The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-06

who chose thus to serve cause which
he had learned to cherish wit heroic
faith.
The apostles obeyed the persu asive
command of this messenger OF the Lord.
In the early morning they were again in
Solomon's porch preaching the doctrines
Of the new Life.
About the same time, apparently, an
extra session of the Sanhedrim was
called. The regular session would have
occurred at the close of the hour of
morning prayer, about nine o'clock; but
it seems that the excitement attending
the arrest of the apostles warranted the
high priest in again calling together all
the senate, or honored seniors, of the
house of Israel, to devise if possible some
method of extirpating the defiant Naz
arene heresy.
When the council was duly opened the
order was given to the waiting police to
bring before the court the twelve pris-
oners held in confinement for trial. 1t
now appeared that the champions of the
new heresy we're in the grip of the law.
What is this? The chief of the guard
returns and reports: The prison house
aoe found shut in all safety. and the
keepers standing at the doors; but aOhea
a0e had opened, aoe found no man aoith
IN.
2. The Perplexity of the Coun-
cil-vs. 24-28.
| The council was amazed and Mortified
at this turn of affairs. The captain of
the temple police, by such an escape OF
prisoners. was touched 10 his Roman
honor. The chief priests, the heads of
the twenty -four classes wondered if the
public hold was to be no more at their
service in the war against disorder and
heresy? Would this Nazarene revolt
never yield to vigorous treatment?
Strange A cross docs not silence Jesus;
asepulchre does not hold him; prison
does not confine his apostles. In agi
tated amazement the council pondered
aohereunto this acould groto.
A hurrying messenger brings report
that the apostles are in the temple area
teaching, the same as before their arrest.
Under instruction of the perplexsd
council. the police officers the captain
of the temple in the lead go to bring in
the apostles. They brought them, but
a0ithout Uiolence. Did the temple police
ever before approach with Difference the
men they were sent to arrest? But these
officers Of the law know not against what
hidden forces they are contending; and
they also fear the fatal stone throwing
of an aroused populace. They entreat
the apostles to accompany them to the
Sanhedrim.
The apostles. having no purpose to re-
sist lawful authority, willingly accom-
pany the officers. Presently the twelve
stand before the august Sanhsdrim; the
court of seventy sitting in semi circle
at the right and left of the presiding
high-priest. Within the semi circle,
where Peter and John and the Master
himself once stood. the apostles are con-
Quoted.
The high priest opens by declaring
the indictment: We straitIy charge you
not to teach an this name: and behold
you haze filled Jerusalem aoith your
teaching. and intend to bring this man S
blood upon as. What a testimony is
this indictment itself 10 the heroic zeal
of theyoung church.
3. The Apostles must obey
God rather than men VS. % 30.
Peter and the apostles answered.
Peter is of course the spokesman. We
marvel that he was so often "the mouth
of the apostles" But no other could
speak like him. His eloquence, his
readiness, his intrepidity, his soundness
in judgment made him the gladly-ac.
knowledged leader.
Peters address as reported to US, is
very brief. He had genius for succinct
as we'll as courageous and weighty
speech.
We must he says, obey God rather
than men. The God of our fathers
raised up Jesus. aohom ye sleaC, hanging
him on tree. Him did God a0ith has
right hand eraH to be Prince and q
Saviour, for to give repentance to Is
rdel. and remission of sins. And a1e
are witnesses of these things; and so as
the Holy Ghost. lUhom God has giUen to
those that obey him.
Few speeches preserved in human an
nails equal this in terseness and in fear
less candor.
We revert to the phrase. God raised
up, to recall that according to Bible
usage it signifies, God brought into the
world" The employment Of the word
tree" instead of cross, is peculiar to
Peter among the New Testament writer's
| 10: 80; Is: 90; Peter l. 24). 1t is an
Hebraistic and softened way of referring
to the cross. Hanging on tree was an
ancient Hebrew method of capital pun
ishmsnt (Deut. 81: 22), while death by
the cross was distinctively Roman. BY
the employment of the word "tree"
Peter declared by implication that the
staying of Jesus was not alone an act of
the pagan Romans; it was tae act of the
Hebrew judges who condemned Jesus.
The effect of these words on the judges
| is we'll described: They, aChen they heard