Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-11

Christianity was Graded in Judaism.
Our lessen shows us how in the very
first stages of its development the
aDo.i les, like their Lord, followed the
o'os-rvance of the Jewish religious wor-
ship. In fact, in its early days the'e
appears no evidence that they consid-
c ed Themselves anything more than
Jewish sect. The spiritual movement
did r1t separate them from its Jewish
fellowship until a series Of differences
broke the ties of nationalism and re-
lieious fellowship. This forced the new
faith to take the plare appointed to 1t
by lis Founder and Divine Leader. In
that development preaching was dis
tinctive factor Although the prophets
PLAYED prominent part in the religious
life of the Hebrews, Broadus tells us
that preaching Is characteristic OF
Christianity"
One of the first clashes of the apos
ties with the religious leaders grew out
of their healing lame man. One eve
ming. when Peter and John were about
to enter the temple to worship, their
attention was attracted by an appeal
of an unfol tunafe man, who through
"congenital weakness of the ankle
Joint had not been able to walk during
his whole life of 40 years. He had sought
aims llOiH tieill, as tHey "ClS aooue W
enter the Beautiful Gate. When Peter
recognized that the man had faith, the
apostle followed the manner of the
Lord jesus, under the impulse OF the
Holy Spirit, and healed him. This first
miracle of the apostles demonstrated
virtually that the Lord Jesus had re-
turned in spiritual power to do. thi ough
His apostles greater work even than he
had performed in person.
Rumors of the miraculous healing
quickly spread through the temple, for
the former besgar at the Beautiful Gate
was well known. In reply to the ques-
lions of the multitude at the close of
the evening hour of wo' ship. Peter
pointed out, following closely the lines
of his message at Pentecost that ex-
planned the miracle wrought in his life
that Jesus was the Worker through
whom the man had been healed. The
spirit of Peter was wholly different from
what it was at PentecoSt. He charged
his own people with the responsibility
of Christ's death. claiming that PLATE
would have let Him go free, II they
had not denied Jesus. He appeals to
them as Jew, to repent in order that
the promised times of refreshing may
come. While in his demands that they
repent we see distinct note that
linked his message with that Of the
Baptist and the Lord Jesus. Peters
promise to them as reward for their
repentance was distinctly Jewish.
Religious Persecution Commences.
Mcnths may have passed since the
day of Pentecost. but the excitement IN
the temple and the promised return of
the Lord Jesus compelled the religious
leaders to pay some attention to the
apostles. They secured the arrest Of
Peter and John. charging that they had
taught the people without any proper
ecclesiastical authority and preached
the resurrection. Peters sermon had
aroused their antagonism, and they
were imprisoned for the night. The
numbers had kept growing, for there
were 5000 who had accepted Christ
Jesus as their Risen Lord and Master.
The increase showed Peters power as a
preacher and winner of souls.
convened to try the apostles. 1t was a
nation, it was the most venerable and
authoritative court in the world. The
members were believed to be the lineal
representatives of the 10 elders, who
had acted as assessors for Moses. They
retained. under Roman rule, consid-
cradle authority in secular matters and
almost unlimited in spiritual affairs.
The worship of the temple had been
interfered with by the action OF the
healed man, but he was not arrested.
His healers were before them, because
they had preached the resurrection OF