The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-23

whether he went voluntarily, we cannot
tell; but it is certain that after the night
in ward,-that is. in the confinement
customary with those who are held for
trial by the Sanhedrim,-he was by
their side in the morning.
Meanwhile the multitude that had
listened to Peter, and had beheld the
power of the name of Christ demon
strated in the cure of the lame man, did
not awake from the spell of the Spirit
when the arrest was made. The church
a short time before numbered three
thousand; now its number was speedily
augmented to five thousand.
2. The Testimony OF the Apos-
ties, We. 5-12.
The Sanhedrim was the modern repro
duction Of the Court of Seventy Elders
appointed by Moses; it's number, like
that of the older court. was seventy, be
sides the presiding officer, who was usu
ally the high priest. The Sanhedrim
had come into special prominence dur
ing the century preceding our lesson
date; and while its power to infiict the
death-penalty had been annulled by the
Romans, it was still the court having
authority to declare heresies, excommu-
nications, and to recommend TO the Ro-
man governor subjects to death by ston-
ing or the cross
Before this august court the apostles
we're in the morning summoned. This
session of the Sanhedrim. because it
had the trial of the apostles in hand.
was attended by renowned dignitaries
who did not attend when there were
only the customary judgments to render.
Annas, the esteemed high priest who
had been disposed from the high priest
hood by the Romans. was there, as
member of the court, to help solve by
his sagacity the problem now confront
ing the Jews, namely, how to deal with
the new Nazarene heresy which had 50
suddenly spread through the city.
Caiaphas, son-in-law of Annas. and the
high priest by Roman appointment. was
also present. And two lawyers of note in
their day, named John and Alexander.
were also there. to give to the proceedings
the benefit OF their legal acumen. The
representatives of the Jews. Pharisees
and Sadducses alike, understood thata
critical matter for their people was now
demanding attention.
The seventy judges sat in semi-circe
around their nall, the high priest mid
way; the space before them was left open.
Into this open space Peter and john
and the healed lame man were brought
As it would. according to jewish prece-
dent, not accord with the dignity of the
judges for the prisoners to stand while
they were seated, the apostles were set"
in their midst; they we're privileged to
sit in Oriental fashion on the pave
ment.
The question is asked of the apostles
by the prosecuting officer, probably An
mas; By lohat po,oer, or Ia a0hat name
haze ye done his9 That the cure has
been effected is conceded; the question
raised, on the answer to which it is hoped
charge OF sorcery may be based, is
what means they have used in working
the cure.
The reply by Peter is represented as
inspired by the Holy Spirit. 1t is aston
ishing alike for its fearlessness. its brew
ity, it's moral majesty: If ace this day
| nj
done to an impotent man. by avhot
means this man is made achOle. be 1T
knoaUn unto you all, and to all the peo-
pile of Israel, that IN the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, avhom ge crucifed,
aUhom God raised rom the dead. eUen IN
him doth this man stand here before
you lChoLe.
Peter, let us observe, accepts the issue
prepared for him. He admits the crime
of doing a good deed. He declares, to
the very court that condemned Jesus of
Nazareth to death. that it is Jesus,
raised from the dead, who has awakened
the faith that has wrought the cure.
The proof is the restored man himself;
who, at this point, we assume, rises and
stands before the court.
But Peter is not yet at the end Of his
testimony. He declares, using a com.
parison Jesus himself once drew. that
Jesus is the stone which was rejected by
the builders. but which was afterwards
made the head of the corner; that is: as
the temple-builders of old rejected a
peculiar stone for which they could find
no place, and left it in the rubbish, but
afterwards found that it was designed
for the chief stone of the corner. or the
keystone of the arch, 30 Jesus, rejected,
dishonored, cruciied, was now, through
his name. made the saving power of God.
In conclusion Peter fearlessly declares
that salvation for the Jewish nation can
come only through faith in the name Of
Christ. 1t is literal truth that it was
only by acceptance of the Gospel Of
Jesus that Israel could have been saved
from the doom then impending. In none
other is there salvation: for neither is
there any other name under heagen, that
is given among men. sohereby sCe must
be sdUed.
Peter speaks as Jew to fellow-Jews;
vet his words have world. wide aDDH-