The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-04

later in the morning. It is said sacrifice was
offered at peep of day in the Temple. lSee
Mishna Joma, III. -
Places
Characterization, Temple, Council Cham
Der. The prison was simply used for detention.
The Jews did not use prisons as mode OF
punishment. They werc simply for temporary
disposition of accused persons. When prisons
are mentioned as places for punitive usage, we
find that the infictors were not Jews. All
that was required in the cases of SITS. Peter and
John was q place where the accused could be
safely, securely held till the next day. See
4:3 The Sanhedrim had q place for holding
trials in building near annexed to- the lem.
pie, called the Council Chamber.
Words aud Phrases.
!. Rose up. IT, AS hen when her brood
is endangered. It is implied they were under
great excitement. Hence the word indigna-
ton" They felt that something must be done,
and it must be done right off. There is the
idea Of haste. As sitting down is indicative of
sloth or indi ference satisfaction, rising up
implies some tremendous, or at least consider
able, cyclone of feeling. We get the conception
of resistance.
2. All they that were with him. II. The
movement was more general than in A.: 6. in.
voiving more than simply the " Kindred Of the
Iii gh priest" The opposition to Christianity
was gaining ground. 4:6 shows the high-priest
was Annas.
3. Sect II. From the original for the word
sect" We get our word heresy. From the
standpoint OF the Pbarsees. the Sadducees were
heretcal. The word. however. seems at times
used something in the sense in which we en-
ploy the word denomination.
4. Sadducees. IT, They seem to have been
influential in Jewish affairs. Many of them
were rich. We are not informed whether
Annas was member. but Josephus states that
the son of Annas was Il Sadducee. Ant. Xxx.
o. !. Though iffering widely from the Phari-
sees and having little TODD with that body. yet
we End both united when Ut came to opposing
Christianity. Some members of the Sanhe.
drim were Sadducees. For names of several
members Of the Sanhcdrfni, sec 40.
5. Filled with. H. Under the sway of the
feeling of intense indignation. absorbing to
large degree all consideration for the time be-
ing of any other emotion.
G. Indignation. u. better rendering
would be icalossp. Tie jealousy prompted the
Indignation. The Pbarisees were not willing
to have any competing religion. The Saddu.
cecs opposed the spread Of the doctrine of the
resurrection.
Z. Laid hands on them. fig. Arrested them.
We infer degree Of violent action. or rough
handling. Touching lis an essential Of arrest
when the prisoners do n0tossent to the warrant.
But verse 26 shows that. ahc officers did not
dare to be rude or cruel or insulting.
g. Them. ID It,seems, thai more Than SITS.
Peter and John were arrested. v. 10 speaks of
the Apostles. v. 90 shows there were more
than two under arrest. We cannot suppose
that, while Sts. Peter aud John were busy, the
10 other Apostles did nothing.
O. Angel of tho Lord. 10. This expression
is curious, occurring rs it does in account
mentioning the Sadducecs, who emphasized dis
belief in the existence of angels or spirits. 1t
is plain that st. Luke thought the release of
the Apostles was due to some supernatural
power; not TO an earthquake loosening prison.
doors, not to tho interpositi0n of some friend.
This is the first record in the Book of the Acts,
of an angelic appearances. We remember how
much angels figure in Old Testament history
and how connected they were with tho prophe-
ces of Chrsts Advent: with his birth, his life
and his death. Bishop j. Williams, of Con-
necticut, rcmarking on the angelic help to the
Apostles in prison, says of tho event: 1t ought
to make us renembe Der. and be thankf full for the
remembrance, that these blessed beings, who
always do God service In Heaven, do also
'snccor and defend His'cildrcn upon EARTH"
10. This life. 90. 1t is well to think of the
"life," here referred to, in connection with the
idea of the resurrection. ST. John. IL: 25. We
see point to this when we consider the OPP
ponents were largely Saiducees ". III, who
declined to believe in immortality. We re-
member that st. Paul made the resurrection
Qife) the burden Of his preaching. We SEQ how
bold SITS. Peter and the other Apostles were.
Tho pivotal fact was the resurrection of the
Christ SO sbamefully crucified. 1t is noticeable
that the Angel ". l9) confirmed their doctrine
by ordering it to be preached. v. 20.
II. Go. stand, speak,, 20. They were to leave
the prison, but they were not to escape and hide
themselves. They were to 60 to place fire.
Quented by great numbers-resume the very
work for which, they had been arrested. We
notice the Apostles obeyed. V. %.
IL. Council. 81 The sanhedrim. called also
the SENATE" of the children OF 1sracl-a body
of 20 Of the leading men of the Jews-having
great judicial power. The word senate i'm
plies many of the council were men in years.
13 Doubted. "a. Things seemed ont OF the
usual course. Men had been arrested and i'm.
prisoncd. yet next morning early they were
preaching in the Temple. Inquiry was made.
and it was found the prison had not been
any escape. The doors were all shut, and every
thing had the usual appearance of order and
security. 1t is TO be observed that this super
natural intervention is not brought up at tho
trial. It was not desirable to emphasize u fact
SO inexplicable SO miraculous, SO much in favor
of the Apostles.
H. Without violence.a 80. The Apostles did
not resist arrest. .Hhey 1sespected the civil
power. Tho trial itself gsse u good opportun-
ity for presenting theseaims Of Christ AGO.
Then the Apostles were very popular-in great
favor with the commoh people. Public opinion
is a large factor aud must be respected. The
excitement in favor of the Apostles must have
been intense That was a serious act which the
people were inclined to commit, to wit, the OPP
position TO the officers in legal arrest. and
that with such pitch of earuestness as to be
about to stone the officers.
Is. Stoned. 26. We recall the death Of st.
Stephen by stoning. THE Jews once were set
on stoning Christ. ST. John, / :3l-33. 1t
seemed that stoning was natural sort of way
in which Jews manifested hatred. ST. Matt,
81: 80. 1t was their moth0d of capital punish
ment. 1910
l6. straitly. g. Strictly. specifically. See
4:1s. There was INTENSITY in the command.
Severe punishment for disobedicnce is implied.
II. This name. 90. The name of Jesus. We
sec the animus of their ,apprehensons.
-. Filled Jerusalem. Just what Christ ex-
pceted them to do. See 1:S.
10. Blood on ns. %. We recall st. Matt,
27:25 The defense of ST. Peter Tvs. 29-32)
shows hc took advantage of these words of the
Sanhedrim. He charged them with the guilt
Christ-they who were on trial-the persons
{prisoners) against whom charges had been
brought-in turn accuse the Court tSanhedrim,
tt0 hndU fPui n fhor Anfsr rAn H1no