Evening star., 1927-05-28
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON
PETER UNDAUNTED BY
PERSECUTION.
Golden Text-We must obey
God rather than men. Acts,
y,29,

Memorial day recalls to America the
memory Of the nations heroic dead.
They endured the perils of war out
of a love for freedom and a desire to
perpetuate among men the principles
Of democracy. They were inspired in
their struggles by the ideals and prin-
ciples Of religious liberty that Peter
championed when the apostles were
arrested and brought to trial before
"the Sanhedrin and all the Council
of the Elders of the sons of Israel
The greatest struggles Of the past
have been those made in its defense,
and the most significant and glorious
triumphs for oppressed humanity have
vindicated the same principles. 1t is
being championed today in China,
Mexico, Rumania, Russia, and In
other lands by the followers of the
Lord Jesus, who are following in
the train of the martyrs of the past
by their courage and willingness to
suffer for the glory of the Master.
The Sadducees had tried to intimi-
date and silence Peter and John at
their first arrest without success.
They observed then that their courage
had been derived from the Christ. The
punishment. inflicted upon Ananias
and Sapphira for their attempt "to
embezzle" the Lords money and cover
up the same by lying about it, had
aroused to zeal Of the apostles. They
had won the respect of the masses
by their healing ministry and teach
ing. The sick We're carried into the
city streets of Jerusalem from the
neighboring towns SO that the
shadow of Peter might fall upon
them. Their popularity and growth
had filled the Sadducees with jealusy,
hatred and a determination to crush
the rising sect, SO that they had the
apostles arrested and placed in the
common prison, planning TO destroy
the leaders of the movement by
bringing them before the Council of
the Elders, who had a limited juris-
diction under the Roman law.
The surprised authorities were up
set by the failure of the officers to
produce the apostles the next morn
ing to receive the verdict that had
been agreed upon by the Sadducees,
who controlled the court. The re-
port of their escape by means of
some unknown spiritual power filled
them with perplexity. When they
learned that although the apostles
had escaped they We're teaching
and the worshipers could hear them
and ask them questions, they or
dered that the IL be arrested and
be brought before the Sanhedrin.
When arraigned before the court the
| high priest charged the apostles with
having disobeyed the court, defying
| the orders of the Sanhedrin, preach
ing the gospel, and plotting to bring
upon them the blood of Jesus. al
though they were careful not to men,
ton Him by name. In reply to these
charges, which revealed the fear.
jealousy and spite of the court, Peter
made courageous stand for religious
liberty.
Peter Champions Liberty.
Undaunted by the bias and power
of the great religious and judicial
assembly, the apostle proclaimed the
principle OF soul freedom by his dec
| laration, I'VE must obey God" Every
person will acknowledge that he took
the correct position, even though he
may find It difficult to apply 1t In
his own life. Tie conservative spirit
will frx1h0ld fhkN{1a6f In 0puOSittou To