Chap. 8 - Before the Sanhedrin
This chapter is based on Acts 5:12-42.
It was the cross, that instrument of shame and torture,
which brought hope and salvation to the world. The disciples
were but humble men, without wealth, and with no weapon
but the word of God; yet in Christ’s strength they went forth
to tell the wonderful story of the manger and the cross, and
to triumph over all opposition. Without earthly honor or
recognition, they were heroes of faith. From their lips came
words of divine eloquence that shook the world.
In Jerusalem, where the deepest prejudice existed, and
where the most confused ideas prevailed in regard to Him
who had been crucified as a malefactor, the disciples
continued to speak with boldness the words of life, setting
before the Jews the work and mission of Christ, His
crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Priests and rulers
heard with amazement the clear, bold testimony of the
apostles. The power of the risen Saviour had indeed fallen
on the
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disciples, and their work was accompanied by signs and
miracles that daily increased the number of believers. Along
the streets where the disciples were to pass, the people laid
their sick “on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow
of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.” Here
also were brought those vexed with unclean spirits. The
crowds gathered round them, and those who were healed
shouted the praises of God and glorified the name of the
Redeemer.
The priests and rulers saw that Christ was extolled
above them. As the Sadducees, who did not believe in
a resurrection, heard the apostles declaring that Christ had
risen from the dead, they were enraged, realizing that if the
apostles were allowed to preach a risen Saviour, and to work
miracles in His name, the doctrine that there would be no
resurrection would be rejected by all, and the sect of the
Sadducees would soon become extinct. The Pharisees were
angry as they perceived that the tendency of the disciples’
teaching was to undermine the Jewish ceremonies, and make
the sacrificial offerings of no effect.
Hitherto all the efforts made to suppress this new
teaching had been in vain; but now both Sadducees and
Pharisees determined that the work of the disciples should
be stopped, for it was proving them guilty of the death of
Jesus. Filled with indignation, the priests laid violent hands
on Peter and John, and put them in the common prison.
The leaders in the Jewish nation had signally failed of
fulfilling God’s purpose for His chosen people. Those
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whom the Lord had made the depositaries of truth had proved
unfaithful to their trust, and God chose others to do His
work. In their blindness these leaders now gave full sway
to what they called righteous indignation against the ones
who were setting aside their cherished doctrines. They would
not admit even the possibility that they themselves did not
rightly understand the word, or that they had misinterpreted
or misapplied the Scriptures. They acted like men who had
lost their reason. What right have these teachers, they said,
some of them mere fishermen, to present ideas contrary to the
doctrines that we have taught the people? Being determined
to suppress the teaching of these ideas, they imprisoned those
who were presenting them.
The disciples were not intimidated or cast down by this
treatment. The Holy Spirit brought to their minds the words
spoken by Christ: “The servant is not greater than his lord. If
they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they
have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these
things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because
they know not Him that sent Me.” “They shall put you out of
the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth
you will think that he doeth God service.” “These things have
I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember
that I told you of them.” John 15:20, 21; 16:2, 4.
The God of heaven, the mighty Ruler of the universe,
took the matter of the imprisonment of the disciples into His
own hands, for men were warring against His work. By night
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the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and said to
the disciples, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the
people all the words of this life.” This command was directly
contrary to the order given by the Jewish rulers; but did the
apostles say, We cannot do this until we have consulted the
magistrates and received permission from them? No; God
had said, “Go,” and they obeyed. “They entered into the
temple early in the morning, and taught.”
When Peter and John appeared among the believers and
recounted how the angel had led them directly through the
band of soldiers guarding the prison, bidding them resume
the work that had been interrupted, the brethren were filled
with amazement and joy.
In the meantime the high priest and those with him
had “called the council together, and all the senate of the
children of Israel.” The priests and rulers had decided to fix
upon the disciples the charge of insurrection, to accuse them
of murdering Ananias and Sapphira, and of conspiring to
deprive the priests of their authority. They hoped so to excite
the mob that it would take the matter in hand and deal with
the disciples as it had dealt with Jesus. They were aware that
many who did not accept the teachings of Christ were weary
of the arbitrary rule of the Jewish authorities and anxious
for some change. The priests feared that if these dissatisfied
ones were to accept the truths proclaimed by the apostles, and
were to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the anger of the
entire people would be raised against the religious leaders,
who would then be made to answer
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for the murder of Christ. They decided to take strong
measures to prevent this.
When they sent for the prisoners to be brought before
them, great was their amazement at the word brought back
that the prison doors were found to be securely bolted and
the guard stationed before them, but that the prisoners were
nowhere to be found.
Soon the astonishing report came, “Behold, the men
whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and
teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers,
and brought them without violence: for they feared the
people, lest they should have been stoned.”
Although the apostles were miraculously delivered from
prison, they were not safe from examination and punishment.
Christ had said when He was with them, “Take heed to
yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils.” Mark
13:9. By sending an angel to deliver them, God had given
them a token of His love and an assurance of His presence.
It was now their part to suffer for the sake of the One whose
gospel they were preaching.
In the history of prophets and apostles, are many noble
examples of loyalty to God. Christ’s witnesses have endured
imprisonment, torture, and death itself, rather than break
God’s commands. The record left by Peter and John is as
heroic as any in the gospel dispensation. As they stood for
the second time before the men who seemed bent on their
destruction, no fear or hesitation could be discerned in their
words or attitude. And when the high priest said, “Did we
not straitly command you that ye should not teach in
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this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your
doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us,” Peter
answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” It was
an angel from heaven who delivered them from prison and
bade them teach in the temple. In following his directions
they were obeying the divine command, and this they must
continue to do at whatever cost to themselves.
Then the Spirit of Inspiration came upon the disciples;
the accused became the accusers, charging the murder of
Christ upon those who composed the council. “The God of
our fathers raised up Jesus,” Peter declared, “whom ye slew
and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right
hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to
Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of
these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath
given to them that obey Him.”
So enraged were the Jews at these words that they
decided to take the law into their own hands and without
further trial, or without authority from the Roman officers,
to put the prisoners to death. Already guilty of the blood
of Christ, they were now eager to stain their hands with the
blood of His disciples.
But in the council there was one man who recognized
the voice of God in the words spoken by the disciples. This
was Gamaliel, a Pharisee of good reputation and a man of
learning and high position. His clear intellect saw that the
violent step contemplated by the priests would lead to terrible
consequences. Before addressing those present, he
