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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. Therefore, let  all  the  house  of  Israel know most  assuredly 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. Peter said  to  them: “Do penance, and be  baptized,  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.

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