第17章

The enemies of the disciples could not but be convinced that Christ had risen from the dead.The evidence was too clear to be doubted.Nevertheless, they hardened their hearts, refusing to repent of the terrible deed they had committed in putting Jesus to death.Abundant evidence that the apostles were speaking and acting under divine inspiration had been given the Jewish rulers, but they firmly resisted the message of truth.Christ had not come in the manner that they expected, and though at times they had been convinced that He was the Son of God, yet they had stifled conviction, and crucified Him.In mercy God gave them still further evidence, and now another opportunity was granted them to turn to Him.He sent the disciples to tell them that they had killed the Prince of life, and in this terrible charge He gave them another call to repentance.But feeling secure in their own righteousness, the Jewish teachers refused to admit that the men charging them with crucifying Christ were speaking by the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Having committed themselves to a course of opposition to Christ, every act of resistance became to the priests an additional incentive to pursue the same course.Their obstinacy became more and more determined.It was not that they could not yield; they could, but would not.It was not 62alone because they were guilty and deserving of death, not alone because they had put to death the Son of God, that they were cut off from salvation;it was because they armed themselves with opposition to God.They persistently rejected light and stifled the convictions of the Spirit.The influence that controls the children of disobedience worked in them, leading them to abuse the men through whom God was working.The malignity of their rebellion was intensified by each successive act of resistance against God and the message He had given His servants to declare.Every day, in their refusal to repent, the Jewish leaders took up their rebellion afresh, preparing to reap that which they had sown.

The wrath of God is not declared against unrepentant sinners merely because of the sins they have committed, but because, when called to repent, they choose to continue in resistance, repeating the sins of the past in defiance of the light given them.If the Jewish leaders had submitted to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, they would have been pardoned; but they were determined not to yield.In the same way, the sinner, by continued resistance, places himself where the Holy Spirit cannot influence him.

On the day following the healing of the cripple, Annas and Caiaphas, with the other dignitaries of the temple, met together for the trial, and the prisoners were brought before them.In that very room and before some of those very men, Peter had shamefully denied his Lord.This came distinctly to his mind as he appeared for his own trial.He now had an opportunity of redeeming his cowardice.

Those present who remembered the part that Peter had 63acted at the trial of his Master, flattered themselves that he could now be intimidated by the threat of imprisonment and death.But the Peter who denied Christ in the hour of His greatest need was impulsive and self-confident, differing widely from the Peter who was brought before the Sanhedrin for examination.Since his fall he had been converted.He was no longer proud and boastful, but modest and self-distrustful.He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and by the help of this power he was resolved to remove the stain of his apostasy by honoring the name he had once disowned.

Hitherto the priests had avoided mentioning the crucifixion or the resurrection of Jesus.But now, in fulfillment of their purpose, they were forced to inquire of the accused how the cure of the impotent man had been accomplished."By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" they asked.

With holy boldness and in the power of the Spirit Peter fearlessly declared:

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."This courageous defense appalled the Jewish leaders.They had supposed that the disciples would be overcome with fear and confusion when brought before the Sanhedrin.

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But, instead, these witnesses spoke as Christ had spoken, with a convincing power that silenced their adversaries.There was no trace of fear in Peter's voice as he declared of Christ, "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner."Peter here used a figure of speech familiar to the priests.The prophets had spoken of the rejected stone; and Christ Himself, speaking on one occasion to the priests and elders, said: "Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Matthew 21:42-44.