Act 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick
into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the
shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Act 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities
round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with
unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Another's view…
'The Disciples of
Christ
With mighty power
the disciples preached a crucified and risen Saviour. Signs and wonders were
wrought by them in the name of Jesus; the sick were healed; and a man who had
been lame from his birth was restored to perfect soundness and entered with
Peter and John into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God in the
sight of all the people. The news spread, and the people began to press around
the disciples. Many ran together, greatly astonished at the cure that had been
wrought.
When Jesus died, the
priests thought that no more miracles would be performed among them, that the
excitement would die out and the people would again turn to the traditions of
men. But lo! right among them the disciples were working miracles, and the people
were filled with amazement. Jesus had been crucified, and they wondered where
His followers had obtained this power. When He was alive, they thought that He
imparted power to them; but when He died, they expected the miracles to cease.
Peter understood their perplexity and said to them, "Ye men of Israel, why
marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own
power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of
Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus; whom
ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was
determined to let Him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired
a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath
raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And His name through faith in
His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know." (Acts 3:12-16)
The chief priests
and elders could not bear these words, and at their command Peter and John were
seized and put in prison. But thousands had been converted and led to believe
in the resurrection and ascension of Christ by hearing only one discourse from
the disciples. The priests and elders were troubled. They had slain Jesus that
the minds of the people might be turned to themselves; but the matter was now
worse than before. They were openly accused by the disciples of being the
murderers of the Son of God, and they could not determine to what extent these
things might grow or how they themselves would be regarded by the people. They
would gladly have put Peter and John to death, but dared not, for fear of the
people.
On the following day
the apostles were brought before the council. The very men who had eagerly
cried for the blood of the Just One were there. They had heard Peter deny his
Lord with cursing and swearing when charged with being one of His disciples,
and they hoped again to intimidate him. But Peter had been converted, and he
now saw an opportunity to remove the stain of that hasty, cowardly denial and
to exalt the name which he had dishonoured. With holy boldness, and in the
power of the Spirit, he fearlessly declared unto them, "By the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead,
even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which
was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12)
The people were
astonished at the boldness of Peter and John and took knowledge of them that
they had been with Jesus; for their noble, fearless conduct was like that of
Jesus when before His enemies. Jesus, by one look of pity and sorrow, reproved
Peter when he had denied Him, and now as he boldly acknowledged his Lord, Peter
was approved and blessed. As a token of the approbation of Jesus, he was filled
with the Holy Spirit.
The priests dared
not manifest the hatred which they felt toward the disciples. They commanded
them to go aside out of the council, and then conferred among themselves,
saying, "What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle
hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we
cannot deny it." (Acts 4:16)They were afraid to have the report of this
good deed spread among the people. Should it become generally known, the
priests felt that their own power would be lost, and they would be looked upon
as the murderers of Jesus. Yet all that they dared to do was to threaten the
apostles and command them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, lest they die.
But Peter declared boldly that they could but speak the things which they had
seen and heard.
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 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." (Acts 5:20)
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." (Acts 5:23) "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." (Acts 5:25-28)
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."
(Matt. 27:25)
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, 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."
(Acts 5:30-32) At these fearless words those murderers were enraged, and
determined to imbrue their hands again in blood by slaying the apostles. They
were planning to do this, when an angel from God moved upon the heart of
Gamaliel to counsel the priests and rulers: "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." (Acts 5:38,39) Evil angels were moving upon
the priests and elders to put the apostles to death; but God sent His angel to
prevent it by raising up among the Jewish leaders themselves a voice in favour
of His servants. The work of the apostles was not finished. They were to be
brought before kings to witness to the name of Jesus and to testify of the
things which they had seen and heard.
The priests
unwillingly released their prisoners, after beating them and commanding them to
speak no more in the name of Jesus. "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." (Acts 5:40-42) Thus the word of God grew and
multiplied. The disciples boldly testified to the things which they had seen
and heard, and through the name of Jesus they performed mighty miracles. They
fearlessly charged the blood of Jesus upon those who had been so willing to
receive it when they were permitted to have power over the Son of God.
I saw that angels of
God were commissioned to guard with special care the sacred, important truths
which were to serve as an anchor to the disciples of Christ through every
generation.
The Holy Spirit
especially rested upon the apostles, who were witnesses of our Lord's
crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension-- important truths which were to be
the hope of Israel. All were to look to the Saviour of the world as their only
hope, and walk in the way which He had opened by the sacrifice of His own life,
and keep God's law and live. I saw the wisdom and goodness of Jesus in giving
power to the disciples to carry on the same work for which He had been hated
and slain by the Jews. In His name they had power over the works of Satan. A
halo of light and glory centred about the time of Jesus' death and
resurrection, immortalising the sacred truth that He was the Saviour of the
world.'
Early Writings- EGW.
*******
More tomorrow by the
grace and mercy, the love of our SAVIOR, all in HIS NAME!
AMEN!
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