Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

PETER AND JOHN BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM.

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 set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given 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 marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had 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 them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no Iman in this name.' And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answered, and 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 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 showed.

ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

[graphic][merged small][merged small]

BUT a man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price of it, his wife also knowing of it; and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet, as if it had been the whole price. But Peter said,

"Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, "Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much?" And she said, "Yea, for so much." Then Peter said unto her, "How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out." Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.a

47. THE DEATH OF STEPHEN.

SEVEN men were appointed to the distribution of alms in the Christian church, and among them was one named Stephen, a man full of faith and power, who did great wonders and miracles among

a Acts v. 1-11.

THE DEATH OF STEPHEN.

the people. Some contentious Jews had a disputation with him respecting the Christian doctrine; and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Being enraged at this, they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him, and caught him, and brought him before the council. And they set up false witnesses, who said, "This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law: for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us." And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Then said the high priest, "Are these things so?" And he began to speak to them of the wonderful manner in which God had led the people of Israel, and of the continual disobedience which they had manifested; and he concluded with the following words: "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One," (the Messiah ;)" of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."

Here he was interrupted. They could not restrain their wrath any longer, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, "Behold, I see

249

the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose

[graphic]

name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.a

48. THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH.

SAUL was consenting to the death of Stephen; for he was one of those who were actuated by a blind zeal for the Jewish law, and who persecuted the church of Christ. He went hither and thither

a Acts vi. 5-15; vii. 51-60.

« AnteriorContinuar »