LESSON III.

Peter and John going to the Temple, heal the powerless man-Peter addresses the people, ascribing the miracle to the Lord Jesus Christ -exhorting them to repent and believe.-The rulers of the Jews seize them, and put them in prison-and next day examine them-Peter answers them.-They consult together and then forbid the Apostles to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.-Peter and John refuse to comply with this injunction.

FROM ACTS III. AND IV.

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.* And a certain man who was lame from his mother's womb, was carried; whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, that he might ask alms of those that were going into the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms. And Peter, with John, fastening his eyes upon him, said, Look on us. And he attentively looked at them, expecting to receive something of them. But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up; and immediately his feet and anclebones received strength. And he, leaping up,

The Jews had three regular hours of public prayer. The first, called the morning prayer, at the third hour, reckoning from sun-rise, or about our nine o'clock; the second at noon, called the prayer of oblation; and the ; third at the ninth hour, or about our three o'clock in the afternoon, called the evening prayer.

stood, and walked, and went 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 who sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And, as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together to them, to the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he addressed the people, Ye men of Israel, why wonder ye at this? or why do ye look earnestly on us, as if by our own power or piety, we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a man who was a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the author of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name, through faith in his namę,* hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness before you all. And now, brethren, I know that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that the Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the

*Name.-The name of God means God himself in the manifestation of his power; as when it is said “my name is in him," viz. in the angel-the pillar of cloud; and again, "the place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there." Exod. xxiii, 21. Deut. xii. 11.

Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was appointed for you: whom heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets from the beginning. For Moses indeed said to the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like to me: to him shall ye hearken, in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. And, also, all the prophets from Samuel, and as many of those that followed as have spoken, have likewise told of those days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning every one of you from your iniquities.

And as they were speaking unto the people, 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. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody unto the next day for it was now evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, were assembled at Jerusalem, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. And having set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

* Sadducees.-A sect of the Jews who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, nor in the existence of angels or spirits.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined concerning the good deed done to the helpless man, by what means he is made whole; 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 despised of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other : for there is no other name under heaven appointed among men, whereby we must be saved. Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they wondered; and they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus. And, seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But having commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And having called them, they commanded them not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answering said unto them, 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 when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might

* Ps. cxviii. 22. Douay, Ps. cxvii.

punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was done.

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, who hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them; who, by the month of thy servant David, hast said, Why did the Gentiles* rage, and the people+ imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his anointed. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were assembled in this city, to do what thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, while thou extendest thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of the believers was of one heart and of one soul: and not one said that any thing that he possessed was his own, but all things were common among them. And with

*Gentiles. All nations except the Jews.

+ People. This word usually designates the people of Israel, or Jews. Both the Gentiles and the Jews were combined against the Saviour.

Anointed.-Christ or Messiah.