King's Business - 1916-02

THE KING’S BUSINESS

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of Nazareth , whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by {in) Him doth this than stand here before you whole.” While Peter was, as already seen, courteous, he was also bold, fearless, frank, and outspoken. There was absolutely no Compromising, o f the truth, and no gloss­ ing over o f their guilt. The council had spoken evasively o f the thing done, simply as “this.” It is a keen and discomforting thrust o f Peter in his reply to say, “ If you refer to a good deed done to a strength­ less man” (cf. John 10:32). The council doubtless winced. Then without hesita­ tion Peter follows up his blow with another, telling them it was in the name o f Jesus Christ, the One whom they had crucified, but whom God on- the other hand had raised from the dead, that this good deed had been done. Before, he closed his one tremendous, overwhelming sentence, Peter pointed at the man standing right there as a living testimony to the power o f Jesus’ name, and adds, "This man stands here before you whole.” The scene has entirely changed—Peter the accused has become the accuser, and the council that presumed to sit as judges has become the culprit at the bar, both indicted and condemned. How tremendous is the contrast that Peter points out between their treatment o f Jesus Christ, o f Nazareth and God’s treatment o f Jesus Christ o f Nazareth, and how tremendous is- the contrast today between the treat­ ment o f Jésus Christ -of Nazareth by the average man, and God’s treatment of Jesus Christ o f Nazareth. There is no other line o f truth so calculated to pro­ duce conviction o f sin as to show men the contrast between their treatment o f Jesus Christ and God’s treatment o f Him. v. 11. “ This {H e) is the stone which was set at nought of you {the) builders, which has become {was made) the head o f the corner." Peter here follows up his advantage and drives his charge home with a swinging blow o f God’s hammer—the Scriptures (cf. Ps. 118:22). I f the Acts o f the Apostles is fiction as some would have us believe, and not an actual record o f facts, its author is certainly a master

already possess. The council had just put to Peter the question, “ By (or, in) what power, or in what name have ye done this?" The Jfewish and other wonder workers were accustomed to perform their marvels by the power o f some name, the name o f one o f the Patriarchs, or the name o f Solomon, or the unspeakable name o f Jehovah, so it was very natural that the council should ask Peter and John "in what name” they had healed the lame, man. The real object o f the question was to trap them into an answer that would be the basis for an accusation and con­ demnation. But just at that moment the Holy Spirit came upon Peter and took pos­ session o f him and qualified him to give an answer that they could not use, but which would silence and condemn them. Jesus had made a promise for just such emergencies as this, and the promise was here fulfilled (Matt. 10:19, 20; cf. Luke 12;11, 12; Acts 13:8, 9). Peter’s answer is wonderfully skillful, but its wisdom was not due to Peter’s natural endowments, but to the Spirit who took possession of him and spoke through him. Left to him­ self, Peter was a famous blunderer, but filled with the Spirit he was most skillful, indeed unanswerable. Peter’s answer was extremely deferential and courteous. He acknowledges the high position and author­ ity o f his interrogators: the Holy Spirit does not make the men He contrdls rude and overbearing, but gentle and courteous (Gal. 5:22, 23; cf. Jude 8:9 ). There are men today .who claim to be speaking in the power o f the Holy Spirit who are rude, harsh, and overbearing, absolutely without regard to the position o f others or the deference that is due them because o f their position. Their claims o f being filled with the Holy Spirit will not bear the test o f comparison with the W ord o f God. vs. 9, 10. “I f we this day be {are) examined • o f the ( concerning a) good deed done to the (an) impotent man, by what means he { this man) is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ

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