The Detroit times., 1916-02-02


This Is story for all spineless,
cautious, calculating, prudent and
"safe" folks. II portrays tive fisher
men. called TO account for a deed of
mercy, the healing Of a lame beg
gar. successfully withstanding the
powerful and adroit and sophisticat-
ed leaders of their time. When the
issue was Joined, II was not the two
unlettered Galileans who were put
to rout. but the timorous custodians
OF self interest. The incident was
momentous I'm Christian history, for
II was the first proof to the world.
and to the old-order of religion, that
the leaders OF the new church were
men with spines. II hall-marked
the Christians with the word bold
ness"
Power. OF the physical. legal sort,
IL usually with the old order the
innoyator, the reformer, the prophet.
is commonly looked upon at first as
a law-breaker. After the sensation
al healing of the lame man by the
beautiful gate, and the uproar and
preaching that followed II, the tenn
pie police clapped Peter and John
into Jail. Then they were hailed be-
fore the sanhedrin, the high court
OF the Jews, In the morning. These
ecclesiastics. who had ut lately
done Jesus to death. were minded to
try the same methods with His fol-
lowers, for the conversion OF five
thousand men to the new Way
troubled them sorely. They were
ready for summary measures as
they set the two apostles in the
midst OF the stately array of digni-
taries and challenged them, What
do you mean by all this?'
Less than two months before, at
the same place, and during a sitting
of the same august tribunal. Simon
Peter had been so badly scared that
he had denied with curses that he
ever knew Jesus. Now, with un-
abashed fearlessness, and with a
suavity and deftness and power that
more than matched the cunning of
these doctors of the law, he con-
fronts them with an address that is
a defense of himself. The story is
best told by DR.. Luke, the historian;
Then Peter, flied with Holy
C~srtt .,id unto tbayp Xa r,,laro nf
the people. and elders. II we this
day are examined concerning good
deed done to an impotent man. by
what means this man Is made
whole: be II known until you all,
and to all the people of Israel, that
In the name of Jesus Christ OF Naz-
areth, whom We crucified, whom God
raised from the dead, even in Him
doth this man stand here before yon
whole. He Is the stone which was
set at nought of you the builders,
which was made the head of the
corner. And In none other is there
salvation: for neither is there any
other name under heaven, that Is
given among men, wherein we must
be saved
"Now when they beheld the bold.
ness of Peter and John, and had
perceived that they were unlearned
and ignorant men, they marvelled;
and they took knowledge of them,
that they had been with Jesus. And
seeing the man that was healed
standing with them. they could say
nothing against it, But when they
had commanded them to go aside
out OF the council, they conferred
among themselves. saying, What
shall we do TO these men? for that
indeed a notable miracle hath been
wrought through them, is manifest
TO all who dwell in Jerusalem; and
we cannot deny t. But that 1t
spread no further among the peo-
pie. let us threaten them, that they
speak henceforth to no man in this
name. And they called them. and
charged them not to speak at all
nor teach in the name OF Jesus. But
Peter and John answered and said
unto them, Whether IL is right in
the sight OF God to hearken unto
you rather than unto God, Judge
ye: for we cannot but speak the
things which we saw and heard.