The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-07-11

:21-25. 80.
The Miracle. Shortly after
Pentecost, Peter and John were
going into the Temple one after
noon about three o'clock when
thew were confronted with a beg
gar. lame from birth and lying at
! the Gate Beautiful asking aims OF
| the passers-by. Arresting his at
tention. Peter said to him: "Silver
and gold have none; but such as
have give l thee: In the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise
nm and walk" Then he took him
bv the right hand, and lifted him
up. Instantly faith rose in his
heart, and strength went down in
to his unused feet and. ankles, so
that, when he found himself on
his feet, he "stood, and walked;
and entered with them into the
temple, walking, and leaplng' and
praising God"
The Stir. This mighty work oc-
curing in the most public spot in
the city, at the most public hour
of the day created tremendous
commotion within few moments.
| Everybody who frequented the
Temple had long known the lame
bepgar, and so now vast throng
crowded upon Solomon's porch
around Peter and John to whom
their beneficiary was still CRATE
fully clinging.
The Sermon. To the wonder
ing multitude Peter delivered the
second of his recorded sermons.
He assured the people that the
miracle was wrought not by his
power, but in the name of jesus
whom they had denied and deliv.
cred up to death, but whom God
had raised, and who, throug h faith
| in his name, had given this beg
oar perfect soundness in the
presence of you all" He con-
coded their ignorance of the
enormity of their crime in the
crucifixion of Jesus, but urged
them to repentance and showed
that Jesus fulfilled the Messlanic
prophecies of old, as revealed to
Moses and Abraham.
The Arrest. The preaching OF
Peter on Solomon's porch attract
ed the, temple authorities. The
Sadducees were particularly in
censed at Peter for preaching
| through Jesus the resurrection OF
the dead. 1t was at their instance
I therefore, chat Peter. and John
were arrested, and, since it was
now too. late in the day to have
the trial, they were imprisoned
overnight. 1t was the first blow
which, in the name of the law,
had been struck at the infant
church. Though some probably
wavered under it, it nevertheless
turned out for the furtherance OF
the gospel and the growth OF the
church. Many who heard the SER
mon accepted it's truth and be-
Heved on Christ; in fact, the num-
her of men, who doubtless pre-
Nominated in the church, was
about five thousand.
WITNESS UNDER LEGAL g..
PERSECUTION (Aets ~
Force with its bludgeon of jeal.
ousy and hate cannot destroy
Christianity. See the courage OF
Peter and John; (1) The test OF
courage came so much when they
were arrested late in the after
noon, or during the night they
spent in prison, as when they
were arraigned next morning be,
fore the Sanhedrin which included
such prominent members as An.
mas, the former high priest, and
Caiaphas, the acting high priest,
and John and Alexander, who
were evidently Influential in that
Lsupreme council of the Jews!m Set
| in the midst of the imposing
court, Peter and John were asked
THE secret of the healing of the
lame man. Under impulse of the
Spirit, Peter replied that the
miracle, was wrought by Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, concerning
whom he made two statements
requiring courage: "Whom ye
court; and, "Whom God, raised
from the dead"-a straight blow
at the Sadducees. He also accused
/ the nation of setting at naug hit
1.-THE Stone which had become the
head of the corner. He declared
that the crucified and risen Christ
Twas the worlds one and Only Saw
tious. Was a witness ever more
brave and faithful? (2) The tri-
umph of courage was, evident,
first of all, in the impression
which Peters address made upon
the Sanhedrin. They marveled at
the boldness of Peter and John,
saw that they were unschooled,
and realized that they had been
diligent disciples of Jesus. More
over, the healed man himself was
| present as irrefutable evidence of
the miracle and the message of
the apostles. The Sanhedrin went
into executive session and agreed
that they could not deny what
everybody knew, for q, notable
miracle had certainly been per
formed In their dilemma they
decided upon a policy of repres-
sion. Therefore recalling the
apostles before them, they strict
! ly ordered them to stop all teach
ing and preaching in the name of
Jesus. But Peter and John in
stantly retorted that with them
the voice of God must be weigh
tier than the mandate of the San
'hedrin. Still, there was nothing
for the court to do but further 20
threaten the apostles and then let
them 60. They dared not punish
face of popular opinion. Chris
tan courage had won the day..
/ xxTTTAIE TINTED TNTEII EFT