Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 19

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12 LIFE OF PAUL . own influencewould be in greaterdangerthan when Jesuswas upon earth. If one or two discoursesfrom the apostlescouldproduceresults so marvelous, the world would soon believeon Christ, and the influenceof priestsand rulers would be lost. They thereforeseizedupon the apostles,and thrustthem intoprison,expecting to intimidateand silencethem . But the disciple who in cowardicehad once denied his Lord ,now boldlydeclaredthe power of a risenSaviour. In vain the rulerscommanded to speak no morein that name . Their threatswere powerless, and at last, being restrainedfrom violenceby fearof thepeople,theysettheapostlesatliberty. Subsequent eventsservedbut to augment their fearsand theirhatred. The power with which theapostlesstillproclaimedthe gospel,thewonderswrought by them in thename of Jesus,the convertsdailyadded to the church, the union and harmony that pervaded the body of believers, the swift and terrible manifestation of divinejudgment in the caseof Ananias and Sapphira, allwere marked by the Jewishleaders,and urgedthem on tostillmore determined effortstocrushthe powerfulheresy. Again the apostleswere arrestedand imprisoned, and the Sanhedrimwas calledtotrytheircase. A large number of learned men in addition to the council was summoned , and theyconferredtogetheras to what should be done with these disturbers of thepeace. But the angelof theLord by night *openedthe prisondoors, and broughtforthhis servants, biddingthem againproclaimin the temple the words of life. Great was the amazement of priestsand rulerswhen,beingassembled at dawn to pass sentenceupon the prisoners,