Evangelism #01: The Manual of Evangelism — Ernest C. Reisinger

Such a wonderful name. Not only that, I'm not only delighted to have part in this historical event, but I've been encouraged to hear the notes of reformed things and the return to, efforts to return to some of our foundations and some of our moorings.

Twenty years ago there wouldn't have been such a conference. In fact, if ten years ago there wouldn't have been many conferences. And some of us who've been in this battle a long time and at times felt very lonely, you can appreciate what this does for our hearts.

In my own denomination, there is a real revival of reformed things and I think that there's several good factors, there are several conferences similar to this that go on now. I think a great deal of it is because of sound literature and that's why I encourage preachers to encourage their congregation and their people to use good sound literature.

It can go where you can't go, it can say it better than you can, and you can't argue back with a book so much. So I encourage you to do that. Last year in Memphis we had our first, what we call, Southern Baptist Founders Conference.

Okay, is that better now? Thank you. Very well. We had our first, what we call, Southern Baptist Founders Conference and we had men from twenty states there and a lot of them thought they were alone about these things and some of them were very discouraged, but it was a very encouraging thing.

Well, one of the things I like about this conference, many things, but one of them is the fine Catholic spirit that I sensed last night and the sobriety of the meetings. It wasn't like a three-ring religious circus.

It's good to see an independent church and a Presbyterian church and a Southern Baptist church joined together in a common effort for these great truths that we hold dear to our hearts. And so I want you to know that I hope that Dr. Packer and I can be as much encouragement to you as you are to us to know that such things go on.

Then of course it's a joy to be with Dr. Packer again. He's really one of my mentors. In fact, as far as the sovereignty of God and evangelism, he is my mentor. I want to say a little word about his book today.

He won't get mad at me for this. We've known each other and been in conferences together for, I don't know, 15 years about. But this little book has been my greatest help in this area of the sovereignty of God and evangelism.

And I think so much of it, and I say this not to brag, but I have given out personally, distributed over 3 ,000 copies of that book. Now that ought to tell you that I think a great deal of it. I thought sure that that would be the book of his that had had the largest distribution.

It's over a quarter of a million now. And yesterday, assuming that this is the book that had the largest distribution, he tells me that his other book, Knowing God, is over a half a million. Well, that's encouraging.

That means a half a million people have that book, and it's on their shelf in some cases, but sometimes they pull those books down from the shelf. And some people do read them, other people just collect them.

I suppose that, influentially, Dr. Packer and Martin Lloyd-Jones and Professor Murray, of the living men that I've met while they were alive and I was alive, I suppose that those three men have had the most influence on my life of living men.

Now, of course, some of those who are dead and yet speak have had some influence on my life. Like, you know, I have a battery of Johns, John Calvin, John Owen, John Bunyan, and I press things by my battery of Johns.

Luke 24 and the Doctrinal Content of Evangelism

They've had a great influence too. Before we turn to the sacred manual of evangelism, I want to look for a moment at passages that the pastor of this church read last night. It was almost like he was reading the scripture for me today because it's from Luke that I want to use as a little starting point that we want to get to Acts 1 -8, which is the last verse he read in the responsive reading.

And before we look to that, I want to look to what our Lord gives his disciples doctrinally, where he gives them the doctrinal content of the message of evangelism. The reason I do this is because biblical doctrine is the foundation of all biblical evangelism, all true evangelism, just as doctrine is the foundation of Christian experience and the foundation of Christian worship and the foundation of Christian behavior and the foundation for Christian service.

Doctrine is the foundation that we build the house on. But it's not the house. It's the foundation. And so if you would turn to Luke chapter 24 just for a second. That's not our text today. We want to move into Acts because that's our assigned subject.

But as a background for Acts, I'd like you to turn to Luke chapter 24, verses 46 -48. Notice in the 48th verse, it tells us we are witnesses. We are witnesses. There are three, and of course if we want to know, it says we are witnesses of these things.

Well, we have to ask ourselves what things are we, as Luke's talking about. Well, we have to back up to see what things he was actually talking about. And that means we have to back up from verse 48, where he says you're witnesses, back to verse 46 and 47.

And there are three areas of biblical doctrine found in these two verses that are vital, vital ingredients in the message of evangelism. And you'll see the first area of truth hinges around the sufferings of Christ.

It behooves Christ to suffer. That immediately takes us to the cross. And the message, therefore, includes all the doctrines that hinge on the sufferings of Christ. That is, the atonement, its design and its accomplishment and its application.

That's one area of doctrinal content. And then you'll notice in the same verse it says, and to rise again from the dead. That's the doctrine about, of course, the resurrection. The message of evangelism, therefore, includes what we're meant to witness about, includes all those truths that hinge on the resurrection.

Namely, his exaltation to a throne, his lordship. He's referred to as Lord, Lord Jesus, or the Lord Jesus Christ, 110 times in the Book of Acts alone. So that was a vital part of the evangelistic message.

And then verse 47, that ingredient that's almost left out of much evangelism, it says, and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among all nations. Our Lord was very clear when he says you're witnesses of these things.

He was very clear and distinct and precise what those things were. Well, if you would follow the New Testament and follow the Book of Acts, you'll find that they carried out, that you'll find in those messages, you'll find these ingredients, maybe not in the same word, but you'll see that they were obedient to the Lord.

One of the weaknesses of modern evangelism is in its doctrinal content of the message. Well, in Luke, Christ tells them what they're meant to be witnesses. They're meant to be witnesses. In Acts, they are brought to it.

They are brought to it. At the end of Luke's gospel, where I've just referred, and at the beginning of Acts, our Lord is setting out his program for evangelizing the world. And Acts 1 -8 is the key passage to the Book of Acts.

The rest of the Book of Acts is all about how they went about carrying out those words where he tells them that they shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon them and they shall be witnesses in Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Well, the Book of Acts is all about carrying that out. Church history is all about carrying that out. And believe it or not, your very conversion could be traced back to Acts 1 -8. Somebody was a witness to somebody else and somebody else and somebody, and finally it got to you.

This church here, in this spot, could trace its way back to Acts 1 -8. This conference, what we're here, what we're concerned about these days, is all about we're still trying in some way to obey Jesus in carrying out that great command.

Now, Acts 1 -8 is a missionary text. You've probably heard many, many, many missionary sermons on that text. And I might say that evangelism is not all that they did, but it's something they always did.

Defining Evangelism and Its Reformed Context

It's something they always did. And I believe the church that does not evangelize will fossilize and become useless to Christ and to the world. Well, before I proceed, I want to give a very clear, or say a very clear word, what I mean when I use the word evangelism and evangelize.

You know, when I first came into that exalted system of Pauline theology, nicknamed Calvinism, when I first came into that and somebody would ask me, Are you a Calvinist? My eyes would light up and I'd smile and I'd say, Yes.

Well, then I made a great discovery. The discovery I made was this, that I would say yes to their definition. And so anymore, when they say, Are you a Calvinist? I say, You tell me what that is and then I'll answer your question.

And when they tell me, I say, No, I'm not that. In fact, I think I preached in my church three years before I ever mentioned the word Calvinist from the pulpit. But had you been a Calvinist, you would have known it from the first sermon on.

But anyhow, I want to tell you what I mean when I say evangelism. So you might have one kind of definition in your mind and I might have something else in my mind. So throughout these three times when it's my privilege to try to address you, I want you to know what I mean when I say evangelism.

And I'm going to take the definition from this little book because it's all-inclusive. It includes the work of the Spirit and effectual calling. It includes the church. It's the most comprehensive and I have borrowed it many times.

Dr. Packer, I have used it many times and I'm going to use it again this morning because I have not found in 40 years a better definition. This is it. I wonder if I could have a glass of water. It doesn't often happen, but if I could find a little water, it would be helpful.

It's very seldom that that ever happens. Well, let me give you this definition. To present Jesus Christ to sinful men in order that through the power of the Holy Spirit. See the doctrinal context? Through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Not manipulation, not gadgets, not evangelistic tricks. Through the power of the Holy Spirit. They may come to put their trust in God through Him. To receive Him as their Savior and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His church.

Acts as the Sacred Manual of Evangelism

He didn't miss anything in that definition. Well, since my assignment is the Book of Acts, the sacred manual of evangelism, I want to say a word about the Book of Acts this morning. At the outset, I've spent a great deal of time in the Book of Acts.

In fact, as I've read it through standing on my feet by a window straight away. And if you've never read the Book of Acts at one sitting or one standing, if you get a little drowsy, let me recommend that you do that sometimes.

Especially you preachers. Stand up or if you get sleepy, stand up and read the Book of Acts straight away. Just get a panoramic view of it. It will benefit you. John Calvin said that the things Luke sets down here for our instruction are great things and of extraordinary benefit.

Thank you so much. This doesn't often happen. I think I must be nervous. I've preached a lot of times in 40 years, but every time is like the first time. Let me say a word about the Book of Acts. Luke did not give it a title at all.

Part of like a two-volume set. Because he said at the very first verse what Jesus began to do. Now he's going to tell them what Jesus did do. So it's like two parts of one book almost. The King James, those of you who have it, call it the Acts of the Apostle.

The American Standard just says Acts. The New American Standard just says Acts. The American Standard says The Acts. And the NIV just says Acts. And as far as I can learn, the old manuscripts just said Acts.

The book has been called by many names. It's obvious more than the Acts of the Apostles like the King James has it because there's only four apostles mentioned in the whole book and two of those are hardly mentioned, that is James and John, except in the beginning where it gives the list of the apostles.

But after it gives that first list, only four apostles are mentioned and James and John are barely mentioned. About three-sixths of this book is concerning Paul and his evangelistic ministry and efforts and all the problems that accompany that.

About two-sixths has to do with Peter for the same purposes. And then about one-sixth is devoted to such men as Barnabas, Silas, Stephen, Philip, and so on. I say the book has been called by many names, not only by the Bible translators, but many other names.

Barnes in his commentary calls it the Gospel of the Spirit. But that's hardly appropriate because after chapter 22, verse 11, the Spirit is only mentioned one time and that's when Paul refers to that, what he quotes from Isaiah, that passage in the last chapter where he said, Well spoke the Holy Ghost through Isaiah the prophet.

So the last eight chapters of Acts, or seven chapters of Acts, the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. One of the great Greek fathers, Cossossus, said, he called it this, the demonstration of the resurrection.

Luther called it a commentary on Paul's epistles. Eichhorn called it a history of missions propagating Christianity. Another great church historian called it a biographical description of the work of Peter and Paul.

Others have called it the unfinished history of the Christian church of the first century. Another commentary called it the Acts of God. The Acts of God. Well, I kind of like the idea of just Acts because it is Acts of God the Father.

And it is the Acts of Jesus doing his work. There's many references to where Jesus speaks. I was going to give some of them, but I think for time's sake I won't. And it is not only Acts of God the Father, not only Acts of God the Son, but it's the Acts of the Holy Spirit.

And it's the Acts of the apostles and others. So I think if I wanted to depart from just Acts, I think the best title I found was from, was Dr. Lewis Johnson who gives it this title. He said it's the Acts of the risen Lord which he did through his followers in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I believe that's pretty accurate. So I'll leave that name to you. The book of Acts is a living history. Action is packed. It's a packed account which throbs with the heartbeat of a young church seeking to obey the command of the Lord to take his gospel to the ends of the earth.

And thank God tonight, this morning, as weak as we seem, there are thousands and thousands and thousands all over the world still trying, trying in some way, weakly sometimes and inconsistently sometimes, but men and women are still trying to obey.

Your very presence at a conference with this title is an indication that down in your heart there is some desire to obey our risen Lord. In Acts we see the duties were enjoined not merely to ministers or the prominent members of the Christian church but to the entire body.

The members differ in each other. We differ in office, we differ in gifts, we differ in qualifications as much as the head differs from the foot. Just like the local church, just like this local church, all Christians are urged to be co-workers with God, to have the Spirit of Christ to spread his truth in the earth.

The Whole Church as an Evangelistic Witness

Now we see the church in Acts as an army of soldiers fighting and fighting, I mean, fighting against the enemies of Christ. Truly we see them working together in Christ's mission. That's something that will stick out to you in a prominent way if you read it at one shot.

They are joined and joined to work while it is called day to be diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. The main principal activity was not gathering together at Sunday morning at 11 o 'clock and say a few prayers and sing a few hymns and hear a Bible exposition.

No, it was more than that. Read the book of Acts and you'll see activity. Of course that activity did begin in worship because the two main functions of the Christian church is we are a body of worshipers and a body of witnesses and I think that order is important.

Usually when people start to preach from Matthew, they usually preach what they call the Great Commission, but they don't begin with verse 17 where it says, and it was after that that they talked about witnessing, not talked about witnessing before verse 17 said they worshipped him.

Well, their activity began in worship, but included worship. Sure, but their main activity after worship appears in the midst of their persecution when they were scattered abroad. What was their activity?

Well, Acts 8 chapter 4 tells us what their activity was. They, therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the words. I have a book in my library called Reformed Evangelism. It's by 12 or 15 Christian Reformed men.

Each one wrote a different chapter. I'd like to read you what two men said, but I think I'll limit it to one. Reverend Dick H. Walker said this about theirs. He said, For we read that they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

They did not wait until a preacher came from a distance to hold a series of meetings for them, but every Christian became a preacher, a proclaimer of the good news of salvation of Jesus Christ. He went on to say,.

And then he said, Some Christians who make so much of our devotions to the scriptures as the soul's sufficient guide should have forgotten so far behind, and we've gotten so far behind on this fundamental matter of aggressive witness.

We must confess that it's not easy to grow. We must confess that it is so easy, rather, to grow indifferent toward the lost multitudes around us. This is from a Christian Reformed man. It is so easy to think only of our selfish selves and our children and lose our missionary fervor.

Now, I believe with all my heart that that's a true statement. The church, the New Testament church, everyone, everywhere, every day, Spurgeon preached a great sermon on this Acts 8 .4, and the title of the sermon was, All Addicts.

You can preach it next week in your congregation. He preaches, All Addicts. He preached, All Addicts. Dr. Kennedy, one of my friends near me in Florida, our church is almost like in a shadow. His people, he built his church on this principle.

He dedicated his book of evangelism, and when he dedicated that book, he said this, to the hundreds of laymen and laywomen at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church who have faithfully over the years put into practice the principle methods of this program.

The program was founded, his program was founded on that text of scripture, Acts 8 .4, therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Now, we may not be able to find all of Dr. Kennedy's program in this verse, at least I can't, or in the New Testament either, but nevertheless, it's something to take note of in passing.

The Power of the Gospel in Hostile Circumstances

We have exemplified in the early church the power of the gospel to triumph over all circumstances and conditions. I think in some ways, the book of Acts is kind of a commentary on Romans 1 .16. And you know, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation.

And I believe the book of Acts is somewhat a commentary on that. The power of God staying in action. And their contemporary scene was not too much different than ours as far as the morality that we hear about.

I read one historian describing this, describing the period of time of the book of Acts, and this is what he said, and I'm going to give you the quote. He said, The spread of the gospel began in the age of universal corruption.

One side of the idolatry reigned supremely. Licentiousness prevailed. Murders and suicides were frequent. The power of wealth of the state were in just a few hands. The mass of the people were without means, without learning, without protection, and a large part was held in slavery.

Yet in the midst of all these vices, without a Bible in the hands of the people, without a Sabbath, without a church headed us, against all that, against all of that, the gospel came in power and made converts and conquests.

They had no external, influential or prestigious aid. Now, the disciples received no assistance from the government or establishment of any other institution. Their literature, the schools, the influence of society were against them, and yet the power of God, which I hope to talk somewhat about in the next session, the power of God made them conquerors, and we have recorded in the book of Acts the results of the power of the gospel.

If the gospel had such power then, we might ask, why not now? Why not now? It's very relevant to the contemporary scene. People say the gospel is not relevant. The gospel is relevant as long as that funeral parlor is open, as long as there's a graveyard open, as long as men die, as long as people see the gospel as very, very relevant.

As I look at my congregation, I see not 3 ,000 at Pentecost, not even 2 ,000, not even 1 ,000, but as I look at my own congregation, some of you look at your congregation, we see there, sitting before us, some of the results of the power of the gospel.

My congregation, I can look out and see liars that were converted, drug addicts, drunks, men converted from the cults. I look out and I can see 20, 20, at least 20 men and women and young men that have been converted and rescued from the ritual and rubble of Rome.

The gospel still has power. Now in studying the book of Acts, to our day, therefore, and therefore it's very relevant, speaks of the spirit of devotion, shows us their love for public worship, and that should inspire us.

We learn the importance of the unity of the spirit, that is, unity in diversity. The only kind of true unity there is are people who try to have unity without unity in diversity. They always fail. But there is unity in diversity, and we see that in the book of Acts.

We will learn the place and importance of the organization that we call the church. We will see the best examples of the Christian church in action, in respect to evangelism, witnessing, witnessing, working together, as Spurgeon said, all at it.

And we will see the best examples of the power of the gospel to triumph over circumstances and conditions. Yes, it's power, it's power to convert the chief of sinners. And therefore, young preacher, you should not be discouraged about your situation.

You weren't in Jerusalem, at least. Well, all of this should encourage us and drive us on, drive us on to what Walter said, everyone, every day, everywhere. You know, when I read the book of Acts, I used to be a paper boy.

I used to sell papers. Now, kids don't need any money anymore, so there's no more paper boys much. But parents just dish it out and ruin them. But I used to sell papers, and if you were in the city or in a railroad station like I was, you would hear something like this.

Now, some of you have some gray hair like I have. You can remember this when you'd be in the city. Extra, extra, extra, read all about it. John Villager murdered in Chicago. Extra, extra, read all about it.

Bank robbed, bank robbed in Pittsburgh and going on. Extra, extra, read all about it. I feel like running to my congregation and saying, extra, extra, extra, read all about it, read all about it. I say, extra, extra, read all about it.

Well, I don't go. Jesus is doing new things, new things, new things. Well, I don't do that, but that's what I'd like to do. Read all about it, read all about it. Jesus continues to speak. Jesus continues to cook and read all about it in the book of Acts.

The Divine Method and Message of Evangelism

Well, I hope this will whet your appetite. Now, the question I want to ask this morning, is there any kind of a divine method that we can find in the book of Acts in respect to evangelism? We have here the inspired, inspired sacred manual for evangelism.

And you know, I'm still in hopes that someday somebody will pick up the book of Acts and read it. Yeah, I'm looking for that day. And believe it and try to incorporate. When Peter finishes his sermon, see what he did.

He, the hearer, studied the book of Acts. You'll have a different kind of evangelism than what you mostly know about. Now, their messages are recorded. And therefore, their methods are recorded. The purest effect of evangelism, the purest effect is when there is that dynamic union between the doctrines of grace with warm, heavenly zeal.

Now, that's a rare combination. When good biblical theology takes for its guiding text, when it takes its guiding text from the parting words of our Lord, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.

I think it's in Dr. Packer's book where he said the theologians should be our evangelists and our evangelists should be our theologians. But when you have that unique combination where the, I say, dynamic union of the doctrines of grace with warm, heavenly zeal, I tell you, you're on the way to have a real church.

Paul's Pattern: Teaching Publicly and House to House

You're on the way to be the part of a real church. Well, I'd like you to turn to the Divine Manual now and I wanted to read you from a passage. We're going to look about their method and I'm going to ask you in a few minutes to take your Bible in hand because I want you to follow the pattern.

Our pattern, in Timothy it says Paul is a pattern. How be it for this cause, he said, I obtain mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering for a pattern to them that should hereafter follow.

Now, if he's our pattern, we ought to look at that pattern. If you look at Acts chapter 20, verses 19 to 20, you'll find he's leaving the elders of Ephesus and he's giving an account of his ministry among them for some three years.

And he tells them how he appeals to his conduct. But then he said, I've taught you. Notice in verse 20. Now, we're looking at his method now. What did he do? In verse 20 he says, I have taught you. Where?

In two places. Publicly and house to house. You see, the book of Acts is a few insignificant people who took Jesus seriously in worship and serious in witness. And I say again, no money, no church politics, no political influence, no influential people, no institutions, no facilities.

They had a command of the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord and that was their only two weapons. Prayer for the Spirit and the command of the Lord to go. Well, we want to look at this sacred history. And I want you to look carefully and I want you to follow in your Bibles.

The book of Acts opens where our Lord goes back to heaven and gives his command. But the very next thing after our Lord's gone, we don't read very far. You get to chapter 1, verse 14, and you'll find that they had a prayer meeting.

And those who have the NIV, you'll see it was continually. It wasn't like they had one prayer meeting. The Word continually is there. So it started in a prayer meeting praying for God's Spirit and God's power.

But they did not pray for 20 years, Oh, Lord, make me a witness. You know, I'm in a prayer meeting and somebody prays, Oh, Lord, make me a witness. I feel like tapping them on the back and saying, Hey, buddy, you don't have to pray for that.

He already did make you a witness. You get about it. He already made you a witness. You don't have to say, Lord, make me a witness. He's already done it. They didn't pray for 20 years and say, Lord, make me a witness and never witnessed anybody in all their life.

The Bible teaches that everyone who's called into the benefits and the fellowship of the gospel is also called into defense and proclamation of the gospel. And by that, I do not mean that everyone is called into actual verbal confrontation with sinners in defense and proclamation of the gospel.

Not verbal. Just as everyone is not called to be a preacher, everyone is not called to be a missionary. But as part of Christ's church, everyone is called to the defense and the proclamation of the gospel because it's the mission of the church which we'll hear about later.

I know there's some little old ladies in my church and some people who just do not have that that kind of gift that they can run up and talk to people and give in a verbal confrontation. But they certainly are proper makers of the gospel other ways and they help as part of the Christian church in our mission.

You see, in the book of Acts, you'll learn they had a divine message. It was the gospel. You'll see that they had a divine command to spread that gospel. And you'll see that they were given a divine promise, the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, we can learn their message, as I said a moment ago, from their sermons that are recorded. Dr. Becker referred last night to Acts 2, the first Christian sermon. Study that sermon. Acts 3, verse 10.

Study Stephen's sermon, Acts 7. Study Philip dealing with the Ethiopian treasure. Study Paul's sermon in Acts 13 and Acts 17. And you'll get some idea of their method and their message. You'll get their message.

But what about their method? Well, it's there also. And I want you to please follow me. Today we have 10 ,000 methods. And I have to sit back almost and I don't laugh at these preachers. Some of these young preachers, every time a new method of evangelism comes along that works in some other church, they want to incorporate that system or that method.

Oh, it works over there. Oh, my. 10 ,000 methods. And you've tried some of them. You've tried some of them. But what do they do in the book of Acts? I said, first of all, they worship the Lord. Matthew 28, verse 17.

That precedes the Great Commission, as we call it. Secondly, in Acts 1 .14, they prayed. And you will find by studying these sermons that they had confidence in the Holy Scriptures. In that first sermon, in Peter's sermon, in Acts 2, two great long passages of Old Testament Scripture are quoted.

One from Joel and one from the Psalms. They had confidence in the Holy Scriptures. Paul's continual appeal to the apostles. Prayer, worship, preaching, and praise. That's what you'll find. But don't miss their method.

Going Where the Unconverted Are

There must be someone to witness to. If we're called to be witnesses, there has to be someone to witness to. Well, where do they find them? Where do we find those people? One of the prominent words in the book of Acts is, Go.

Go. Now, follow along. We're going to look carefully at their method. You just turn the leafs over in your Bible, because I'm going to go pretty fast. Acts 2 .46, it says, house to house. You've got to contact the unconverted.

Let's look at some of these results. Don't be afraid of numbers. You know, we have two extremes. We have these people who are drunk with statistics. They're in the numbers racket. And then we've got these over-pious people who say, Well, I'm not interested in numbers.

I am. I wish this church were full. I wish that was full up there right now. I'm interested in numbers, and I'm not too pious. Well, I'm not interested in numbers. You better be interested in numbers.

I want you to look at Acts chapter 2, verse 41. It says three. Well, first of all, in chapter 1, verse 15, it said there was 120, about. Well, how'd they know there was 120? Well, they must have counted them.

Or else the Bible isn't true. You know, we read on in Acts chapter 2, verse 41. It says there was 3 ,000. Well, how'd they know there was 3 ,000? Somebody must have taken some kind of account. Well, how'd they know?

They counted them. Acts 2 .47, it says, and I like this word, they added. They added. I'm going fast now. Acts chapter 4, verse 4. 5 ,000. The last count was 3 ,120. Now they add 1 ,860 more. And they're still in town.

They're still in Jerusalem. I read in Acts chapter 4, verse 32. Now they have a multitude. Don't you like that word? A multitude. And then I read in Acts chapter 6, verse 1, where it says multiplied. Multiplied.

I read in Acts chapter 6, verse 7. Multiplied greatly. That's better yet. And they're still in town. Still in town. And let me tell you something. Jerusalem was a tough place. I have these people tell me, oh, I live in a predominantly Roman Catholic area.

It's tough to build a church. Well, is it? Well, this was Jerusalem. And they had religion. And they had plenty of it. Everybody's aunt and uncle and cousin and grandmother was a Jew. But they needed to be converted.