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for the murder of Christ。 They decided to take strong measures to prevent
this。
When they sent for the prisoners to be brought before them； great was their
amazement at the word brought back that the prison doors were found to be
securely bolted and the guard stationed before them； but that the prisoners
were nowhere to be found。
Soon the astonishing report came； 〃Behold； the men whom ye put in prison are
standing in the temple； and teaching the people。 Then went the captain with
the officers； and brought them without violence： for they feared the people；
lest they should have been stoned。〃
Although the apostles were miraculously delivered from prison； they were not
safe from examination and punishment。 Christ had said when He was with them；
〃Take heed to yourselves： for they shall deliver you up to councils。〃 Mark
13：9。 By sending an angel to deliver them； God had given them a token of His
love and an assurance of His presence。 It was now their part to suffer for
the sake of the One whose gospel they were preaching。
In the history of prophets and apostles； are many noble examples of loyalty
to God。 Christ's witnesses have endured imprisonment； torture； and death
itself； rather than break God's commands。 The record left by Peter and John
is as heroic as any in the gospel dispensation。 As they stood for the second
time before the men who seemed bent on their destruction； no fear or
hesitation could be discerned in their words or attitude。 And when the high
priest said； 〃Did we not straitly command you that ye should not teach in
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this name？ and； behold； ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine； and
intend to bring this Man's blood upon us；〃 Peter answered； 〃We ought to obey
God rather than men。〃 It was an angel from heaven who delivered them from
prison and bade them teach in the temple。 In following his directions they
were obeying the divine command； and this they must continue to do at
whatever cost to themselves。
Then the Spirit of Inspiration came upon the disciples； the accused became
the accusers； charging the murder of Christ upon those who composed the
council。 〃The God of our fathers raised up Jesus；〃 Peter declared； 〃whom ye
slew and hanged on a tree。 Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a
Prince and a Saviour； for to give repentance to Israel； and forgiveness of
sins。 And we are His witnesses of these things； and so is also the Holy
Ghost； whom God hath given to them that obey Him。〃
So enraged were the Jews at these words that they decided to take the law
into their own hands and without further trial； or without authority from
the Roman officers； to put the prisoners to death。 Already guilty of the
blood of Christ； they were no eager to stain their hands with the blood of
His disciples。
But in the council there was one man who recognized the voice of God in the
words spoken by the disciples。 This was Gamaliel； a Pharisee of good
reputation and a man of learning and high position。 His clear intellect saw
that the violent step contemplated by the priests would lead to terrible
consequences。 Before addressing those present； he
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requested that the prisoners be removed。 He well knew the elements he had to
deal with； he knew that the murderers of Christ would hesitate at nothing in
order to carry out their purpose。
He then spoke with great deliberation and calmness； saying： 〃Ye men of
Israel； take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men。
For before these days rose up Theudas； boasting himself to be somebody； to
whom a number of men； about four hundred； joined themselves： who was slain；
and all； as many as obeyed him； were scattered； and brought to nought。 After
this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing； and drew away
much people after him： he also perished； and all； even as many as obeyed
him； were dispersed。 And now I say unto you； Refrain from these men； and let
them alone： for if this counsel or this work be of men； it will come to
nought： but if it be of God； ye cannot overthrow it； lest haply ye be found
even to fight against God。〃
The priests saw the reasonableness of these views； and were obliged to agree
with Gamaliel。 Yet their prejudice and hatred could hardly be restrained。
Very reluctantly； after beating the disciples and charging them again at the
peril of their lives to preach no more in the name of Jesus； they released
them。 〃And they departed from the presence of the council； rejoicing that
they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name。 And daily in the
temple； and in every house； they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus
Christ。〃
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Shortly before His crucifixion Christ had bequeathed to His disciples a
legacy of peace。 〃Peace I leave with you；〃 He said； 〃My peace I give unto
you： not as the world giveth； give I unto you。 Let not your heart be
troubled； neither let it be afraid。〃 John 14：27。 This peace is not the peace
that comes through conformity to the world。 Christ never purchased peace by
compromise with evil。 The peace that Christ left His disciples is internal
rather than external and was ever to remain with His witnesses through
strife and contention。
Christ said of Himself； 〃Think not that I am come to send peace on earth： I
came not to send peace； but a sword。〃 Matthew 10：34。 The Prince of Peace； He
was yet the cause of division。 He who came to proclaim glad tidings and to
create hope and joy in the hearts of the children of men； opened a
controversy that burns deep and arouses intense passion in the human heart。
And He warns His followers； 〃In the world ye shall have tribulation。〃 〃They
shall lay their hands on you； and persecute you； delivering you up to the
synagogues； and into prisons； being brought before kings and rulers for My
name's sake。〃 〃Ye shall be betrayed both by parents； and brethren； and
kinsfolks； and friends； and some of you shall they cause to be put to
death。〃 John 16：33； Luke 21：12； 16。
This prophecy has been fulfilled in a marked manner。 Every indignity；
reproach； and cruelty that Satan could instigate human hearts to devise； has
been visited upon the followers of Jesus。 And it will be again fulfilled in
a marked manner； for the carnal heart is still at enmity with the law of
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God； and will not be subject to its commands。 The world is no more in
harmony with the principles of Christ today than it was in the days of the
apostles。 The same hatred that prompted the cry； 〃Crucify Him！ crucify Him！〃
the same hatred that led to the persecution of the disciples； still works in
the children of disobedience。 The same spirit which in the Dark Ages
consigned men and women to prison； to exile； and to death； which conceived
the exquisite torture of the Inquisition； which planned and executed the
Massacre of St。 Bartholomew； and which kindled the fires of Smithfield； is
still at work with malignant energy in unregenerate hearts。 The history of
truth has ever been the record of a struggle between right and wrong。 The
proclamation of the gospel has ever been carried forward in this world in
the face of opposition； peril； loss； and suffering。
What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered persecution for
Christ's sake？ It was union with God； union with the Holy Spirit； union with
Christ。 Reproach and persecution have separated many from earthly friends；
but never from the love of Christ。 Never is the tempest…tried soul more
dearly loved by His Saviour than when he is suffering reproach for the
truth's sake。 〃I will love him；〃 Christ said； 〃and will manifest Myself to
him。〃 John 14：21。 When for the truth's sake the believer stands at the bar
of earthly tribunals； Christ stands by his side。 When he is confined within
prison walls； Christ manifests Himself to him and cheers his heart with His
love。 When he suffers death for Christ's sake； the Saviour says to him； They
may kill the body； but they cannot hurt the soul。 〃Be of good cheer； I
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have overcome the world。〃 〃Fear thou not； for I am with thee： be not
dismayed； for I am thy God： I will strengthen thee； yea； I will help thee；
yea； I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness。〃 John
16：33； Isaiah 41：10。
〃They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion； which cannot be
removed； but abideth forever。 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem； so
the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever。〃 〃He shall
redeem their soul from deceit and violence： and precious shall their blood
be in His sight。〃 Psalms 125：1…3； 72：14。
〃The Lord of hosts shall defend them； 。 。 。 the Lord their God shall save
them in that day as the flock of His people： for they shall be as the stones
of a crown； lifted up as an ensign upon His land。〃 Zechariah 9：15； 16。
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Chapter 9
The Seven Deacons
In those days； when the number of the disciples was multiplied； there arose
a murmuring of the Grecians again