Before the Sanhedrin
Chapter 8

Before the Sanhedrin
[This chapter is based on Acts 5:12-42.]
It was the cross, that instrument of shame and torture, which brought hope and
salvation to the world. The disciples were but humble men, without wealth, and
with no weapon but the word of God; yet in Christ's strength they went forth to
tell the wonderful story of the manger and the cross, and to triumph over all
opposition. Without earthly honor or recognition, they were heroes of faith. From
their lips came words of divine eloquence that shook the world.
In Jerusalem, where the deepest prejudice existed, and where the most confused
ideas prevailed in regard to Him who had been crucified as a malefactor, the
disciples continued to speak with boldness the words of life, setting before the
Jews the work and mission of Christ, His crucifixion, resurrection, and
ascension. Priests and rulers heard with amazement the clear, bold testimony of
the apostles. The power of the risen Saviour had indeed fallen on the

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disciples, and their work was accompanied by signs and miracles that daily
increased the number of believers. Along the streets where the disciples were to
pass, the people laid their sick "on beds and couches, that at the least the
shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them." Here also were
brought those vexed with unclean spirits. The crowds gathered round them, and
those who were healed shouted the praises of God and glorified the name of the
Redeemer.
The priests and rulers saw that Christ was extolled above them. As the
Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection, heard the apostles declaring
that Christ had risen from the dead, they were enraged, realizing that if the
apostles were allowed to preach a risen Saviour, and to work miracles in His
name, the doctrine that there would be no resurrection would be rejected by all,
and the sect of the Sadducees would soon become extinct. The Pharisees were
angry as they perceived that the tendency of the disciples' teaching was to
undermine the Jewish ceremonies, and make the sacrificial offerings of no effect.

Hitherto all the efforts made to suppress this new teaching had been in vain; but
now both Sadducees and Pharisees determined that the work of the disciples
should be stopped, for it was proving them guilty of the death of Jesus. Filled
with indignation, the priests laid violent hands on Peter and John, and put them in
the common prison.

The leaders in the Jewish nation had signally failed of fulfilling God's purpose for
His chosen people. Those

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whom the Lord had made the depositaries of truth had proved unfaithful to their
trust, and God chose others to do His work. In their blindness these leaders now
gave full sway to what they called righteous indignation against the ones who
were setting aside their cherished doctrines. They would not admit even the
possibility that they themselves did not rightly understand the word, or that
they had misinterpreted or misapplied the Scriptures. They acted like men who
had lost their reason. What right have these teachers, they said, some of them
mere fishermen, to present ideas contrary to the doctrines that we have taught
the people? Being determined to suppress the teaching of these ideas, they
imprisoned those who were presenting them.
The disciples were not intimidated or cast down by this treatment. The Holy
Spirit brought to their minds the words spoken by Christ: "The servant is not
greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;
if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will
they do unto you for My name's sake, because they know not Him that sent Me."
"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever
killeth you will think that he doeth God service." "These things have I told you,
that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them." John
15:20, 21; 16:2, 4.

The God of heaven, the mighty Ruler of the universe, took the matter of the
imprisonment of the disciples into His own hands, for men were warring against
His work. By night

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the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and said to the disciples, "Go, stand
and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." This command
was directly contrary to the order given by the Jewish rulers; but did the
apostles say, We cannot do this until we have consulted the magistrates and
received permission from them? No; God had said, "Go," and they obeyed. "They
entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught."
When Peter and John appeared among the believers and recounted how the angel
had led them directly through the band of soldiers guarding the prison, bidding
them resume the work that had been interrupted, the brethren were filled with
amazement and joy.

In the meantime the high priest and those with him had "called the council
together, and all the senate of the children of Israel." The priests and rulers had
decided to fix upon the disciples the charge of insurrection, to accuse them of
murdering Ananias and Sapphira, and of conspiring to deprive the priests of their
authority. They hoped so to excite the mob that it would take the matter in hand
and deal with the disciples as it had dealt with Jesus. They were aware that
many who did not accept the teachings of Christ were weary of the arbitrary
rule of the Jewish authorities and anxious for some change. The priests feared
that if these dissatisfied ones were to accept the truths proclaimed by the
apostles, and were to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the anger of the entire
people would be raised against the religious leaders, who would then be made to
answer

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for the murder of Christ. They decided to take strong measures to prevent this.
When they sent for the prisoners to be brought before them, great was their
amazement at the word brought back that the prison doors were found to be
securely bolted and the guard stationed before them, but that the prisoners were
nowhere to be found.

Soon the astonishing report came, "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."

Although the apostles were miraculously delivered from prison, they were not
safe from examination and punishment. Christ had said when He was with them,
"Take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils." Mark 13:9.
By sending an angel to deliver them, God had given them a token of His love and an
assurance of His presence. It was now their part to suffer for the sake of the
One whose gospel they were preaching.

In the history of prophets and apostles, are many noble examples of loyalty to
God. Christ's witnesses have endured imprisonment, torture, and death itself,
rather than break God's commands. The record left by Peter and John is as
heroic as any in the gospel dispensation. As they stood for the second time
before the men who seemed bent on their destruction, no fear or hesitation could
be discerned in their words or attitude. And when the high priest said, "Did we
not straitly command you that ye should not teach in

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this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to
bring this Man's blood upon us," Peter answered, "We ought to obey God rather
than men." It was an angel from heaven who delivered them from prison and bade
them teach in the temple. In following his directions they were obeying the divine
command, and this they must continue to do at whatever cost to themselves.
Then the Spirit of Inspiration came upon the disciples; the accused became the
accusers, charging the murder of Christ upon those who composed the council.
"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus," Peter declared, "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, 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."

So enraged were the Jews at these words that they decided to take the law into
their own hands and without further trial, or without authority from the Roman
officers, to put the prisoners to death. Already guilty of the blood of Christ, they
were no eager to stain their hands with the blood of His disciples.

But in the council there was one man who recognized the voice of God in the
words spoken by the disciples. This was Gamaliel, a Pharisee of good reputation
and a man of learning and high position. His clear intellect saw that the violent
step contemplated by the priests would lead to terrible consequences. Before
addressing those present, he

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requested that the prisoners be removed. He well knew the elements he had to
deal with; he knew that the murderers of Christ would hesitate at nothing in
order to carry out their purpose.
He then spoke with great deliberation and calmness, saying: "Ye men of Israel,
take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before
these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number
of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as
obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas
of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also
perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say
unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this
work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow
it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."

The priests saw the reasonableness of these views, and were obliged to agree
with Gamaliel. Yet their prejudice and hatred could hardly be restrained. Very
reluctantly, after beating the disciples and charging them again at the peril of
their lives to preach no more in the name of Jesus, they released them. "And
they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every
house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

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Shortly before His crucifixion Christ had bequeathed to His disciples a legacy of
peace. "Peace I leave with you," He said, "My peace I give unto you: not as the
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid." John 14:27. This peace is not the peace that comes through conformity
to the world. Christ never purchased peace by compromise with evil. The peace
that Christ left His disciples is internal rather than external and was ever to
remain with His witnesses through strife and contention.

Christ said of Himself, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came
not to send peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34. The Prince of Peace, He was
yet the cause of division. He who came to proclaim glad tidings and to create hope
and joy in the hearts of the children of men, opened a controversy that burns
deep and arouses intense passion in the human heart. And He warns His followers,
"In the world ye shall have tribulation." "They shall lay their hands on you, and
persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being
brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake." "Ye shall be betrayed both
by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they
cause to be put to death." John 16:33; Luke 21:12, 16.

This prophecy has been fulfilled in a marked manner. Every indignity, reproach,
and cruelty that Satan could instigate human hearts to devise, has been visited
upon the followers of Jesus. And it will be again fulfilled in a marked manner; for
the carnal heart is still at enmity with the law of

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God, and will not be subject to its commands. The world is no more in harmony
with the principles of Christ today than it was in the days of the apostles. The
same hatred that prompted the cry, "Crucify Him! crucify Him!" the same hatred
that led to the persecution of the disciples, still works in the children of
disobedience. The same spirit which in the Dark Ages consigned men and women to
prison, to exile, and to death, which conceived the exquisite torture of the
Inquisition, which planned and executed the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, and
which kindled the fires of Smithfield, is still at work with malignant energy in
unregenerate hearts. The history of truth has ever been the record of a struggle
between right and wrong. The proclamation of the gospel has ever been carried
forward in this world in the face of opposition, peril, loss, and suffering.
What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered persecution for
Christ's sake? It was union with God, union with the Holy Spirit, union with
Christ. Reproach and persecution have separated many from earthly friends, but
never from the love of Christ. Never is the tempest-tried soul more dearly loved
by His Saviour than when he is suffering reproach for the truth's sake. "I will
love him," Christ said, "and will manifest Myself to him." John 14:21. When for
the truth's sake the believer stands at the bar of earthly tribunals, Christ
stands by his side. When he is confined within prison walls, Christ manifests
Himself to him and cheers his heart with His love. When he suffers death for
Christ's sake, the Saviour says to him, They may kill the body, but they cannot
hurt the soul. "Be of good cheer; I

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have overcome the world." "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;
for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of My righteousness." John 16:33; Isaiah 41:10.
"They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but
abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is
round about His people from henceforth even forever." "He shall redeem their
soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in His sight."
Psalms 125:1-3; 72:14.

"The Lord of hosts shall defend them; . . . the Lord their God shall save them in
that day as the flock of His people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown,
lifted up as an ensign upon His land." Zechariah 9:15, 16.


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[Chapter 9]