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The Disciples, September 23
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:33
.
After the crucifixion of Christ, the disciples were a helpless, discouraged
company—as sheep without a shepherd. Their Master had been rejected,
condemned, and nailed to the ignominious cross. Scornfully the Jewish priests
and rulers had declared: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be
the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe
him” (
Matthew 27:42
).
But the cross, that instrument of shame and torture, brought hope and
salvation to the world. The disciples rallied; their hopelessness and help-
lessness left them. They were transformed in character, and united in bonds
of Christian love. They were but humble men, without wealth, and with
no weapon but the Word and Spirit of God, counted by the Jews as mere
fishermen. Yet in Christ’s strength they went forth to witness for the truth,
and to triumph over all opposition. Clothed with the divine panoply, they
went forth to tell the wonderful story of the manger and the cross. Without
earthly honor or recognition, they were heroes of faith. From their lips came
words of divine eloquence that shook the world.
Those who had rejected and crucified the Saviour expected to find the
disciples discouraged and crestfallen, ready to disown their Lord. They heard
with amazement the clear, bold testimony of the apostles, given under the
power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples worked and spoke as their Master
had worked and spoken, and all who heard them said, “They have been with
Jesus, and learned of Him.”
As the apostles went forth, preaching Jesus everywhere, they did many
things that the Jewish rulers did not approve. The people brought their sick,
and those vexed with unclean spirits, into the streets; crowds collected round
them, and those who had been healed shouted the praises of God, and glorified
the name of Him whom the Jews had condemned, crowned with thorns, and
caused to be scourged and crucified.—
The Signs of the Times, September 20,
1899
.
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