Chapter 6—Peter and John Forbidden to Do Christ’s Work
This chapter is based on Acts 3; 4:1-31.
(TT 32)
A short time after the descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John, going up to the temple, saw at the gate Beautiful a cripple, forty years of age, whose life from birth had been one of pain. This unfortunate man had long desired to be healed but was far removed from the scene of Jesus’ labors. His pleadings at last induced some friends to bear him to the gate of the temple, but he found that the One on whom his hopes were centered had been put to death.
(TT 32.1)
Those who knew how long he had eagerly hoped to be healed by Jesus brought him to the temple daily, in order that passers-by might give him a trifle to relieve his wants. As Peter and John passed, he asked alms from them. Peter said, “Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none.” The countenance of the cripple fell, but the apostle continued: “But such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
(TT 32.2)
“And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: and they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple”
(TT 32.3)
And “all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.” Here was this man, for forty years a helpless cripple, rejoicing in the full use of his limbs and happy in believing in Jesus.
(TT 32.4)
Peter assured the people that the cure had been wrought through the merits of Jesus of Nazareth, whom God had raised from the dead. “His name through faith in His name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
(TT 33.1)
The apostles spoke plainly of the great sin of the Jews in putting to death the Prince of life, but they were careful not to drive their hearers to despair. “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just,” Peter said, “and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”“And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” RSV. He declared that the Holy Spirit was calling them to repent. Only by faith in the One whom they had crucified could their sins be forgiven.
(TT 33.2)
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted,” Peter cried, “that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”“God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”
(TT 33.3)
Many were waiting for this testimony, and when they heard it they believed and took their stand in the ranks of those who accepted the gospel.
(TT 33.4)
While the disciples were speaking, “the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
(TT 33.5)
The priests had spread the report that Christ’s body had been stolen by the disciples while the Roman guard slept. It is not surprising that they were displeased when they heard Peter and John preaching the resurrection of the One they had murdered. The Sadducees felt that their most cherished doctrine was in danger.
(TT 33.6)
Pharisees and Sadducees agreed that if these new teachers were to go unchecked, their own influence would be in greater danger than when Jesus was on earth. Accordingly, the captain of the temple, with the help of a number of Sadducees, arrested Peter and John and put them in prison.
(TT 34.1)
Abundant evidence that the apostles were speaking and acting under divine inspiration had been given the Jewish rulers, but they firmly resisted the truth. Though at times they had been convinced that Christ was the Son of God, they had stifled conviction and crucified Him. Now another opportunity was granted them to turn to Him. But the Jewish teachers refused to admit that the men charging them with crucifying Christ were speaking by direction of the Holy Spirit.
(TT 34.2)
Their obstinacy became more determined. It was not that they could not yield; they could, but would not. They persistently rejected light and stifled the convictions of the Spirit, their rebellion intensified by each successive act of resistance against the message God had given His servants to declare.
(TT 34.3)
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 defiance of light. 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.
(TT 34.4)
On the day following the healing of the cripple, Annas and Caiaphas met for the trial, and the prisoners were brought before them. In that very room, before some of those men, Peter had shamefully denied his Lord. He now had an opportunity of redeeming his cowardice. The Peter who denied Christ was impulsive and self-confident; but since his fall he had been converted. He was modest and self-distrustful, filled with the Holy Spirit, and was resolved to remove the stain of his apostasy by honoring the name he had once disowned.
(TT 34.5)
The priests were forced to inquire of the accused how the cure of the crippled man had been accomplished. With holy boldness Peter 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.”
(TT 35.1)
The Jewish leaders had supposed the disciples would be overcome with fear and confusion when brought before the Sanhedrin. Instead, these witnesses spoke 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 naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”
(TT 35.2)
As the priests listened to the apostles’ fearless words, “they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” When the disciples first heard the words of Christ, they felt their need of Him. They sought, they found, they followed Him, in the temple, at the table, on the mountainside, in the field. They were as pupils with a teacher, daily receiving from Him lessons of eternal truth.
(TT 35.3)
Jesus, the Saviour, who had walked and talked and prayed with them, had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. They knew that He was before the throne of God, their Friend and Saviour still, forever identified with suffering humanity. Their union with Him was stronger now than when He was with them in person. An indwelling Christ shone out through them, so that men, beholding, marveled.
(TT 35.4)
Close beside Peter as a convincing witness stood the man who had been miraculously healed. The appearance of this man added weight to Peter’s words. Priests and rulers were silent, unable to refute Peter’s statement, but they were nonetheless determined to put a stop to the teaching of the disciples.
(TT 35.5)
The priests had crucified Jesus, but here was convincing proof that they had not put a stop to the working of miracles in His name, nor to the proclamation of the truth He taught. The healing of the cripple and the preaching of the apostles had filled Jerusalem with excitement!
(TT 36.1)
The priests and rulers ordered the apostles to be taken away, that they might counsel among themselves. It would be useless to deny that the man had been healed. To cover up the miracle by falsehoods was impossible, for it had been wrought before a multitude of people. They felt that the work of the disciples must be stopped, or their own disgrace would follow.
(TT 36.2)
Calling them again before the Sanhedrin, the priests commanded them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” So, with repeated threats and injunctions, the apostles were set at liberty.
(TT 36.3)
While Peter and John were prisoners, the other disciples prayed unceasingly for their brethren, fearing that the cruelty shown to Christ might be repeated. As soon as the two apostles were released, they reported the result of the examination. Great was the joy of the believers. “They lifted their voices together to God and said, Sovereign Lord, ... look upon their threats, and grant to Thy servants to speak Thy word with all boldness, while Thou stretchest out Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Thy Holy Servant Jesus.” RSV.
(TT 36.4)
The disciples saw that they would meet the same determined opposition that Christ had encountered. While their united prayers were ascending in faith to heaven, the answer came. They were endowed anew with the Holy Spirit. Filled with courage, they again went forth to proclaim the word of God. “With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” And God blessed their efforts.
(TT 37.1)
The principle for which the disciples stood so fearlessly is the same that adherents of the gospel maintained in the days of the Reformation. At the Diet of Spires, in 1529, there was presented to the German princes the emperor’s decree restricting religious liberty and prohibiting further dissemination of the reformed doctrines. Would the princes accept the decree? Should the light of the gospel be shut out from multitudes still in darkness? Those who had accepted the reformed faith met together, and their unanimous decision was, “Let us reject this decree. In matters of conscience the majority has no power.”
(TT 37.2)
The banner of religious liberty held aloft by the founders of the gospel church and by God’s witnesses during the centuries since then, has, in this last conflict, been committed to our hands. We are to recognize human government as of divine appointment and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its legitimate sphere; but when its claims conflict with the claims of God, we must obey God rather than men. A “Thus saith the Lord” is not to be set aside for a “Thus saith the church” or a “Thus saith the state.”
(TT 37.3)
We are not to defy authorities. Our words should be carefully considered, lest we appear antagonistic to law and order. We are not to say or do anything that would unnecessarily close up our way of advocating the truths committed to us. If we are forbidden by men to do this work, then we may say, as did the apostles, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
(TT 37.4)