Cripple Healed
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doctrine was in danger, and their reation at stake. Some of the officials
of the temple, and the captain of the temple, were Sadducees. The
captain, with the help of a number of Sadducees, arrested the two
apostles, and them in prison, as it was too late for their cases to be
examined that night.
These opponents of Christ and of the doctrines of the apostles,
could but believe, although they refused to acknowledge, that Jesus
had risen from the dead and remained on the earth for forty days af-
terward; the evidence was too convincing for them to doubt it. Yet,
nevertheless, their hearts did not soften, nor their consciences smite
them for the terrible deed they had committed in ting him to death.
When the power from Heaven came upon the apostles in so remark-
able a manner, fear held them from violence, but their bitterness and
malice were unchanged. Five thousand had already embraced the new
doctrine taught by the apostles, and both Pharisees and Sadducees
decided among themselves that if those teachers were suffered to go
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unchecked, their own influence would be in greater danger than when
Jesus was upon earth. If one or two discourses from the disciples could
accomplish such marvelous results, the world would soon believe on
Christ if they were left free, and the influence of priests and potentates
would be lost.
The following day Annas and Caiaphas, with the other dignitaries
of the temple, met together for the trial of the prisoners, who were then
brought before them. In that very room, and before those very men,
Peter had shamefully denied his Lord. All this came distinctly before
the mind of the disciple, as he now appeared for his own trial. He had
now an opportunity of redeeming his former wicked cowardice.
The company present remembered the part Peter had acted at the
trial of his Master, and they flattered themselves that he could be
intimidated by the threat of imprisonment and death. But the Peter
who denied Christ in the hour of his greatest need, was the impulsive,
self-confident disciple, differing widely from the Peter who was before
the Sanhedrim for examination that day. He had been converted; he
was distrustful of self, and no longer a proud boaster. He was filled
with the Holy Spirit, and through its power he had become firm as a
rock, courageous, yet modest, in magnifying Christ. He was ready to
remove the stain of his apostasy by honoring the name he had once
disowned.