing in the saved through Spirit-empowered preaching of the crucified and risen Christ, conviction, conversion, and baptism. This blessed state of unity, faith and love is the example God's people in the present day must also pass through, when receiving the Spirit and working in unity will again spread the gospel and add the saved wherever they go.
Verse Setting and Wording
Acts 2:47 belongs to and concludes the Pentecost account of Acts 2:1-47. It belongs to the second chapter of Acts which is to be read, received, and presented to others, with the whole book of Acts serving as a lesson that calls for deeper piety, the sincere meekness of Christ, humbled individual hearts, and daily conversion.
The verse is part of the record of the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit at Jerusalem's religious festival to proclaim the risen Savior to the gathered multitudes. They spoke in other languages as the Spirit enabled them, and this experience is presented as a pattern for later believers who receive the promised blessing, connected with the early apostles' experiences in Acts 10 and Acts 19.
The verse follows obedience to the commission to preach the gospel to all the world after Christ had ascended to heaven without His personal presence. It follows ten days of prayer with deep heart-searching, putting away all differences and drawing close together in Christian fellowship. Then came a wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit that added about three thousand souls in one day. There followed a continuing life steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and prayers, with fear and many wonders and signs, having all things in common and selling possessions to supply every man's need, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house and eating with gladness and singleness of heart.
The daily growth is heaven's testimony that Christ had been received and crowned in the heavenly courts with the angels and all heavenly intelligences, and His inauguration was complete, communicated by the pentecostal outpouring. It followed the amazement of the multitude at hearing the disciples speak with other tongues, Peter's preaching that this was the power of the Holy Spirit foretold by Joel, and the call that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. It followed the addition of about three thousand souls the same day, and a continuing life in which believers were steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and prayers, fear came on every soul while many wonders and signs were done by the apostles, all who believed were together with all things common selling possessions and parting to all as needed, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house eating with gladness and singleness of heart.
In its wording the verse means the believers praised God, lived with gladness and singleness of heart and sincerity, and found favor with the people, while the Lord Himself added to the church each day those who were being saved. It belongs to the history of the early church during and immediately after Pentecost, whose experiences God's people in the present day must also pass through.
United Spirit-Filled Fellowship
The verse portrays the early church as a body harmoniously united, through whom the Spirit worked mightily, as on the day of Pentecost when all were with one accord in one place. Its praise of God and the Lord's daily addition of people to the church belong to the teaching and practice of people imbued with the Holy Spirit.
Believers were united in faith and love, living in love and fellowship and in the simplicity of the gospel. They met daily together in unity, sharing all things, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house. They ate with gladness and singleness of heart, gave praise to God, and enjoyed goodwill and favor among the people, while the Lord added new saved ones daily.
Their one desire was the salvation of souls as they went forth to proclaim a living, risen Saviour. They rejoiced in the sweetness of communion with saints, and in daily association revealed the love Christ had commanded by being tender, thoughtful, self-denying, and willing to make any sacrifice for the truth's sake. They strove by unselfish words and deeds to kindle that love in other hearts. Such love was ever to be cherished in union with Christ so close that His requirements could be fulfilled and His power to justify by His righteousness magnified, seeking to reflect His character and advance His kingdom.
In the days when the risen Christ's glory shone on them, their united, glad, generous life and witness accompanied the church's growth and helped their light shine before others. Though the Christians were few in numbers and without wealth or honor, their character and teaching gave them mighty influence because the light of the world shone out from them. They were a terror to evildoers wherever their character and doctrines were known, and for this cause they were hated by the wicked and persecuted even unto death.
When voices are used to speak of God's glory and power, without faultfinding or unkind words, God's salvation is revealed among them. When primitive Christianity enters hearts it brings new life and power and makes the contrast between truth and error, and between God's word and superstition, clear to others.
At Pentecost the Infinite One revealed Himself in power by the Holy Spirit descending from heaven as a rushing mighty wind, with penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving and prophecy, while all heaven bent low to behold matchless love. Grasping the imparted gift with hearts surcharged with a benevolence full, deep and far-reaching, the apostles and disciples were lost in wonder and impelled to go to the ends of the earth testifying, glorying only in the cross, filled with intense longing to add to the church such as should be saved. Believers acted in prayerful unity, cared for others, and drew people toward the church, while the Lord added those being saved.
This loving united condition is the first love, which was afterward lost when criticism and fault-finding entered. The Lord adds many to the church when His people show a united front, and those who appreciate the truth do not work against it by envy, jealousy, criticism, and contention. Giving place to the enemy in this way keeps believers from the precious experience God desires for them and stops the increase. Turning from criticism to drink of the pure streams brings strength and peace and joy, while the poisonous atmosphere of contention brings physical and spiritual disease. What was left must be regained by remembering, repenting, and doing the first works.
Lord's Daily Addition
It is the Lord Himself who daily brings into the church new people who are being saved as they accept God's invitation, and abundant means have been provided for all who are willing to receive it, so that when the invitation is carried to many, many are added. The establishment and growth of the church depend on God and come through His work, not by human strength, power, or wisdom. He adds daily to those who shall be saved by moving upon hearts through His Holy Spirit, making believers able to do valiantly in God. This increase comes when truth sanctifies the soul into humility, meekness, self-denial, self-surrender, and consistency with sacred truth, so that the church lives not for self but for Christ who died, rose again, and lives to make intercession.
The daily addition came through Spirit-empowered preaching of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection at Jerusalem, where many gathered for the feast and the apostles taught the truth with convincing power. Prayer, filling with the Holy Ghost, and powerful preaching of the word were followed by the conversion of thousands in a day and by people being saved and joining the church daily. The disciples continued teaching and preaching about Jesus, and despite being beaten and ordered to stop, the Lord added believers to the church day by day.
Souls convicted and converted through the church's work of sharing the truth are added to the church among those who are saved. Converted people are baptized and added, and the work continues through workers who teach and care for people until they are converted and baptized, with no one to be neglected. As the gospel is proclaimed, people yield to the Holy Spirit and confess Christ, new territory is added daily, and even those who had bitterly opposed the truth become its champions. Places where the message cannot be preached lack the opportunity for people to hear and join it.
The addition is illustrated by chosen men under the apostles' labors who received the Word of life and then gave its message to others as the gospel spread. Convictions and experiences begun at Jesus' trial and condemnation later led many to be added to the church daily. United believers, guided by the Spirit, become a means through which God works for the conversion of sinners as people are added upon conversion.
When the law is obeyed and Christ's character is reflected in believers, the Holy Spirit's converting power is felt and people are added to the church to be saved. As believers walk in the light as God intends and let Christ's character shine through good works and lives shaped by Jesus' love, their light reflects to others and helps lead perishing people to salvation so that others are added to their numbers. If God's law were perfectly obeyed, love, harmony, and joy would prevail and the power of Christianity would be revealed in the churches. A household that obeys Christ and lets its light shine can grow beyond a family church as others are added to it.
The voice of mercy still calls people to salvation, and the Lord adds to the church those who are to be saved. Among God's faithful people are precious hidden ones who belong to Him but are not yet visible until the proclamation of the third angel's message brings them to sight. Some are already taking their stand firmly and gladly, as illustrated at Maitland by people taking their stand for the truth.
Pattern for Present Mission
The blessed apostolic condition of praise and favor, with unity in faith and love and daily addition of those being saved, stands as the example of what the church could experience again if it accepted heaven's warning, humbled itself before God, and prepared to stand in His presence, when the Spirit and power of God would be manifested among them. That return requires turning from worldliness and backsliding and remembering the first love.
Under the Spirit's power the sword of the Spirit cut through unbelief and thousands were converted in a day. The disciples were filled with a full, deep, far-reaching benevolence and an intense longing to add to the church those who should be saved. That longing, grasped with hearts surcharged by the gift amid penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving and prophecy while all heaven bent low to behold matchless love, impelled them to go to the ends of the earth testifying and glorying only in the cross of Christ. It calls every believer to arouse and do their part so that all nations hear the truth and the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord, and the same Spirit-filled going forth is required today to reap fields white unto harvest with mercy to those in darkness of error and unbelief, as God moves believers to carry the work to regions beyond without blockage by listless indifference.
As church members work to win souls to Jesus, with hearts united to Christ and lives in harmony with His work, the Spirit who fell on the disciples at Pentecost will fall on them with renewed power. Many will then leave Satan's ranks to join Christ's, sinners will be converted, and wonderful revivals and conversions will follow with many added to the church. Where believers receive the Holy Spirit and work in unity, the gospel spreads and those to be saved are added wherever they go.
The church grows and the saved are added when believers reach beyond their own families and close circles to help others, overcoming selfishness and narrow concern for one's own circle and showing the self-sacrificing concern for others that Jesus showed, for God's offer of salvation is not limited to relatives. Missionary work carried out without self-exaltation should press on until church is added to church. The same missionary spirit that praised God in a growing church should burn in those moved by the Spirit, leading them to carry the gospel to places that need it.
God's design is that the Lord brings new saved people into the church when His people faithfully use what He has entrusted to them, every gift however small and exactly proportioned to ability improved and doubled by use and by giving means to sustain hard and discouraging mission fields where truth has no standing. Those then brought in represent Christ to the world, become able workers to carry the last message of mercy, and act their part in sustaining every branch of God's work, while failure to trade wisely on knowledge and means leaves cities barren and unworked and defeats God's purpose. Believers at home share in this by laboring earnestly so people may be added and saved, with their prayers for missionaries like sharp sickles sent into the harvest. God adds many souls when His people give themselves first and then use means and ability to go into new places with the invitation to truth and salvation, for the work is fast closing with only a short time to labor, God is not willing that any should perish and has withheld nothing but given every divine resource for saving those in ignorance and darkness while He spares the world so increased light may come to it, so failure to awake and scatter forth withholds increase while faithful enlightening brings it. Church growth comes through workers presenting Scripture-based reasons with humility and wisdom while the Holy Spirit works on hearers' minds and hearts, needing no dependence on excitement or display.
The Lord adds very many to be saved when a house of worship is erected and mission work is properly planned and managed in a city where He has many precious souls. This increase gives character to present truth in that city and is well-pleasing to God. It depends on leading men standing in piety, devotion, spiritual discernment and earnest sanctified energy, with energy, tact, labor and means directed to that specific work rather than to other enterprises, while Satan opposes this growth declaring he will defeat it so there will be no triumph of truth there, working through unsanctified ambition to divert energies and means elsewhere. Bringing present truth to people of talent and influence could have resulted in many more being added.
Faithfully preaching the gospel to the poor and caring for the sick adds saved people to the church, with proclaiming God's commandments and restoring what has been broken in His law joined to mercy and compassion for suffering and sinful people. The early church proved true to the precious trust Christ left them as executors of His will to carry the treasure of eternal life to the world by preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. Soon afterward they were filled with power from on high and boldly confessed faith in the risen Saviour, and many receiving salvation were added to their number. Where a church fulfills this soul-saving duty, many who should be saved are added, as where Monterey's failure left its due increase undone.
This addition is seen when truth is presented in the simplicity of true godliness, with the sick healed, the spirit of intercession upon believers, urgent appeals made, hearts subdued and broken before the Lord, many confessing sins, doors thrown open on every side for proclaiming truth, genuine conversions made, and the voice of intercession becoming the voice of rejoicing as converts are added, the same work done in 1843 and 1844. Young men and women brought in through camp meetings and follow-up work are added as they continue steadfast in the faith. When believers renounced errors and united in the third angel's message, God blessed and increased their numbers, and many joined as the Spirit gave power to truth preached at Adventist meetings where people heard Christ's soon coming and went home praising God. When even a few faithful members remain connected with God as channels of light, God can increase their numbers, and children without God and hope may be added when parents faithfully guide and train them. Earnest cooperation after meetings could have brought more than one hundred as at Balaclava, labor reaching cities, villages, highways, byways and all classes brings increase, social meetings let new believers testify, small companies grow to more than thirty or thirteen with prosperity, daily conversions multiply the little band, renouncing errors and uniting brings blessing, a few faithful channels are used, parents train children, and courageous Sabbath observance amid difficulty grows through united counsel, prayer and lived faith as at Chaux-de-Fonds.
The verse closes the Pentecost story by showing believers praising God with gladness and singleness of heart while enjoying favor with the people, and the Lord himself adding each day those who were being saved. It follows ten days of prayer and putting away differences, the outpouring of the Spirit, the addition of about three thousand in one day, and a continuing life steadfast in doctrine and fellowship and prayers with all things shared. That praise and daily growth belonged to a church harmoniously united and filled with the Spirit, living in love and simplicity, meeting daily with one accord and eating house to house with gladness. The increase came not by human strength but by the Lord bringing in the saved through Spirit-empowered preaching of the crucified and risen Christ, conviction, conversion, and baptism. This blessed state of unity, faith and love is the example God's people in the present day must also pass through, when receiving the Spirit and working in unity will again spread the gospel and add the saved wherever they go.
Verse Setting and Wording
Acts 2:47 belongs to and concludes the Pentecost account of Acts 2:1-47. It belongs to the second chapter of Acts which is to be read, received, and presented to others, with the whole book of Acts serving as a lesson that calls for deeper piety, the sincere meekness of Christ, humbled individual hearts, and daily conversion.
The verse is part of the record of the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit at Jerusalem's religious festival to proclaim the risen Savior to the gathered multitudes. They spoke in other languages as the Spirit enabled them, and this experience is presented as a pattern for later believers who receive the promised blessing, connected with the early apostles' experiences in Acts 10 and Acts 19.
The verse follows obedience to the commission to preach the gospel to all the world after Christ had ascended to heaven without His personal presence. It follows ten days of prayer with deep heart-searching, putting away all differences and drawing close together in Christian fellowship. Then came a wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit that added about three thousand souls in one day. There followed a continuing life steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and prayers, with fear and many wonders and signs, having all things in common and selling possessions to supply every man's need, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house and eating with gladness and singleness of heart.
The daily growth is heaven's testimony that Christ had been received and crowned in the heavenly courts with the angels and all heavenly intelligences, and His inauguration was complete, communicated by the pentecostal outpouring. It followed the amazement of the multitude at hearing the disciples speak with other tongues, Peter's preaching that this was the power of the Holy Spirit foretold by Joel, and the call that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. It followed the addition of about three thousand souls the same day, and a continuing life in which believers were steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and prayers, fear came on every soul while many wonders and signs were done by the apostles, all who believed were together with all things common selling possessions and parting to all as needed, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house eating with gladness and singleness of heart.
In its wording the verse means the believers praised God, lived with gladness and singleness of heart and sincerity, and found favor with the people, while the Lord Himself added to the church each day those who were being saved. It belongs to the history of the early church during and immediately after Pentecost, whose experiences God's people in the present day must also pass through.
United Spirit-Filled Fellowship
The verse portrays the early church as a body harmoniously united, through whom the Spirit worked mightily, as on the day of Pentecost when all were with one accord in one place. Its praise of God and the Lord's daily addition of people to the church belong to the teaching and practice of people imbued with the Holy Spirit.
Believers were united in faith and love, living in love and fellowship and in the simplicity of the gospel. They met daily together in unity, sharing all things, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house. They ate with gladness and singleness of heart, gave praise to God, and enjoyed goodwill and favor among the people, while the Lord added new saved ones daily.
Their one desire was the salvation of souls as they went forth to proclaim a living, risen Saviour. They rejoiced in the sweetness of communion with saints, and in daily association revealed the love Christ had commanded by being tender, thoughtful, self-denying, and willing to make any sacrifice for the truth's sake. They strove by unselfish words and deeds to kindle that love in other hearts. Such love was ever to be cherished in union with Christ so close that His requirements could be fulfilled and His power to justify by His righteousness magnified, seeking to reflect His character and advance His kingdom.
In the days when the risen Christ's glory shone on them, their united, glad, generous life and witness accompanied the church's growth and helped their light shine before others. Though the Christians were few in numbers and without wealth or honor, their character and teaching gave them mighty influence because the light of the world shone out from them. They were a terror to evildoers wherever their character and doctrines were known, and for this cause they were hated by the wicked and persecuted even unto death.
When voices are used to speak of God's glory and power, without faultfinding or unkind words, God's salvation is revealed among them. When primitive Christianity enters hearts it brings new life and power and makes the contrast between truth and error, and between God's word and superstition, clear to others.
At Pentecost the Infinite One revealed Himself in power by the Holy Spirit descending from heaven as a rushing mighty wind, with penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving and prophecy, while all heaven bent low to behold matchless love. Grasping the imparted gift with hearts surcharged with a benevolence full, deep and far-reaching, the apostles and disciples were lost in wonder and impelled to go to the ends of the earth testifying, glorying only in the cross, filled with intense longing to add to the church such as should be saved. Believers acted in prayerful unity, cared for others, and drew people toward the church, while the Lord added those being saved.
This loving united condition is the first love, which was afterward lost when criticism and fault-finding entered. The Lord adds many to the church when His people show a united front, and those who appreciate the truth do not work against it by envy, jealousy, criticism, and contention. Giving place to the enemy in this way keeps believers from the precious experience God desires for them and stops the increase. Turning from criticism to drink of the pure streams brings strength and peace and joy, while the poisonous atmosphere of contention brings physical and spiritual disease. What was left must be regained by remembering, repenting, and doing the first works.
Lord's Daily Addition
It is the Lord Himself who daily brings into the church new people who are being saved as they accept God's invitation, and abundant means have been provided for all who are willing to receive it, so that when the invitation is carried to many, many are added. The establishment and growth of the church depend on God and come through His work, not by human strength, power, or wisdom. He adds daily to those who shall be saved by moving upon hearts through His Holy Spirit, making believers able to do valiantly in God. This increase comes when truth sanctifies the soul into humility, meekness, self-denial, self-surrender, and consistency with sacred truth, so that the church lives not for self but for Christ who died, rose again, and lives to make intercession.
The daily addition came through Spirit-empowered preaching of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection at Jerusalem, where many gathered for the feast and the apostles taught the truth with convincing power. Prayer, filling with the Holy Ghost, and powerful preaching of the word were followed by the conversion of thousands in a day and by people being saved and joining the church daily. The disciples continued teaching and preaching about Jesus, and despite being beaten and ordered to stop, the Lord added believers to the church day by day.
Souls convicted and converted through the church's work of sharing the truth are added to the church among those who are saved. Converted people are baptized and added, and the work continues through workers who teach and care for people until they are converted and baptized, with no one to be neglected. As the gospel is proclaimed, people yield to the Holy Spirit and confess Christ, new territory is added daily, and even those who had bitterly opposed the truth become its champions. Places where the message cannot be preached lack the opportunity for people to hear and join it.
The addition is illustrated by chosen men under the apostles' labors who received the Word of life and then gave its message to others as the gospel spread. Convictions and experiences begun at Jesus' trial and condemnation later led many to be added to the church daily. United believers, guided by the Spirit, become a means through which God works for the conversion of sinners as people are added upon conversion.
When the law is obeyed and Christ's character is reflected in believers, the Holy Spirit's converting power is felt and people are added to the church to be saved. As believers walk in the light as God intends and let Christ's character shine through good works and lives shaped by Jesus' love, their light reflects to others and helps lead perishing people to salvation so that others are added to their numbers. If God's law were perfectly obeyed, love, harmony, and joy would prevail and the power of Christianity would be revealed in the churches. A household that obeys Christ and lets its light shine can grow beyond a family church as others are added to it.
The voice of mercy still calls people to salvation, and the Lord adds to the church those who are to be saved. Among God's faithful people are precious hidden ones who belong to Him but are not yet visible until the proclamation of the third angel's message brings them to sight. Some are already taking their stand firmly and gladly, as illustrated at Maitland by people taking their stand for the truth.
Pattern for Present Mission
The blessed apostolic condition of praise and favor, with unity in faith and love and daily addition of those being saved, stands as the example of what the church could experience again if it accepted heaven's warning, humbled itself before God, and prepared to stand in His presence, when the Spirit and power of God would be manifested among them. That return requires turning from worldliness and backsliding and remembering the first love.
Under the Spirit's power the sword of the Spirit cut through unbelief and thousands were converted in a day. The disciples were filled with a full, deep, far-reaching benevolence and an intense longing to add to the church those who should be saved. That longing, grasped with hearts surcharged by the gift amid penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving and prophecy while all heaven bent low to behold matchless love, impelled them to go to the ends of the earth testifying and glorying only in the cross of Christ. It calls every believer to arouse and do their part so that all nations hear the truth and the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord, and the same Spirit-filled going forth is required today to reap fields white unto harvest with mercy to those in darkness of error and unbelief, as God moves believers to carry the work to regions beyond without blockage by listless indifference.
As church members work to win souls to Jesus, with hearts united to Christ and lives in harmony with His work, the Spirit who fell on the disciples at Pentecost will fall on them with renewed power. Many will then leave Satan's ranks to join Christ's, sinners will be converted, and wonderful revivals and conversions will follow with many added to the church. Where believers receive the Holy Spirit and work in unity, the gospel spreads and those to be saved are added wherever they go.
The church grows and the saved are added when believers reach beyond their own families and close circles to help others, overcoming selfishness and narrow concern for one's own circle and showing the self-sacrificing concern for others that Jesus showed, for God's offer of salvation is not limited to relatives. Missionary work carried out without self-exaltation should press on until church is added to church. The same missionary spirit that praised God in a growing church should burn in those moved by the Spirit, leading them to carry the gospel to places that need it.
God's design is that the Lord brings new saved people into the church when His people faithfully use what He has entrusted to them, every gift however small and exactly proportioned to ability improved and doubled by use and by giving means to sustain hard and discouraging mission fields where truth has no standing. Those then brought in represent Christ to the world, become able workers to carry the last message of mercy, and act their part in sustaining every branch of God's work, while failure to trade wisely on knowledge and means leaves cities barren and unworked and defeats God's purpose. Believers at home share in this by laboring earnestly so people may be added and saved, with their prayers for missionaries like sharp sickles sent into the harvest. God adds many souls when His people give themselves first and then use means and ability to go into new places with the invitation to truth and salvation, for the work is fast closing with only a short time to labor, God is not willing that any should perish and has withheld nothing but given every divine resource for saving those in ignorance and darkness while He spares the world so increased light may come to it, so failure to awake and scatter forth withholds increase while faithful enlightening brings it. Church growth comes through workers presenting Scripture-based reasons with humility and wisdom while the Holy Spirit works on hearers' minds and hearts, needing no dependence on excitement or display.
The Lord adds very many to be saved when a house of worship is erected and mission work is properly planned and managed in a city where He has many precious souls. This increase gives character to present truth in that city and is well-pleasing to God. It depends on leading men standing in piety, devotion, spiritual discernment and earnest sanctified energy, with energy, tact, labor and means directed to that specific work rather than to other enterprises, while Satan opposes this growth declaring he will defeat it so there will be no triumph of truth there, working through unsanctified ambition to divert energies and means elsewhere. Bringing present truth to people of talent and influence could have resulted in many more being added.
Faithfully preaching the gospel to the poor and caring for the sick adds saved people to the church, with proclaiming God's commandments and restoring what has been broken in His law joined to mercy and compassion for suffering and sinful people. The early church proved true to the precious trust Christ left them as executors of His will to carry the treasure of eternal life to the world by preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. Soon afterward they were filled with power from on high and boldly confessed faith in the risen Saviour, and many receiving salvation were added to their number. Where a church fulfills this soul-saving duty, many who should be saved are added, as where Monterey's failure left its due increase undone.
This addition is seen when truth is presented in the simplicity of true godliness, with the sick healed, the spirit of intercession upon believers, urgent appeals made, hearts subdued and broken before the Lord, many confessing sins, doors thrown open on every side for proclaiming truth, genuine conversions made, and the voice of intercession becoming the voice of rejoicing as converts are added, the same work done in 1843 and 1844. Young men and women brought in through camp meetings and follow-up work are added as they continue steadfast in the faith. When believers renounced errors and united in the third angel's message, God blessed and increased their numbers, and many joined as the Spirit gave power to truth preached at Adventist meetings where people heard Christ's soon coming and went home praising God. When even a few faithful members remain connected with God as channels of light, God can increase their numbers, and children without God and hope may be added when parents faithfully guide and train them. Earnest cooperation after meetings could have brought more than one hundred as at Balaclava, labor reaching cities, villages, highways, byways and all classes brings increase, social meetings let new believers testify, small companies grow to more than thirty or thirteen with prosperity, daily conversions multiply the little band, renouncing errors and uniting brings blessing, a few faithful channels are used, parents train children, and courageous Sabbath observance amid difficulty grows through united counsel, prayer and lived faith as at Chaux-de-Fonds.