ere there. They had heard Peter’s cowardly denial of
Jesus, with cursing and swearing, as he was accused of being
one of his disciples. They thought to intimidate Peter; but he
was not converted. An opportunity was here given Peter to
exalt Jesus. He once denied him; but he could now remove
the stain of that hasty, cowardly denial, and honor the name
he had denied. No cowardly fears reigned in the breast of
Peter then; but with holy boldness, and in the power of the
Holy Spirit, he fearlessly declared unto them 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 naught of
you builders, which has become the head stone 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.
The people were astonished at the boldness of Peter and
John. They took knowledge of them that they had been with
Jesus; for their noble, fearless conduct compared well with the
appearance of Jesus when he was persecuted by his murderers.
Jesus, by one look of pity and sorrow, reproved Peter after he
had denied him, and now as be boldly acknowledged his Lord,
Peter was approved and blessed. As a token of
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the approbation of Jesus, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
The chief priests dared not manifest the hate they felt
towards the disciples. They commanded them to go aside out
of the council, and they conferred among themselves, saying,
What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable
miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that
dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. They were afraid
to have this good work spread. If it should spread, their power
would be lost, and they would be looked upon as the murderers
of Jesus. All that they dared to do was to threaten them, and
command them to speak no more in the name of Jesus lest they
die. But Peter declared boldly that they could but speak the
things which they had seen and heard.
By the power of Jesus the disciples continued to heal every
one of the afflicted and the sick which were brought to them.
The high priests and elders, and those particularly engaged with
them, were alarmed. Hundreds were enlisting daily under the
banner of a crucified, risen and ascended Saviour. They shut
the apostles up in prison, and hoped that the excitement would
subside. Satan triumphed, and the evil angels exulted; but the
angels of God were sent and opened the prison doors, and,
contrary to the command of the high priest and elders, bade
them go into the
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temple, and speak all the words of this life. The council
assembled and sent for their prisoners. The officers unclosed
the prison doors; but the prisoners whom they sought were not
there. They returned to the priests and elders, and said to them,
The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers
standing without before the doors; but when we had opened we
found no man within. Then came one and told them, saying,
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. And when they
had brought them, they set them before the council; and the
high priest asked them, Did not we straitly command you, that
ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled
Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s
blood upon us.
They were hypocrites, and loved the praise of men more
than they loved God. Their hearts were hardened, and the
most mighty acts wrought by the apostles only enraged them.
They knew that if the disciples preached Jesus, his crucifixion,
resurrection and ascension, it would fasten guilt upon them,
and proclaim them his murderers. They were not as willing to
receive the blood of Jesus as when they vehemently cried. His
blood be on us, and on our children.
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The apostles boldly declared that they ought to obey God
rather than man. Said Peter, The God of our fathers raised up
Jesus, 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 Spirit
whom God hath given to them that obey him. Then were those
murderers enraged. They wished to imbrue their hands in blood
again by slaying the apostles. They were planning how to do
this, when an angel from God was sent to Gamaliel to move
upon his heart to counsel the chief priest and rulers. Said
Gamaliel, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if
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this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught; but
if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found
even to fight against God. The evil angels were moving upon
the priests and elders to put the apostles to death; but God sent
his angel to prevent it, by raising up a voice in favor of the
disciples in their own ranks.
The work of the apostles was not finished. They were to be
brought before kings, to witness to the name of Jesus, and to
testify to the things which they had seen and heard. But before
these chief priests and elders let th