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For first, divers, if not all of them, were appointed by Christ to be Ministers of the Gospel, as well as the Apostles, Luke 10. and for this purpose had received the power of miracles, as well as they, vers. 17. they had received the Holy Ghost on the resurrection day, as well as they, Joh. 20. 22. compared with Luke 24. 33, 36. had conversed with Christ both before and after his resurrection as well as they; had received the promise of the Father as well as they: Nay, they were to preach to people of strange languages as well as they: and then what possible reason can be given, that they should be denied this qualification of the gift of Tongues, sitting them for that purpose, any more than the twelve?
That divers of them were Ministers, if not all, there can be no scruple, what else was become of the seventy Disciples? And that, if they must preach, they must preach to some of strange Tongues, there can be as little, since experience sheweth, Jerusalem it self so full of this variety; and since a few years will let all the Preachers loose to preach to the Gentiles as they met with occasion. Nay, we shall find this justified by the practise of certain of them, as we go along.
Secondly, It is true indeed, which is objected by some, that these words, They were all together, do come so near to the last verse of the former Chapter, which mentioneth only the twelve, that it may seem to speak of them only together at this time: yet doth both that verse and this as fully refer to the 120 in the 15 verse.
For, 1. The Evangelist doth lay that number from the very first, as the subject of his History, though his aim be more especially at the twelve Apostles: as in his history of the twelve Apostles, his History fixeth chiefly on Peter and John.
2. What should keep and separate the 108 from the company of the Apostles at this time above all others? The Text tells us they were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, abiding and continuing together, in one place, and in one Society, Chap. 1. 13, 14. and so the progress of the story giveth us assurance they were till persecution parted them, Chap. 8. and it is very strange, that on this day, above all days, the high day of Pentecost, the holy day of the Christian Sabbath, the likeliest day of expecting the promise of the Fa∣ther, that on this day they should be parted from their Society.
Thirdly, Look but upon the qualifications of the seven Deacons, how they were full of the Holy Ghost, Acts 6. 3. how Stephen was full of power, and miracles, and wisdom, and an irresistible spirit, vers. 8, 10. and how Philip was of the like qualifications, Acts 8. 6. and when, and where, and how can it be supposed that these men came by these gifts, if not upon Pentecost day, and jointly with the twelve Apostles? If it shall be answered, that it may be they received them from Christ, when he sent them to preach before his passion, as Luke 10. 17. then let it be shewed how Barnabas came by his variety of Languages, to be able to preach intelligibly wheresoever he came, if not on this day?
It being therefore not to be denied, that there were divers others besides the twelve, if not the whole hundred and twenty (which I rather think) that received the Holy Ghost in the gift of Tongues at this time, and that they were Ministers as well as the Apostles: it argueth, first, that there were divers Congregations in Jerusalem from hence forward, or else how should so many Ministers there have employment in their calling? And secondly, that those that went up and down preaching upon the dispersion by perse∣cution, Acts 8. 4. & 11. 19. were not ordinary members of the Church, or as we have used to call them, meer lay-men, but these men of the Ministerial function, and of Christs own designation for that calling.