At the Temple Gate
43
cripple and the preaching of the apostles had filled Jerusalem with
excitement.
In order to conceal their perplexity, the priests and rulers ordered
the apostles to be taken away, that they might counsel among them-
selves. They all agreed that it would be useless to deny that the man
had been healed. Gladly would they have covered up the miracle by
falsehoods; but this was impossible, for it had been wrought in the full
light of day, before a multitude of people, and had already come to the
knowledge of thousands. They felt that the work of the disciples must
be stopped or Jesus would gain many followers. Their own disgrace
would follow, for they would be held guilty of the murder of the Son
of God.
But notwithstanding their desire to destroy the disciples, the priests
dared not do more than threaten them with the severest punishment
if they continued to speak or to work in the name of Jesus. Calling
them again before the Sanhedrin, they commanded them not to speak
or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered: “Whether
it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God,
judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and
heard.”
[67]
Gladly would the priests have punished these men for their
unswerving fidelity to their sacred calling, but they feared the people;
“for all men glorified God for that which was done.” So, with repeated
threats and injunctions, the apostles were set at liberty.
While Peter and John were prisoners, the other disciples, knowing
the malignity of the Jews, had prayed unceasingly for their brethren,
fearing that the cruelty shown to Christ might be repeated. As soon
as the apostles were released, they sought the rest of the disciples
and reported to them the result of the examination. Great was the
joy of the believers. “They lifted up their voice to God with one
accord, and said, Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: who by the mouth of Thy
servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people
imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers
were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ. For
of a truth against Thy Holy Child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed,
both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of