At the Temple Gate
41
was no longer proud and boastful, but modest and self-distrustful. He
was filled with the Holy Spirit, and by the help of this power he was
resolved to remove the stain of his apostasy by honoring the name he
had once disowned.
Hitherto the priests had avoided mentioning the crucifixion or the
resurrection of Jesus. But now, in fulfillment of their purpose, they
were forced to inquire of the accused how the cure of the impotent
man had been accomplished. “By what power, or by what name, have
ye done this?” they asked.
With holy boldness and in the power of the Spirit Peter fearlessly
declared: “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, 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 nought of you builders,
which is become the head 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.”
This courageous defense appalled the Jewish leaders. They had
supposed that the disciples would be overcome with fear and confusion
when brought before the Sanhedrin. But, instead, these witnesses
[64]
spoke as Christ had spoken, with a convincing power that silenced
their adversaries. There was no trace of fear in Peter’s voice as he
declared of Christ, “This is the stone which was set at nought of you
builders, which is become the head of the corner.”
Peter here used a figure of speech familiar to the priests. The
prophets had spoken of the rejected stone; and Christ Himself, speak-
ing on one occasion to the priests and elders, said: “Did ye never
read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same
is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is
marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of
God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the
fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken:
but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”
Matthew
21:42-44
.
As the priests listened to the apostles’ fearless words, “they took
knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
Of the disciples after the transfiguration of Christ it is written that
at the close of that wonderful scene “they saw no man, save Jesus