ld believe.

As Peter and John thus testified, the priests and the captain of the
temple, together with the ruling Sadducees, came upon them toward
evening, and put them in prison to await the action of the judges next
day.[1415] On the morrow they were arraigned before Annas, Caiaphas, and
other officials, who demanded of them by what power or in whose name
they had healed the lame man. Peter, impelled by the power of the Holy
Ghost, answered: "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 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."[1416]

The hierarchy learned to their consternation that the work they had
sought to destroy through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was spreading
now as it had never spread before. In desperation they commanded the
apostles, "Not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus." But
Peter and John answered boldly: "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." This rejoinder of
righteous defiance the priestly rulers dared not openly resent; they had
to content themselves with threats.

The Church grew with surprizing rapidity; "believers were the more added
to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." So abundantly was the
gift of healing manifest through the ministrations of the apostles that
as formerly to Christ, now to them, the people flocked, bringing their
sick folk and those possessed of evil spirits; and all were healed. So
great was the faith of the believers that they laid their afflicted ones
on couches in the streets, "that at the least the shadow of Peter
passing by might overshadow some of them."[1417]

The high priest and his haughty Sadducean associates caused the apostles
to be again arrested and thrown into the common prison. But that night
the angel of the Lord opened the dungeon doors and brought the prisoners
forth, telling them to go into the temple and further proclaim their
testimony of the Christ. This the apostles did, and were so engaged when
the Sanhedrin assembled to put them on trial. The officers who were