The Review and Herald
February 9, 1911
Before the Sanhedrin Once More
The cross, that instrument of shame and torture, brought hope and salvation to the world. After the ascension of Christ, the disciples rallied. Their hopelessness and helplessness left them. They 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. RH February 9, 1911, par. 1
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, they continued to speak with boldness the words of life, setting before the Jews the work and mission of Christ, and his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Those who had crucified the Saviour had expected to find the disciples discouraged and crestfallen, ready to disown their Lord. They heard with amazement the clear, bold testimony of the apostles The power of the risen Saviour had indeed fallen on the disciples, and they worked signs and miracles that daily increased the number of believers. The people brought their sick, and those vexed with unclean spirits, into the streets, crowds collected round them, and those who had been healed shouted the praises of God, and glorified the name of the One whom the Jews had condemned, crowned with thorns, and crucified. RH February 9, 1911, par. 2
The priests and rulers saw that Christ was being extolled above them. They saw that there was danger of their doctrines being brought into disrepute, because the apostles were proclaiming that Christ had risen from the dead. The priests were greatly perplexed, especially those among them who were Sadducees. These saw that if the apostles were allowed to preach a risen Saviour, and to work miracles in his name, the doctrine that there was no resurrection of the dead would be rejected by all, and the sect of the Sadducees would soon become extinct. The Pharisees saw that the tendency of the teaching of the disciples would be to undermine the Jewish ceremonies, and make the sacrificial offerings of no effect. RH February 9, 1911, par. 3
Former efforts to suppress this new teaching had been in vain, but both Sadducees and Pharisees now determined that the work of the disciples must and should be stopped; for it was proving them guilty of the death of Jesus. They saw, too, that converts to the faith were multiplying. Filled with indignation, the priests laid violent hands upon 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 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 gave full sway to what they called righteous indignation against the ones who were setting aside cherished fables. They would not admit that there was a 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 men,” they said, “some of them mere fishermen, to present ideas contrary to the doctrines which we teach the people?” Determined to suppress the teaching of these ideas, they imprisoned those who were presenting them. RH February 9, 1911, par. 4
The disciples were not intimidated nor cast down by this treatment. The words of Christ in his last lesson to them were brought to their minds by the Holy Spirit: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.” “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.” RH February 9, 1911, par. 5
The God of heaven, the mighty Ruler of the universe, took the matter of the imprisonment of his servants into his own hands; for men were warring against his work. By night 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 can not do this until we have consulted the magistrates, and received permission from them”?—No; God said, “Go,” and they obeyed. “They entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.” RH February 9, 1911, par. 6
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. RH February 9, 1911, par. 7
In the meantime, “the high priest came, and they that were with him, and 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, and to accuse them of murdering Ananias and Sapphira, and of conspiring to deprive the priests of their authority, and put them to death. 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 decided 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 authorities, who would then be made to answer for the murder of Christ. They decided to take strong measures to prevent this. RH February 9, 1911, par. 8
They sent for the prisoners to be brought before them. Great was their amazement when the report was 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. RH February 9, 1911, par. 9
Soon the 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.” RH February 9, 1911, par. 10
Although the apostles were miraculously delivered from prison, they were not saved from examination and punishment. Christ had said, when he was with them, “Take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils.” God had given them a token of his care, and an assurance of his presence, by sending the angel to them. It was now their part to suffer for the sake of that Jesus whom they preached. RH February 9, 1911, par. 11
We have many noble examples of loyalty to the law of God in the history of the prophets and apostles, who endured imprisonment, torture, and death itself, rather than break one of God's commands. Peter and John have left a record 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 nor hesitation could be seen in their words or attitude. When the high priest said, “Did we not straitly command you that ye should not teach in 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 sent by God who delivered them from prison, and who commanded them to teach in the temple. In following his directions they were obeying the divine command, as they must continue to do at any cost to themselves. RH February 9, 1911, par. 12
The spirit of inspiration came upon the disciples, and 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.” RH February 9, 1911, par. 13
So enraged were the Jews at these words that they decided that without any further trial, and without authority from the Roman officers, they would take the law into their own hands, and put the prisoners to death. Already guilty of the blood of Christ, they were now eager to stain their hands with the blood of his disciples. RH February 9, 1911, par. 14
But in the council there was one man whose clear intellect saw that this violent step would lead to terrible consequences. This was Gamaliel, a Pharisee of high reputation and a man of learning and high position. A man of extreme caution, he requested the prisoners to be removed before he spoke in their behalf. 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 were slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to naught. 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 council or this work be of men, it will come to naught. But if it be of God, ye can not overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” RH February 9, 1911, par. 15
The priests, seeing the reasonableness of this view, 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 and again, at the peril of their lives, to preach no more in the name of Jesus, they released them. RH February 9, 1911, par. 16
“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.” RH February 9, 1911, par. 17
Shortly before his crucifixion, Christ 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.” This peace is not the peace that comes through conformity with the world. It is an internal rather than an external peace. Without will be wars and fightings, through the opposition of avowed enemies and the coldness and suspicion of those who claim to be friends. The peace of Christ was not to banish division; but it is to remain amid strife and division. RH February 9, 1911, par. 18
Though he bore the title of the Prince of Peace, Christ said of himself, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” By these words he did not mean that his coming was to produce discord and contention among his followers. He desired to show the effect that his teaching would have on different minds. One portion of the human family would receive him; the other portion would take sides with Satan, and would oppose Christ and his followers. 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.” RH February 9, 1911, par. 19
This prophecy has been fulfilled in a marked manner, and it will be fulfilled in a yet more marked manner; for the carnal mind is still at enmity with the law of God, and will not be subject to its commands. Every indignity, reproach, and cruelty that Satan can instigate human hearts to devise has been visited upon the followers of Jesus; and the world is no more in harmony with the principles of Christ today than it was in ages past. 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 that in the Dark Ages consigned men and women to prison, to exile, and to the stake, that conceived the exquisite tortures of the Inquisition, produced the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and kindled the fires of Smithfield, is still at work with malignant energy in unregenerate hearts. RH February 9, 1911, par. 20
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. It is this fellowship with the Saviour that will enable God's people to endure to the end in the time of trial before us. All heaven is interested in our warfare with evil, and awaits our demand upon its power. Neither wicked men nor evil spirits can hinder the work of God, or shut out Christ's presence from us if with contrite hearts we put away our sins, and in faith claim the Saviour's promises. Every opposing influence, whether open or secret, may be successfully resisted, “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” RH February 9, 1911, par. 21
God is just as willing now as anciently to work through human efforts, and to accomplish great things through humble instruments. We shall not gain the victory through numbers, but through full surrender of the soul to Jesus. We are to go forward in his strength, trusting in the mighty God of Israel. “If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” RH February 9, 1911, par. 22