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2. They spake with boldness. 3. He gave power to the testimony of the apostles. PRACTICAL POINTS. (1) Peter’s payment for preaching was a prison sentence. (2) It has pleased God to perform many a miracle through a prison. (3) Jonah paid a severe penalty for not preaching; so have others. (4) God’s purpose for the Church is progress through persecution; don’t shirk. (5) The seat of opposition was vested in religious rule, worldly power, resurrection-denying Sadducees. So it is today. (6 ) The voice of the Church can never supersede the voice of Christ. (7) No priest can claim the prerogative of preaching; it is the heritage of every believer. (8) The Jews set at naught The Stone, and stumbled over it. (9) A man of conviction and courage can confront any council of men. (10) The man, the miracle and the multitude, were too much for the council. (11) A transformed life is the most telling testimony for the truth. (12) If you keep company with Christ, your community will know it. The Subject Illustrations—Boldness. A missionary in Kollegal tells of a Christian woman who came into a meet ing and said, “ I used to be ashamed to lift the name of Jesus, but now it is as when a pot is so Lesson full it has to run ILLUSTRATIONS over, I can’t help W. H. Pike , speaking of Him.” Many Christians at home might thus “ add to your faith courage.” 2 Pet. 1:5. Alexander exhibited great courage even in sore straits. His followers told
him that there Were thousands of Per sians. “ Yet,” he said, “ one butcher fears not myriads of sheep.” “ But,” said an officer, “ when the Persians draw their bows their arrows are so numerous that they darken the sun.” “ It will be fine to fight in the shade,” replied the Emperor. Be Bold in One Name. In closing his celebrated lecture on art, Sir Joshua Reynolds said, “ There is but one name which I bring to your attention, it is the name of Michael An gelo.” The true worker of God ever keeps well to the front, the “ Name above every name.” Phil. 2:9. Archaeologists tell us that in some of the ruined temples of old Babylon ev ery brick is stamped with the name of the King during whose reign the tem ple was built. So let the Christian do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus. A lady in Dr. Bonar’s church on hearing this came to the doctor and said, “ These bricks of Babylon; these bricks of Baby lon.” “ Did you find them on the broom?” said the doctor. “ No,” she said, “ I found them on the feather bed. Shortly after hearing of the bricks I got a feather bed to clean and I said, I will do this bed in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Boldness in Persecution. In the Catholic Persecution of the Protestants in December 18, 1855 at Smithfield, John Philpot bore testimony to the Holy Spirit’s presence in the church. On being questioned why he wrote on the first leaf of his Bible, “ The Spirit is the Vicar of Christ on the earth,” he replied, “ that Christ since His ascension worketh all things in us by His Spirit, and by His Spirit doth dwell within us.” This answer plainly showed where he derived his strength in the hour of trial. On com ing to Smithfield, he knelt and kissed the stake, and said, “ I will pay my vows to thee, O! Smithfield.” Afterward he
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