the acts of the apostles-第9章

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and　the　message　He　had　given　His　servants　to　declare。　Every　day；　in　their
refusal　to　repent；　the　Jewish　leaders　took　up　their　rebellion　afresh；
preparing　to　reap　that　which　they　had　sown。

The　wrath　of　God　is　not　declared　against　unrepentant　sinners　merely　because
of　the　sins　they　have　committed；　but　because；　when　called　to　repent；　they
choose　to　continue　in　resistance；　repeating　the　sins　of　the　past　in　defiance
of　the　light　given　them。　If　the　Jewish　leaders　had　submitted　to　the
convicting　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　they　would　have　been　pardoned；　but　they
were　determined　not　to　yield。　In　the　same　way；　the　sinner；　by　continued
resistance；　places　himself　where　the　Holy　Spirit　cannot　influence　him。

On　the　day　following　the　healing　of　the　cripple；　Annas　and　Caiaphas；　with
the　other　dignitaries　of　the　temple；　met　together　for　the　trial；　and　the
prisoners　were　brought　before　them。　In　that　very　room　and　before　some　of
those　very　men；　Peter　had　shamefully　denied　his　Lord。　This　came　distinctly
to　his　mind　as　he　appeared　for　his　own　trial。　He　now　had　an　opportunity　of
redeeming　his　cowardice。

Those　present　who　remembered　the　part　that　Peter　had

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acted　at　the　trial　of　his　Master；　flattered　themselves　that　he　could　now　be
intimidated　by　the　threat　of　imprisonment　and　death。　But　the　Peter　who
denied　Christ　in　the　hour　of　His　greatest　need　was　impulsive　and
self…confident；　differing　widely　from　the　Peter　who　was　brought　before　the
Sanhedrin　for　examination。　Since　his　fall　he　had　been　converted。　He　was　no
longer　proud　and　boastful；　but　modest　and　self…distrustful。　He　was　filled
with　the　Holy　Spirit；　and　by　the　help　of　this　power　he　was　resolved　to
remove　the　stain　of　his　apostasy　by　honoring　the　name　he　had　once　disowned。

Hitherto　the　priests　had　avoided　mentioning　the　crucifixion　or　the
resurrection　of　Jesus。　But　now；　in　fulfillment　of　their　purpose；　they　were
forced　to　inquire　of　the　accused　how　the　cure　of　the　impotent　man　had　been
accomplished。　〃By　what　power；　or　by　what　name；　have　ye　done　this？〃　they
asked。

With　holy　boldness　and　in　the　power　of　the　Spirit　Peter　fearlessly　declared：
〃Be　it　known　unto　you　all；　and　to　all　the　people　of　Israel；　that　by　the　name
of　Jesus　Christ　of　Nazareth；　whom　ye　crucified；　whom　God　raised　from　the
dead；　even　by　Him　doth　this　man　stand　here　before　you　whole。　This　is　the
stone　which　was　set　at　nought　of　you　builders；　which　is　become　the　head　of
the　corner。　Neither　is　there　salvation　in　any　other：　for　there　is　none　other
name　under　heaven　given　among　men；　whereby　we　must　be　saved。〃

This　courageous　defense　appalled　the　Jewish　leaders。　They　had　supposed　that
the　disciples　would　be　overcome　with　fear　and　confusion　when　brought　before
the　Sanhedrin。

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But；　instead；　these　witnesses　spoke　as　Christ　had　spoken；　with　a　convincing
power　that　silenced　their　adversaries。　There　was　no　trace　of　fear　in　Peter's
voice　as　he　declared　of　Christ；　〃This　is　the　stone　which　was　set　at　nought
of　you　builders；　which　is　become　the　head　of　the　corner。〃

Peter　here　used　a　figure　of　speech　familiar　to　the　priests。　The　prophets　had
spoken　of　the　rejected　stone；　and　Christ　Himself；　speaking　on　one　occasion
to　the　priests　and　elders；　said：　〃Did　ye　never　read　in　the　Scriptures；　The
stone　which　the　builders　rejected；　the　same　is　become　the　head　of　the
corner：　this　is　the　Lord's　doing；　and　it　is　marvelous　in　our　eyes？　Therefore
say　I　unto　you；　The　kingdom　of　God　shall　be　taken　from　you；　and　given　to　a
nation　bringing　forth　the　fruits　thereof。　And　whosoever　shall　fall　on　this
stone　shall　be　broken：　but　on　whomsoever　it　shall　fall；　it　will　grind　him　to
powder。〃　Matthew　21：42…44。

As　the　priests　listened　to　the　apostles'　fearless　words；　〃they　took
knowledge　of　them；　that　they　had　been　with　Jesus。〃

Of　the　disciples　after　the　transfiguration　of　Christ　it　is　written　that　at
the　close　of　that　wonderful　scene　〃they　saw　no　man；　save　Jesus　only。〃
Matthew　17：8。　〃Jesus　only〃　in　these　words　is　contained　the　secret　of　the
life　and　power　that　marked　the　history　of　the　early　church。　When　the
disciples　first　heard　the　words　of　Christ；　they　felt　their　need　of　Him。　They
sought；　they　found；　they　followed　Him。　They　were　with　Him　in　the　temple；　at
the　table；　on　the　mountainside；　in　the　field。　They　were　as　pupils　with　a
teacher；　daily　receiving　from　Him　lessons　of　eternal　truth。

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After　the　Saviour's　ascension；　the　sense　of　the　divine　presence；　full　of
love　and　light；　was　still　with　them。　It　was　a　personal　presence。　Jesus；　the
Saviour；　who　had　walked　and　talked　and　prayed　with　them；　who　had　spoken　hope
and　comfort　to　their　hearts；　had；　while　the　message　of　peace　was　upon　His
lips；　been　taken　from　them　into　heaven。　As　the　chariot　of　angels　received
Him；　His　words　had　come　to　them；　〃Lo；　I　am　with　you　alway；　even　unto　the
end。〃　Matthew　28：20。　He　had　ascended　to　heaven　in　the　form　of　humanity。　They
knew　that　He　was　before　the　throne　of　God；　their　Friend　and　Saviour　still；
that　His　sympathies　were　unchanged；　that　He　would　forever　be　identified　with
suffering　humanity。　They　knew　that　He　was　presenting　before　God　the　merit　of
His　blood；　showing　His　wounded　hands　and　feet　as　a　remembrance　of　the　price
He　had　paid　for　His　redeemed　ones；　and　this　thought　strengthened　them　to
endure　reproach　for　His　sake。　Their　union　with　Him　was　stronger　now　than
when　He　was　with　them　in　person。　The　light　and　love　and　power　of　an
indwelling　Christ　shone　out　through　them；　so　that　men；　beholding；　marveled。

Christ　placed　His　seal　on　the　words　that　Peter　spoke　in　His　defense。　Close
beside　the　disciple；　as　a　convincing　witness；　stood　the　man　who　had　been　so
miraculously　healed。　The　appearance　of　this　man；　a　few　hours　before　a
helpless　cripple；　but　now　restored　to　soundness　of　health；　added　a　weight　of
testimony　to　Peter's　words。　Priests　and　rulers　were　silent。　They　were　unable
to　refute　Peter's　statement；　but　they　were　nonetheless　determined　to　put　a
stop　to　the　teaching　of　the　disciples。

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Christ's　crowning　miraclethe　raising　of　Lazarushad　sealed　the
determination　of　the　priests　to　rid　the　world　of　Jesus　and　His　wonderful
works；　which　were　fast　destroying　their　influence　over　the　people。　They　had
crucified　Him；　but　here　was　a　convincing　proof　that　they　had　not　put　a　stop
to　the　working　of　miracles　in　His　name；　nor　to　the　proclamation　of　the　truth
He　taught。　Already　the　healing　of　the　cripple　and　the　preaching　of　the
apostles　had　filled　Jerusalem　with　excitement。

In　order　to　conceal　their　perplexity；　the　priests　and　rulers　ordered　the
apostles　to　be　taken　away；　that　they　might　counsel　among　themselves。　They
all　agreed　that　it　would　be　useless　to　deny　that　the　man　had　been　healed。
Gladly　would　they　have　covered　up　the　miracle　by　falsehoods；　but　this　was
impossible；　for　it　had　been　wrought　in　the　full　light　of　day；　before　a
multitude　of　people；　and　had　already　come　to　the　knowledge　of　thousands。
They　felt　that　the　work　of　the　disciples　must　be　stopped　or　Jesus　would　gain
many　followers。　Their　own　disgrace　would　follow；　for　they　would　be　held
guilty　of　the　murder　of　the　Son　of　God。

But　notwithstanding　their　desire　to　destroy　the　disciples；　the　priests　dared
not　do　more　than　threaten　them　with　the　severest　punishment　if　they
continued　to　speak　or　to　work　in　the　name　of　Jesus。　Calling　them　again
before　the　Sanhedrin；　they　commanded　them　not　to　speak　or　teach　in　the　name
of　Jesus。　But　Peter　and　John　answered：　〃Whether　it　be　right　in　the　sight　of
God　to　hearken　unto　you　more　than　unto　God；　judge　ye。　For　we　cannot　but
speak　the　things　which　we　have　seen　and　heard。〃

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Gladly　would　the　priests　have　punished　these　men　for　their　unswerving
fidelity　to　their　sacred　calling；　but　they　feared　the　people；　〃for　all　men
glorified　God　for　that　which　was　done。〃　So；　with　repeated　threats　and
injunctions；　the　apostles　were　set　at　liberty。

While　Peter　and　John　were　prisoners；　the　other　disciples；　knowing　the
malignity　of　the　Jews；　had　prayed　unceasingly　for　their　brethren；　fearing
that　the　cruelty　shown　to　Christ　might　be　repeated。　As　soon　as　the　apostles
were　released；　they　sought　the　rest　of　the　disciples　and　reported　to　them
the　result　of　the　examination。　Great　was　the　joy　of　the　believers。　〃They
lifted　up　their　voice　to　God　with　one　accord；　and　said；　Lord；　Thou　art　God；
which　hast　made　heaven；　and　earth；　and　the　sea；　and　all　that　in　them　is：　who
by　the　mouth　of　Thy　servant　David　hast　said；　Why　did　the　heathen　rage；　and
the　people　imagine　vain　things？　The　kings　of　the　earth　stood　up；　and　the
rulers　were　gathered　together　against　the　Lord；　and　against　His　Christ。　For
of　a　truth　against　Thy　Holy　Child　Jesus；　whom　Thou　hast　anointed；　both
Herod；　and　Pontius　Pilate；　with　the　Gentiles；　and　the　people　of　Israel；　were
gathered　together；　for　to　do　whatsoever　Thy　hand　and　Thy　counsel　determined
before　to　be　done。

〃And　now；　Lord；　behold　their　threatenings：　and　grant　unto　Thy　servants；　that
with　all　boldness　they　may　speak　Thy　word；　by　stretching　forth　Thine　hand　to
heal；　and　that　signs　and　wonders　may　be　done　by　the　name　of　Thy　Holy　Child
Jesus。〃

The　disciples　prayed　that　greater　strength　might　be　imparted　to　them　in　the
work　of　the　ministry；　for　they　saw

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that　they　would　meet　the　same　determined　opposition　that　Christ　had
encountered　when　upon　the　earth。　While　their　united　prayers　were　ascending
in　faith　to　heaven；　the　answer　came。　The　place　where　they　were　assembled　was
shaken；　and　they　were　endowed　anew　with　the　Holy　Spirit。　Their　hearts　filled
with　courage；　they　again　went　forth　to　proclaim　the　word　of　God　in
Jerusalem。　〃With　great　power　gave　the　apostles　witness　of　the　resurrection
of　the　Lord　Jesus；〃　and　God　marvelously　blessed　their　efforts。

The　principle　for　which　the　disciples　stood　so　fearlessly　when；　in　answer　to
the　command　not　to　speak　any　more　in　the　name　of　Jesus；　they　declared；
〃Whether　it　be　right　in　the　sight　of　God　to　hearken　unto　you　more　than　unto
God；　judge　ye；〃　is　the　same　that　the　adherents　of　the　gospel　struggled　to
maintain　in　the　days　of　the　Reformation。　When　in　1529　the　German　princes
assembled　at　the　Diet　of　Spires；　there　was　presented　the　emperor's　decree
restricting　religious　liberty；　and　prohibiting　all　further　dissemination　of
the　reformed　doctrines。　It　seemed　that　the　hope　of　the　world　was　about　to　be
crushed　out。　Would　the　princes　accept　the　decree？　Should　the　light　of　the
gospel　be　shut　out　from　the　multitudes　still　in　darkness？　Mighty　issues　for
the　world　were　at　stake。　Those　who　had　accepted　the　reformed　faith　met
together；　and　their　unanimous　decision　was；　〃Let　us　reject　this　decree。　In
matters　of　conscience　the　majority　has　no　power。〃Merle　d'Aubigne；　History
of　the　Reformation；　b。　13；　ch。　5。

This　principle　we　in　our　day　are　firmly　to　maintain。　The　banner　of　truth　and
religious　liberty　held　aloft　by　the　founders

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of　the　gospel　church　and　by　God's　witnesses　during　the　centuries　that　have
passed　sinc