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192
Early Writings
By the power of Jesus the disciples continued to heal the afflicted
and the sick who were brought to them. Hundreds enlisted daily
under the banner of a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour. The
priests and elders, and those particularly engaged with them, were
alarmed. Again they put the apostles in prison, hoping that the
excitement would subside. Satan and his angels exulted; but the
angels of God opened the prison doors, and, contrary to the command
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of the high priests and elders, bade the apostles, “Go, stand and speak
in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
The council assembled and sent for their prisoners. The officers
unclosed the prison doors; but those whom they sought were not
there. They returned to the priests and elders and said, “The prison
truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without
before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.”
“Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye
put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without
violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been
stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the
council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly
command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold,
ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this
man’s blood upon us.”
Those Jewish leaders were hypocrites; they loved the praise
of men more than they loved God. Their hearts had become so
hardened that the most mighty works wrought by the apostles only
enraged them. They knew that if the disciples preached Jesus, His
crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, it would fasten guilt upon
them as His murderers. They were not as willing to receive the blood
of Jesus as when they vehemently cried, “His blood be on us, and
on our children.”
The apostles boldly declared that they ought to obey God rather
than men. Said Peter, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom
ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right
hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel,
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and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things;
and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that
obey Him.” At these fearless words those murderers were enraged,