Acts iv. 33.  “As many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet,” Acts iv. 34, 35, 37.  “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them,” Acts vi. 2.  “Now, when the apostles which were at Jerusalem,” Acts viii. 14.  “They determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.  And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders; and the apostles and elders came together,” Acts xv. 2, 4, 6, 22, 23; xi. 30.  And “in those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch,” Acts xi. 27.  In all which places, the multitude of apostles, elders, and prophets in this church of Jerusalem is evident.  And it is further observable, that the apostles devolved the serving of tables upon the seven deacons, that they might wholly “give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word,” Acts vi, 2; which needed not, nor would there have been full employment for the apostles, if there had not been divers congregations in that one church of Jerusalem.

Except.  ’Tis true, the apostles were for a time in Jerusalem, yet when in Judea or elsewhere any received the gospel, the apostles went abroad to erect other churches.

Ans.  Touching the apostles going abroad, there can be given but one instance, Acts viii. 14, where the whole twelve went not forth, but only two were sent, viz.  Peter and John:  but suppose it were granted, that upon some special occasions the apostles went out from Jerusalem, can it be imagined that the apostles’ ordinary abode would be at Jerusalem, to attend only one single congregation, as if that would fill all their hands with work?

Except.  The apostles were well employed when they met in an upper room, and had but one hundred and twenty for their flock, and this for forty days together; now if they stayed in Jerusalem when they had but one hundred and twenty, and yet had their hands filled with work, the presence of the apostles argues not more congregations in Jerusalem than could meet in one place for all acts of worship.

Ans. 1.  From Christ’s ascension (immediately after which they went up to the upper chamber) to the feast of Pentecost, there were but ten days, not forty; so that there is one mistake.

2.  During that time betwixt Christ’s ascension and the feast of Pentecost, (whether ten or forty days is not very material,) the apostles were especially taken up in prayer and supplication, waiting for the promise of the Spirit to qualify them for the work of the ministry:  now, because the twelve apostles, before they had received the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, did continue for a short time in Jerusalem with a small number in prayer, will it therefore follow that after they had received these extraordinary gifts, that they were bound up within the limits of one single congregation?