Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-01-31
Jhe freemaa.
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.
Fab A. None Other Name-Acts a.

Peter was over bold, from human
point of view, in daring to preach Jesus to
crowd within the sacred inclosure OF The
temple. The rulers of the Jews would
not fail to hear of the matter, would feel
bound to notice it and use their power to
punish those who thus boldly proclaimed
Jesus as the Christ.
As would be natural to expect we find
the sermon of Peter cut short by the
authorities; the priests, the captain OF the
temple AMI the Sadducees. The captain,
or ruler of the temple would doubtless
have legal right to restrain from teaching
in the temple any who might be obnoxious
TO the priests, or leading Jews. His
business was to watch over the other
guards of the temple, and in the night
time have charge of its doors, and to have
general oversight of the building. The
particular faction of the Jews most dis
turbed by the preaching of Peter was the
Sldducees' party, and in connection with
other passages of scripture wo see why
they were particularly offended. They
were the materialists of their time. They
did not believe in any future life; hence
the doctrine of Christ's resurrection, and
of his coming again TO judge the world
was very offensive to them. They were
'grieved," or vexed and enraged that
such doctrines should be published, and
particularly that they should be published
within The temple.
This was, after all, more of pretext
than anything else. The real antmus of
their opposition was hatred to Christ and
his doctrines. But it was necessary tina
there should be some point at which their
opposition could be directed, some specfi
charge that they could bring against the
disciples. This, then, they chose as the
ground upon which an arrest should be
made.
The enemies of Christ will always find
some preiext for their opposition TO him,
and such opposition is sure to be reused
when the people of God are alert and
active. As it was now near night the
disciples could not have hearing before
the council until the next day and hence
were held in custody until the morrow
AS to the place or nature of their contine.
ment we are not informed. 1t was
probably less rigorous than was afterward
suffered by the apostles, as this was, in
some sense first offence.
But though the preachers were impris-
The word mad reached the hearts of those
who heard, and when the word of God
gets hold of the human heart it will
produce results dspite all opposition.
The number of those who believed-five
thousand-is generally understood to be
the full number of all who had united with
the disciples up to that time, making an
addition of two thousand since pentecost
On the morrow the council is gathered
and all the leaders of the Jews appear in
the room of the Sanhedrim.
This body was made up of three classes
The priests, including the high priest and
those who had held that office, and the
h 9aGs of the courses of priests; next the
elders, Jews who were supposed to have
gravity and wisdom on account of age;
then the scribes, who were men learned
in the law, and ready to expound aud
apply its teachings. The unusual interest
in this session brought together the
kindred of the high priest.
The seats of the Sanhedrim are said to
have been arranged IN semi circular form;
the full number was 20 or with the high
priests. II. By seating the apostles in the
midst we are TO understand that the
prisoners place was in the center of this
semi circular room. The leading question
put to the apostles indicates that there was
no question as to the verify of the healing,
all that remained to be investigated was
the question as to whence the power came
to do such miracle. The question was
rather an unfortunate one for the Jews as
it gave Peter the very best of opportunity to
preach Jesus to the council Peter, always
foremost, made answer, and right royalty
did he use the opportunity given him. His
address is model of concise, vigorous,
respectful statement before the court.
Nothing could Aave been more terse or
bold. Peter proved that day that the
Holy Spirit can help an innocent man
before his accusers as well as help him
elsewhere or under other circumstances.
His opening is calm and his address to the
high court of his nation eminently respect
full: Eye rulers of the people and elders
of Israel" There is touch of well
deserved rebuke in his first sentence before
the tribunal. "lf we be examined of the
good deed done unto the impotcnt man."
he says. AS though it was somewha,
strange that so grave court should
assemble to try men who had only been
guilty of helping lifelong cripple to
walk. If this be your inquiry, he proceeds,
"Be it known unto you all, and to all the
people of Israel, that by the nam of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified,
whom God raised from the dead, even b,
him doth this man stand here before you
whole" No clearer and more compre.
henslve statement was ever made in any
court, IN so few words. In the mere
putting of the thoughts in form we may
detect the mighty aid of the Holy Spirit,
bat much more plainly in the boldness
and confidence of the speaker. In the
llnguage of a psalm familiar to them all,
the llSth, he declares to them that in
rjecting Christ they have set at naught
the very corner stone of the system in
which they trusted, and robbed their own
church OF all hope of salvation.
lhls was Peter, made new and empow-
cred by the spirit, the same man who
denied Christ before slaves a few weeks