At the Temple Gate
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having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away
every one of you from his iniquities.”
Thus the disciples preached the resurrection of Christ. Many
among those who listened were waiting for this testimony, and when
they heard it they believed. It brought to their minds the words that
Christ had spoken, and they took their stand in the ranks of those who
accepted the gospel. The seed that the Saviour had sown sprang up
and bore fruit.
While the disciples were speaking to the people, “the priests, and
the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being
grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the
resurrection from the dead.”
After Christ’s resurrection the priests had spread far and near the
lying report that His body had been stolen by the disciples while the
Roman guard slept. It is not surprising that they were displeased when
they hear Peter and John preaching the resurrection of the One they had
murdered. The Sadducees especially were greatly aroused. They felt
that their most cherished doctrine was in danger, and their reputation
at stake.
Converts to the new faith were rapidly increasing, and both Phar-
isees and Sadducees agreed that if these new teachers were suffered
[61]
to go unchecked, their own influence would be in greater danger than
when Jesus was upon the earth. Accordingly, the captain of the temple,
with the help of a number of Sadducees, arrested Peter and John, and
put them in prison, as it was too late that day for them to be examined.
The enemies of the disciples could not but be convinced that Christ
had risen from the dead. The evidence was too clear to be doubted.
Nevertheless, they hardened their hearts, refusing to repent of the
terrible deed they had committed in putting Jesus to death. Abundant
evidence that the apostles were speaking and acting under divine
inspiration had been given the Jewish rulers, but they firmly resisted the
message of truth. Christ had not come in the manner that they expected,
and though at times they had been convinced that He was the Son of
God, yet they had stifled conviction, and crucified Him. In mercy
God gave them still further evidence, and now another opportunity
was granted them to turn to Him. He sent the disciples to tell them
that they had killed the Prince of life, and in this terrible charge He
gave them another call to repentance. But feeling secure in their