Saul the Persecutor
5
toward one who was so far from fulfilling their ambitious hopes; and
after the death of Christ, he eagerly joined with priests and rulers in
the persecution of his followers as a proscribed and hated sect.
The Jewish leaders had supposed that the work of Christ would
end with him; that when his voice was no longer heard, the excitement
would die out, and the people would return to the doctrines and tradi-
[11]
tions of men. But instead of this, they witnessed the marvelous scenes
of the day of Pentecost. The disciples, endowed with a power and
energy hitherto unknown, preached Christ to the vast multitude that
from all parts of the world assembled at the feast. Signs and wonders
confirmed their words; and in the very stronghold of Judaism, thou-
sands openly declared their faith in Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified
malefactor, as the promised Messiah.
And but a short time after the events of Pentecost, a mighty mira-
cle, wrought by the apostles, filled all Jerusalem with excitement. A
cripple who had been lame from his birth was healed by Peter and
John in the presence of the people, within the very precincts of the
temple. This astonishing cure was performed in the name of Jesus,
the apostles declaring that he had ascended to the heavens, and thence
imparted power to his followers; and they fearlessly charged upon
the Jews the crime of his rejection and murder. Great numbers of the
people received the doctrines preached by the apostles. Many of the
most determined opponents could but believe, though they refused to
acknowledge, that Jesus had risen from the dead. They did not, how-
ever, repent of their terrible crime in putting him to death. When the
power from Heaven came upon the apostles in so remarkable a man-
ner, fear held the priests and elders from violence; but their bitterness
and malice were unchanged. Five thousand had already openly de-
clared their faith in Christ; and both Pharisees and Sadducees decided
among themselves that if those new teachers were suffered to go on
unchecked, their own influence would be in greater danger than when
[12]
Jesus was upon earth. If one or two discourses from the apostles could
produce results so marvelous, the world would soon believe on Christ,
and the influence of priests and rulers would be lost. They therefore
seized upon the apostles, and thrust them into prison, expecting to in-
timidate and silence them. But the disciple who in cowardice had once
denied his Lord, now boldly declared the power of a risen Saviour.
In vain the rulers commanded to speak no more in that name. Their