Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Rom_10:17. It being the ordinary means which God hath appointed; the apostles themselves make use of it towards the conviction of this people. The number of the hearers is not intended to be set here, or in any other place; but either these
five thousand were such as were converted at this sermon, or rather the number converted by St. Peter’s former sermon, Act_2:14-40, were at this sermon made thus many; howsoever, the increase which God gave was very great.