The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-08

as calmly as they ever walked out of their
| own homes. They were directed to GO,
stand and speak in the temple to the people,
all the words of this life Verse 2O) AT
| once they went and did as they were di-
rected. ... t.
The next morning the members of the San
| hedrim met in their usual place, as they had
probably agreed to do. They knew nothing
Of what had occurred in the night, or that
their wall of sand had been swept away. So
at the proper hour they sent their officers to
the prison to bring their prisoners before
the% But the officers soon returned empty
! everything about the prison as it should be.
The guards were standing at the doors, and
! there was no evidence that they had either
! duty during the night; and the doors of the
prison were as securely locked as when they
were closed upon their prisoners. But the
prisoners were not there, and one could
! tell what had become of Them
! When the council received this report "they
doubted of them whereunto this would grow. .
| (Verse 24) And no wonder. If the bolts
and bars of the PUBLIC ward'' could not hold
| these men, what could?
came greatly increased and knew no bounds,
for there "came one and told them. Behold
the men whom We put in prison are standing
in the temple and teaching the people; ;"
bring them without violence Willingly
and without hesitation Peter and John went
of their own integrity, and in the sure conf
dence that the Lord was with them. Such
consciousness and confidence always give both
So they stood again before the council and
their examination began. The charge laid
against them contained two counts, wiz
| First-That they had openly violated the
command Of the Sanhedrim 's'not. to speak at
all nor teach in the name Of Jesus" Gy., 49,
| second-That in their teaching they had
charged the members Of the Sanhedrim with
murder III putting Jesus to death: at least
they said ..Ye intend to bring this mans
blood upon u.s." Verse, 28)
/ foo = f,c+ f1n fIcoo
what they had said when the command was
osEpt seS s0p
selves firmly on that foundation upon which
all true liberty rests, the right, to freedom of
conscience. So there was nothing more to
be said on that phase of the Indictment.
AS for the second count, Peter and John
admitted, that it was true, but not, in any such
and judges It was not With the wilfuI muir
der Of Jesus that they charged themsbut as
Peter had said on the DAY of Pentecost, :"
and reiterated in many forms afterwards,
! Him, being delivered bya the discriminate
counsel and foreknowledgeW of God, We have
taken and by wicked >, hands have erucified
! We did it, that chose things which God be-
fore had Showed by the mouth Of all His
prophets that Christ should suffer, He" might
| Thus it was not a defense to .vindicate them
selves which the apostles made, but a, sermon
Fl he ,n6 6e p their
| babe them look on him whom they had pierced
/ Czech, xii, 10Y, for him '--they sabbath
I God exalted with his right hand to be a
| prince and savior for to give repentance to
| Israel and forgiveness of sins ". 3D.. They
! asked neither pardon nor liberty for them
selves but as the ambassadors of God, they
] offered both to their judges.
! 1t was indeed strange scene for court
/ Of lustice-the prisoners at the bar Offering
| pardon to the judges on the bench. 1t was
/ a wonderful offer and it was not limited to
1 them 1t is universal. It declares that Jesus
| Christ, the son of God. has been 2''exalted
{ to give repentance-and forgiveness OF sins .
/ Not Repentance" and then forgiveness y
| Not forgiveness because Of Repentance .
4 But repentance, and, forgiveness '--one gift in
/ toward God without forgiveness by God.
! And there is no forgiveness" by Cod with
] out Repentance toward him., Both are the
| gift, the free gift Of him who is .'exlated
! to be prince and savior-both Lord and
] Christ" iii, 36.)
1! But these gracious words fell on hard and
/ obstinate hearts. Instead of looking by faith
4 upon him whom they had pierced they
CRASHED with their teeth upon his messengers,
\ land took counsel to slay them, ". 3S.) Il
seemed now as If tho storm was about to
1 break out upon them with increased force.
1 But the Lord Of all storms said: Peace, be
STILL For all unexpectedly. a cool. wise
head rose up out of their midst and reasoned
i calmly with them. 1t was Gamaliel, the
4 teacher of Saul Of Tarsus, and one Of the most
4 learned rabbis sof the day. In a few calm
q words he showed them that every other out
i break OF popular enthusiasm-as they sup
lposed this TO be--had soon spent ITSELF and