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The Acts of the Apostles
only.”
Matthew 17:8
. “Jesus only”—in these words is contained the
secret of the life and power that marked the history of the early church.
When the disciples first heard the words of Christ, they felt their need
of Him. They sought, they found, they followed Him. They were with
Him in the temple, at the table, on the mountainside, in the field. They
were as pupils with a teacher, daily receiving from Him lessons of
eternal truth.
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After the Saviour’s ascension, the sense of the divine presence, full
of love and light, was still with them. It was a personal presence. Jesus,
the Saviour, who had walked and talked and prayed with them, who
had spoken hope and comfort to their hearts, had, while the message
of peace was upon His lips, been taken from them into heaven. As the
chariot of angels received Him, His words had come to them, “Lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end.”
Matthew 28:20
. He had ascended
to heaven in the form of humanity. They knew that He was before
the throne of God, their Friend and Saviour still; that His sympathies
were unchanged; that He would forever be identified with suffering
humanity. They knew that He was presenting before God the merit of
His blood, showing His wounded hands and feet as a remembrance
of the price He had paid for His redeemed ones; and this thought
strengthened them to endure reproach for His sake. Their union with
Him was stronger now than when He was with them in person. The
light and love and power of an indwelling Christ shone out through
them, so that men, beholding, marveled.
Christ placed His seal on the words that Peter spoke in His defense.
Close beside the disciple, as a convincing witness, stood the man
who had been so miraculously healed. The appearance of this man,
a few hours before a helpless cripple, but now restored to soundness
of health, added a weight of testimony to Peter’s words. Priests and
rulers were silent. They were unable to refute Peter’s statement, but
they were nonetheless determined to put a stop to the teaching of the
disciples.
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Christ’s crowning miracle—the raising of Lazarus—had sealed
the determination of the priests to rid the world of Jesus and His
wonderful works, which were fast destroying their influence over the
people. They had crucified Him; but here was a convincing proof that
they had not put a stop to the working of miracles in His name, nor
to the proclamation of the truth He taught. Already the healing of the