Angels if they were, they appear not to have been very knowing ones. Sent, for the purpose of giving information,--and such information, nothing of that which was known to all those, to whom they came to give it,--nothing, if they themselves are to be believed, was known to them. Addressing themselves to the company--the company whom Jesus had but that moment left,--"Whom saw ye going up," say they, ver. 11, "into heaven"? Then comes the information, which Jesus, on his departure, Jesus, we are expected to believe, has not thought fit, or else had forgot, to give. "This same Jesus," say they, ver. 11, "which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Here we have the information and--they to whom it was given,--what can they have been the better for it?--"Shall so come." Yes: but when and where, and to what end, and what to do? points these, as to all which, the information is altogether mute. One other proof is yet behind. What has been seen as yet is in the first chapter. The tenth of his eight and twenty chapters is not finished, where, speaking in agreement with Saint Luke, he now disagrees with himself. On this occasion, it is by the mouth of Peter that he speaks. "God," he makes Peter say, Acts 10:41, "God showed him," Jesus, "openly."--Showed him, let anybody ask, and to whom? "Not," says he, "to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead." Thus again it is, that for any men-strangers, not a particle of room is left. But, for angels, considering the materials they are made of, no quantity of room can be insufficient: therefore, once more, nothing can these men have been but angels. FOOTNOTES: [79] As to the word _passion_, that by this word could not have been meant the same event as that denoted by the word _resurrection_, cannot but be acknowledged. But, with regard to the alleged inconsistency, this distinction will not be found to make any difference: for, as will be seen, it is not till after his resurrection, that, by Saint Luke, Jesus is represented as having begun to show himself.