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The Pharisees saw that the tendency of their preaching would be to
undermine the Jewish ceremonies, and make the sacrificial offerings
of none effect. Their former efforts to suppress these preachers had
been in vain; but they now felt determined to down the excitement.
The apostles were accordingly arrested and imprisoned, and the
Sanhedrim was called to try their case. A large number of learned
men, in addition to the council, were summoned, and they counseled
together what should be done with these disturbers of the peace. “But
the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought
them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people
all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into
the temple early in the morning, and taught.”
When the apostles appeared among the believers, and recounted
how the angel had led them directly through the band of soldiers
guarding the prison, and bade them resume the work which had been
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interrupted by the priests and rulers, the brethren were filled with joy
and amazement.
The priests and rulers in council had decided to fix upon them the
charge of insurrection, and accuse them of murdering Ananias and
Sapphira, and of conspiring to deprive the priests of their authority
and them to death. They trusted that the mob would then be excited to
take the matter in hand, and to deal by the apostles as they had dealt
by Jesus. They were aware that many who did not accept the doctrine
of Christ were weary of the arbitrary rule of the Jewish authorities,
and were anxious for some decided change. If these persons became
interested in and embraced the belief of the apostles, acknowledging
Jesus as the Messiah, they feared the anger of the entire people would
be raised against the priests, who would be made to answer for the
murder of Christ. They decided to take strong measures to prevent this.
They finally sent for the supposed prisoners to be brought before them.
Great was their amazement when the report was brought back that
the prison doors were found securely bolted, and the guard stationed
before them, but that the prisoners were nowhere to be found.
Soon the report was brought: “Behold, the men whom ye in prison
are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.” Although the
apostles were miraculously delivered from prison, they were not saved
from examination and punishment. Christ had said when he was
with them, “Take heed to yourselves, for they shall deliver you up to