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hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as you also know; Him you have crucified and put to death by the hands of wicked men. God hath raised Him up, whereof we all are witnesses. Being exalted therefore, by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath poured forth this which you see and hear^[1]. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know most assuredly ^[2] that God hath made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus, whom you have crucified.”

The words of Peter had a divine power that penetrated all hearts, and many, repenting of their sins, asked Peter and the other apostles what they ought to do^[3]. Peter said to them: “Do penance, and be baptized ^[4], every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” They received his words with joy, and, on that day, about three thousand persons were baptized.

COMMENTARY.

The Divinity of Jesus Christ. Not only did Peter call Him ‘Lord’ (i. e. God), but they supplicated Him as One who is omniscient, and knows the hearts of all men. This shows us how living and real was the belief of the first Christians in our Lord’s Divinity.

Mary is especially mentioned as being one of those who were assembled together in expectation of the coming of the Holy Ghost. It was but natural that the early Christians should hold the Mother of Jesus in the highest honour.

The Primacy of Peter. We can see that St. Peter, immediately after our Lord’s Ascension, entered on his office of visible head of the

↑ Which you see and hear. You can recognise the action of the Holy Ghost by its effects, by our courage and inspiration, and by the miracle of the gift of tongues.
↑ Most assuredly. For it is proved by His Resurrection and Ascension, and by the Descent of the Holy Ghost, that Jesus is “the Christ", i. e. the promised Messias, and “the Lord”, i. e. the Son of God, of whom David prophesied: “The Lord said to my Lord: sit Thou at My right hand & c.”
↑ They ought to do. They were confounded and horrified by the thought that they had killed the Messias, sent by God. They now addressed the apostles, whom they had despised, as “brethren”, anxiously asking them: “What shall we do, men and brethren?” i. e. what shall we do to make amends for the evil we have done, and to avert God’s judgments from us?
↑ Be baptized. Not with John’s baptism, but with the baptism instituted by Christ. By this baptism you shall receive forgiveness of your sins, and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.

[1] Which you see and hear. You can recognise the action of the Holy Ghost by its effects, by our courage and inspiration, and by the miracle of the gift of tongues.

[2] Most assuredly. For it is proved by His Resurrection and Ascension, and by the Descent of the Holy Ghost, that Jesus is “the Christ", i. e. the promised Messias, and “the Lord”, i. e. the Son of God, of whom David prophesied: “The Lord said to my Lord: sit Thou at My right hand & c.”

[3] They ought to do. They were confounded and horrified by the thought that they had killed the Messias, sent by God. They now addressed the apostles, whom they had despised, as “brethren”, anxiously asking them: “What shall we do, men and brethren?” i. e. what shall we do to make amends for the evil we have done, and to avert God’s judgments from us?

[4] Be baptized. Not with John’s baptism, but with the baptism instituted by Christ. By this baptism you shall receive forgiveness of your sins, and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.

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