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that it may cripple them in their efforts to acquire property or gratify the
desires of their families。
It is God who blesses men with property； and He does this that they may be
able to give toward the advancement of His cause。 He sends the sunshine and
the rain。 He causes vegetation to flourish。 He gives health and the ability
to acquire means。 All our blessings come from His bountiful hand。 In turn；
He would have men and women show their gratitude by returning Him a portion
in tithes and offeringsin thank offerings； in freewill offerings； in
trespass offerings。 Should means flow into the treasury in accordance with
this divinely appointed plan；a tenth of all the increase； and liberal
offerings；there would be an abundance for the advancement of the Lord's
work。
But the hearts of men become hardened through selfishness； and； like Ananias
and Sapphira； they are tempted to withhold part of the price； while
pretending to fulfill God's requirements。 Many spend money lavishly in
self…gratification。 Men and women consult their pleasure and gratify their
taste； while they bring to God； almost unwillingly； a stinted offering。 They
forget that God will one day demand a strict account of how His goods have
been used； and that He will no more accept the pittance they hand into the
treasury than He accepted the offering of Ananias and Sapphira。
From the stern punishment meted out to those perjurers； God would have us
learn also how deep is His hatred and contempt for all hypocrisy and
deception。 In pretending
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that they had given all； Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit； and；
as a result； they lost this life and the life that is to come。 The same God
who punished them； today condemns all falsehood。 Lying lips are an
abomination to Him。 He declares that into the Holy City 〃there shall in no
wise enter 。 。 。 anything that defileth； neither whatsoever worketh
abomination； or maketh a lie。〃 Revelation 21：27。 Let truth telling be held
with no loose hand or uncertain grasp。 Let it become a part of the life。
Playing fast and loose with truth； and dissembling to suit one's own selfish
plans； means shipwreck of faith。 〃Stand therefore； having your loins girt
about with truth。〃 Ephesians 6：14。 He who utters untruths sells his soul in
a cheap market。 His falsehoods may seem to serve in emergencies； he may thus
seem to make business advancement that he could not gain by fair dealing；
but he finally reaches the place where he can trust no one。 Himself a
falsifier； he has no confidence in the word of others。
In the case of Ananias and Sapphira； the sin of fraud against God was
speedily punished。 The same sin was often repeated in the after history of
the church and is committed by many in our time。 But though it may not be
attended by the visible manifestation of God's displeasure； it is no less
heinous in His sight now than in the apostles' time。 The warning has been
given； God has clearly manifested His abhorrence of this sin； and all who
give themselves up to hypocrisy and covetousness may be sure that they are
destroying their own souls。
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Chapter 8
Before the Sanhedrin
It was the cross； that instrument of shame and torture； which brought hope
and salvation to the world。 The disciples were but humble men； without
wealth； and with no weapon but the word of God； yet in Christ's strength
they went forth to tell the wonderful story of the manger and the cross； and
to triumph over all opposition。 Without earthly honor or recognition； they
were heroes of faith。 From their lips came words of divine eloquence that
shook the world。
In Jerusalem； where the deepest prejudice existed； and where the most
confused ideas prevailed in regard to Him who had been crucified as a
malefactor； the disciples continued to speak with boldness the words of
life； setting before the Jews the work and mission of Christ； His
crucifixion； resurrection； and ascension。 Priests and rulers heard with
amazement the clear； bold testimony of the apostles。 The power of the risen
Saviour had indeed fallen on the
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disciples； and their work was accompanied by signs and miracles that daily
increased the number of believers。 Along the streets where the disciples
were to pass； the people laid their sick 〃on beds and couches； that at the
least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them。〃 Here
also were brought those vexed with unclean spirits。 The crowds gathered
round them； and those who were healed shouted the praises of God and
glorified the name of the Redeemer。
The priests and rulers saw that Christ was extolled above them。 As the
Sadducees； who did not believe in a resurrection； heard the apostles
declaring that Christ had risen from the dead； they were enraged； realizing
that if the apostles were allowed to preach a risen Saviour； and to work
miracles in His name； the doctrine that there would be no resurrection would
be rejected by all； and the sect of the Sadducees would soon become extinct。
The Pharisees were angry as they perceived that the tendency of the
disciples' teaching was to undermine the Jewish ceremonies； and make the
sacrificial offerings of no effect。
Hitherto all the efforts made to suppress this new teaching had been in
vain； but now both Sadducees and Pharisees determined that the work of the
disciples should be stopped； for it was proving them guilty of the death of
Jesus。 Filled with indignation； the priests laid violent hands on Peter and
John； and put them in the common prison。
The leaders in the Jewish nation had signally failed of fulfilling God's
purpose for His chosen people。 Those
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whom the Lord had made the depositaries of truth had proved unfaithful to
their trust； and God chose others to do His work。 In their blindness these
leaders now gave full sway to what they called righteous indignation against
the ones who were setting aside their cherished doctrines。 They would not
admit even the possibility that they themselves did not rightly understand
the word； or that they had misinterpreted or misapplied the Scriptures。 They
acted like men who had lost their reason。 What right have these teachers；
they said； some of them mere fishermen； to present ideas contrary to the
doctrines that we have taught the people？ Being determined to suppress the
teaching of these ideas； they imprisoned those who were presenting them。
The disciples were not intimidated or cast down by this treatment。 The Holy
Spirit brought to their minds the words spoken by Christ： 〃The servant is
not greater than his lord。 If they have persecuted Me； they will also
persecute you； if they have kept My saying； they will keep yours also。 But
all these things will they do unto you for My name's sake； because they know
not Him that sent Me。〃 〃They shall put you out of the synagogues： yea； the
time cometh； that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God
service。〃 〃These things have I told you； that when the time shall come； ye
may remember that I told you of them。〃 John 15：20； 21； 16：2； 4。
The God of heaven； the mighty Ruler of the universe； took the matter of the
imprisonment of the disciples into His own hands； for men were warring
against His work。 By night
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the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and said to the disciples；
〃Go； stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this
life。〃 This command was directly contrary to the order given by the Jewish
rulers； but did the apostles say； We cannot do this until we have consulted
the magistrates and received permission from them？ No； God had said； 〃Go；〃
and they obeyed。 〃They entered into the temple early in the morning； and
taught。〃
When Peter and John appeared among the believers and recounted how the angel
had led them directly through the band of soldiers guarding the prison；
bidding them resume the work that had been interrupted； the brethren were
filled with amazement and joy。
In the meantime the high priest and those with him had 〃called the council
together； and all the senate of the children of Israel。〃 The priests and
rulers had decided to fix upon the disciples the charge of insurrection； to
accuse them of murdering Ananias and Sapphira； and of conspiring to deprive
the priests of their authority。 They hoped so to excite the mob that it
would take the matter in hand and deal with the disciples as it had dealt
with Jesus。 They were aware that many who did not accept the teachings of
Christ were weary of the arbitrary rule of the Jewish authorities and
anxious for some change。 The priests feared that if these dissatisfied ones
were to accept the truths proclaimed by the apostles； and were to
acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah； the anger of the entire people would be
raised against the religious leaders； who would then be made to answer
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for the murder of Christ。 They decided to take strong measures to prevent
this。
When they