THE substance of the following chapters was delivered in a course of lectures in Glasgow a few years ago. The lectures were delivered from brief notes. These notes were subsequently expanded, and in some minor matters of form slightly altered, and published in The Christian Advocate. The present volume is a reprint of the articles as they appeared in that magazine.

The method of the work needs little explanation. Each point, as a rule, is as fully discussed in one place as is deemed sufficient for all after occurrences of it. For example, baptism, which is mentioned in connection with most of the conversions, is examined and discussed on its first occurrence, in Acts 2, and thereafter it is treated as understood by the reader. Of course, this does not preclude the consideration of additional information which transpires in subsequent conversions. The first discussion has chiefly to do with the meaning of the word and general import of the action, leaving further details to be dealt with in connection with the passages in which they are found.

The questions discussed at the end of some of the chapters, entitled Queries or Objections, have all come before me in my intercourse with others, most of them at the close of public lectures.

I have endeavoured to so place the things discussed that God's own teaching may be understood or better appreciated. Others must now judge how far this endeavour has been realised. The reader is cordially invited to carefully test every statement in the light of God's Word.

The geographical descriptions are drawn from Whitney's Handbook of Bible Geography, Smith's Bible Dictionary, Conybeare and Howson, The Valley of the Nile, The Treasury Bible, Alford and Farrar.

I gratefully acknowledge indebtedness to Mr C. Greig, of Manchester, who has kindly given considerable assistance in the preparation of the matter for the press. Mr L. Oliver, of Glasgow, has also rendered much help by transcribing some of the sheets and compiling the Index.

The volume is now offered to God's people to circulate widely, in order to call attention to those Scriptures that are able to open men's eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified through faith that is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

CRAIGSTON VILLA, HART STREET,

SOUTHPORT, May 1887.

Different methods of procedure - The Word of God the only source of information - Distinction between Judaism and Christianity - And between Christ's earthly ministry, and the state of things after His resurrection - The Acts of Apostles our text-book - Numerous conversions in Acts - From all classes - Under different preachers - In places widely apart - In different circumstances.

Meaning of 'Conversion' - Varied translations of the two words rendered 'convert' - One meaning belonging to both - Conversion a turning - Implying activity and responsibility on the part of the convert - A turning from wrong-doing to serve God - Involving an employment of the whole man - A suggestion to teachers of primitive Christianity.

Jerusalem - Waiting for power - Pentecost - Peter's audience - Strange phenomena - Great perplexity - Serious charge against the apostles - Brief defence - Scripture explanation - Query and reply.

Four of Peter's discourses - In Solomon's porch - Peter's speech an answer - How Peter addressed his audience - A disclaimer - An explanation - Accusations - Witnesses for Jesus - Faith in His name - Extenuation of the guilt of the Jews - Prophecy fulfilled - Comparison of commands and promises given on two occasions - The second advent - Jesus before preached and appointed - Times of restoration - The Prophet like Moses - Fatal consequence of neglecting the message of the God-sent Prophet -The promise to Abraham fulfilled in the sending of Jesus -Summary of the Pentecost address and the one in Solomon's porch - Two addresses before the rulers - Jesus Christ the all-absorbing theme of discourse - Lessons.

Dispersion of the disciples - Samaria - The Samaritans - Philip - His preaching - His miracles - Simon the sorcerer - His power over the Samaritans - Greater power of the truth - Belief and faith one - What faith is - Its sphere - Faith rests upon testimony - Derives its value from the things believed - Leads to action - Baptism of women - Baptism into a name - Similarity of action in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and in Samaria - Queries and replies.

Philip sent in the direction of Gaza - Why was Philip sent? - Why did not the angel or the Spirit speak to the eunuch? - Whence the eunuch came - He was a worshipper of God - A thoughtful student - Unassuming - Seeking instruction - Obedient - A contrast to many now - Why baptism is now slighted - What the Ethiopian was reading - Summary of the passage - Parting confirmation - Queries and replies.

Subjects of preaching - Different words translated 'preach' - Other words descriptive of the same work - Difference between primitive and modern preaching - How Christians should act in the use of 'preach.'

The young man Saul - Persecution by him - Damascus - A vision from heaven - Three days' anxiety - Ananias - Calling on the name of the Lord - Recapitulation of conditions of salvation - Apparent discrepancies - Queries and replies.

Prominence of Peter - Were the saints at Lydda Christians? - Lydda - The cure of Eneas - Effect of the cure throughout Sharon - Much in little - Joppa - Tabitha - Restoration to life - Its influence - Absence of preaching and teaching - Similarity of account of Saul at Paphos - Dissimilarity - The Saviour's promise of miracle power - New Testament words for miracles - Miracles confirmatory of teaching - Ought not Christians to have the power to work miracles still?

Cesarea - Character of Cornelius - Means employed to bring Cornelius and Peter face to face - Peter's increase of knowledge - The known word - What Peter added - Similarity to Peter's Pentecost address - Some points additional - Pouring out of the Holy Spirit -The possession of the Holy Spirit an argument in favour of being baptised in water - Farewell to Peter - Objections considered.

Antioch - Who were the Grecians? - What is the date of the preaching to the Greeks in Antioch? - The hand of the Lord - Many conversions - Barnabas - Seeing the grace of God - Saul brought to Antioch - A year's teaching - Preparation for wider usefulness.

From Antioch in Syria to Antioch in Pisidia - Paul's audience in Antioch of Pisidia - Summary of God's dealings with the Jews from the Exodus until David - John the Baptist's preaching and testimony - Treatment of Jesus by the Jews - His resurrection - Witnesses and proof of the resurrection - Salvation - How obtained - Warning - Brief comparison of addresses of Stephen, Peter, and Paul - Paul's hearers wanting to hear more - Both Jews and proselytes interested - Almost the whole city assembled - Jealousy of the Jews - Turning to the Gentiles - Glorifying the word - "Ordained to eternal life" - Two parties - The Word widely published - Persecution by devout and honourable women - Shaking off the dust of the feet - Filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit - Query and reply.

Iconium - Speaking in the Synagogue - Result - Opposition - Protracted effort - The Lord's testimony - The multitude divided - The missionaries again forced to flee - Lycaonia - Lystra - Good news proclaimed - A cripple cured - Attempt to worship the apostles - The sacrifice stopped - The living God proclaimed - Paul stoned - Resuscitation and departure - Derbe - Further preaching - Many taught - Return journey - Importance of speech.

Divine guidance - Philippi - A colony - A prayer meeting - One of the worshippers - heard - Had her heart opened - How opened - Attended to the things spoken - Was baptised - Hospitality - Baptism of her household - A catechism for infant sprinklers.

New experiences - The actors in Philippi - A spirit of Python - Slave-masters - Magistrates - Paul sore troubled - Joy and love in a prison - The cause of joy in suffering - The jailor - A contrast - Causes of the jailor's conversion - The word spoken to him - What must I do to be saved? - An approved question.

Macedonia - Thessalonica - The Thessalonians - The subject of Paul's discourse - The effect of three weeks' arguing - Work of the speakers - Conduct of the converts - Assault versus argument - Berea - Nobility of the Bereans - Athens - Paul conducted - His spirit stirred - Arguing - On the Areopagus - The unknown God - Paul's address - Manner - Derision of the Athenians - Was Paul's work in Athens a failure? - Brief notice of the Thessalonian, Berean, and Athenian converts - Paul's different methods - The Christians' Textbook.

Five and a half years' evangelisation - Corinth - Paul's labours in Corinth - The fruit of his labour - Conversion always the same - Why Paul baptised so few in Corinth - Unreasonable and evil men - Paul's fourth visit to Jerusalem - Apollos - Ephesus - Rebaptism - In the synagogue - The school of Tyrannus - Special miracles - Baffled exorcists - Triumph of a name - Magic on the wane - Growth of the Word - Speech by Demetrius - Ephesus in an uproar - Speech of the town clerk - Rome - Paul brought to Rome a prisoner - In conference with the Jews - Expounding and warning - Two years at home.

Many converts at first - Few now - What may reasonably be expected - Whose is the work of conversion? - The limits of hindrances to conversion - God supremely in earnest about the conversion of all - Christians hindering conversion - Inadequate teaching - Supreme authority of God's Word - Summary for inquirers.