Acts 3; Acts 4:1-221And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. 5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be 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. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 13Now 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. 14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16Saying, 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. 17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But 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. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21So 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. 22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was showed. (Acts 4:1‑22)
In Acts 3, if I may so say, God rings the bell the second time to gather the people together, that He may continue His testimony to His beloved Son. In the second chapter it was by the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the miraculous gift of tongues, that this testimony was produced. Now we shall see how it was maintained.
Peter and John, evidently bosom friends, and peculiarly linked together all through the gospels, went up together at the ninth hour of the day to pray. They had been partners in business in olden times, had caught fish together on the Sea of Galilee, and now they were partners in a new business, and go out together, not to catch fish, but men.
These two men were the complement one of the other. What Peter lacked John possessed. The latter was in the main as calm as the former was impulsive. John was evidently a quiet, restful, meditative man, with deep affection, resembling Mary of Bethany, while Peter was the counterpart of Martha, among the apostles. That John could thunder was evident, for the Lord, when he called him and his brother James, “surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder” (Mark 3:1717And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: (Mark 3:17)). Peter was always thundering, his torrential character carrying him resistlessly along, and sweeping all before it. Nevertheless in John was the greater moral power. Real power is always quiet. But the two were evidently devoted to each other, as to their common Master, and we never read of a hitch between them. Theirs manifestly was a friendship with a holy, and consequently an abiding basis, and well would it be for us if all our friendships had a substratum of a similar nature. In the work of the Lord it is of all-importance to have a well-chosen companion, a true yokefellow, as was John to Peter, and Timothy or Epaphroditus to Paul (see Phil. 2:22; 4:822But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. (Philippians 2:22)
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)).
It is here well to mark that Peter and John go up together to pray. It is sweet to see how frequently prayer is recorded as ascending to God in the Acts. In the first chapter we find the disciples continuing “with one accord in prayer and supplication,” and then praying about the choice of a fresh fellow-worker. In the second chapter we find the disciples continuing steadfastly “in prayers.” In this chapter 3 we have Peter and John going up to the temple at the hour of prayer; and in the fourth chapter we find them praying again, and being “all filled with the Holy Ghost” (vs. 31). (See also chapters 6:4; 7:60; 8:15,22; 9:11,40; 10:2,9,30,31; 11:5; 12:5,12; 13:3; 14:23; 16:13,25; 20:36; 22:17.)
I believe we have here the secret of the power of the moment. The servants and the saints were continually dependent upon God. They looked to Him to work, and He did work most blessedly.
The incident in chapter 3 is familiar. “And a certain man, lame from his mother’s womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.” The next chapter tells us that this man was forty years old. Forty, we have seen, is in Scripture the number of perfect probation. Everyone knew him, he was no longer a child, and he was in a condition that no one could meet or reach; and now he met by the power of the Name of Jesus. Forty years old, and well known, no one could dispute the fact of his being healed. A notable miracle was to be wrought, and God takes care to have it well attested. The poor lame beggar is the type of a sinner who has got nothing if he has not got Christ. “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.” I have no doubt his heart beat high as he heard Peter’s words. Doubtless he thought to receive something of them, and he did not know what that something was. He was like many a one now casting about to get money. Look what the Lord gives him. “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” How his heart must have sunk as he heard the words, “Silver and gold have I none,” and thought — They are two paupers, just like myself.
But observe, that ere he has time to be thoroughly depressed, Peter goes on to bid him to “rise up and walk.” And then we read that Peter “took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” The power of the Name of Jesus is manifested in the healing of the physical disability. The power of that Name thrills through him, “and he, leaping up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” I understand his radiant joy, and I can understand too the immense joy that a sinner feels, when the gospel meets him, and he finds his sins forgiven — washed away through his Saviour’s blood. It is beautiful to see it in each respective case, and this man goes into the temple “walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: and they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.” And if you were to become converted, my friend, all your friends would be amazed. If you appear as a totally new man, would they not be thoroughly surprised? and what a testimony would it be to the power of Christ! I do not know anything more powerful, as a testimony to the grace of God, than the fervent joyous life of a devoted Christian.
Then you find that the man holds on to Peter and John. He knows where the power is, and I do not wonder at his keeping close to them. The next day, when they were taken prisoners, this man goes boldly into the council, and although silent, becomes a witness to the power of the Name of Jesus, for he was the one who was healed.
In the next verses of our chapter Peter again charges home the guilt of the nation on their consciences, but at the same time shows how the grace of God can override the guiltiest act of the guiltiest nation on the face of the earth. Observing how the masses marveled, for “all the people ran together unto them, in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering,” Peter says to them, “Why marvel ye at this?” It was only what Christ was worthy of. Peter had this in his soul, My Master is worthy of anything, there is no limit to the power of His name. The people marveled because they had no faith; and the reason why Christians so often marvel now, when the Lord works mightily, is because they have so little faith. They were looking at the instrument — a very foolish thing to do in things divine. God almost always uses base and foolish things to work His ends. It was at the blowing of trumpets of rams’ horns that Jericho’s mighty walls fell down. It was into the hands of the three hundred men that lapped, that the Lord delivered the hosts of Midian, in the days of Gideon. What we want is what Peter had here. He was full of the Holy Spirit, and his heart was full of Christ, as to his affections and confidence, and this is exactly what we want now.
Then Peter tells his tale. “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus,” or rather His “servant” Jesus it should be. You do not find Peter preaching Jesus as the Son of God. That was reserved for Paul. Peter preaches Him as God’s servant Jesus. When we come to the ninth chapter of the Acts, where Paul is converted, he at once begins the ministry of the Son of God. “And straightway he preached Jesus in the synagogue, that He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:2020And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20)).
Peter’s point here is clearly this — Jesus is in glory, the One who was once here on earth, is now in the glory. Then he comes down on their consciences, as he says, “Whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.” He does not speak of Judas, though no doubt Judas was the immediate instrument of delivering Him up. “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just”; they denied the One whom he asserts to be the Messiah, and whom God declares to be the Holy One and the Just.
See how fearlessly he proclaims the truth as he says, “Ye denied the Holy One.” It is possible someone may have retorted, “Why, Peter, you are very bold, it is only a few weeks since, that, in the high priest’s hall, you denied Him.” Yes, Peter would say, alas! it is true that I denied Him, but I have bitterly repented of my folly and sin; I have met Him, and owned it all to Him, and He has forgiven me. I have had it all out with Him, and I have learned that He has died for me, that I might be forgiven, and I am forgiven. I have met Him, and have had an hour alone with Him — yes, alone with Him — and all is forgiven, and effaced.
How charming and effectual is the work of grace in a real heart. Peter illustrates this beautifully, for now that he is cleansed, and forgiven, his conscience is purged, and though it was only seven weeks and a few days, since he had denied his Lord, yet now he can fearlessly turn round and charge his hearers with the sin which he himself had been guilty of. “Ye denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.” They helped to seal Pilate’s doom, as well as to murder their own Messiah. “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just” is a terrible charge against them, while withal it is a precious — testimony as to who and what his Master was, the Holy One of God. Face your sins, Peter, so to speak, says, go down before God, and face your iniquities. “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of Life.” Terrible indictment!
But you, my reader, may say, Surely you do not charge me with such an awful sin? Well, I ask you, have you ever taken your place on the side of the murdered One? If not, you are still on the side of His murderers. “He that is not with Me is against Me,” the Lord says. It was the world or Jesus, in that day; it is the world or Jesus, in this day. I appeal to you, how does it stand with you, my friend?
When Peter says, You “killed the Prince of Life,” I can imagine their souls trembling, because they knew it was true. There was no gainsaying this charge of the Holy Spirit’s. What an indictment! “Ye killed the Prince of Life.” True, He suffered Himself to be slain; but Peter says, You killed Him. And now look at the chasm between the world and God. Look how opposed are the thoughts of the world, and God’s thoughts of Jesus, “whom God raised from the dead.” Could there be a greater contrast? — You killed Him, but God raised Him from the dead.
Now then, my dear reader, on which side will you range yourself, on God’s side, or the world’s? There is no middle ground between the world and God, not one step. Satan would like to make you think that there is. He does not mind your being religious. If you do not get converted, and come to Christ, you may be as religious as you like, for he knows that you may be a professor of Christ, while not a possessor of Him; that you may be a perfect encyclopedia of Biblical knowledge, and yet go to hell. Every man goes there that is not ravingly converted. If you have been a formalist till now, just turn to the Saviour now, at once, just where you are, and as you are, and learn His grace. There is no satisfaction, or salvation in mere religiousness, you must know Jesus.
Peter, you will observe, informs the Jews that day, that they and God had taken two quite opposite courses. You put Him into a grave, God took Him out of it, “whereof we are witnesses,” and further, He has put Him into glory. Nor this only, “His name through faith in His name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know. Yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all” (vs. 16). And only faith in His name can do anything now for you, my friend. It is His name, and faith in His name alone, that secures blessing for the soul. This man rose up, and walked in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and, my unconverted reader, I say to you, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise out of your bed of sins, and come to Him. You may be saved this very moment if you have faith in the name of Jesus.
At this point of his discourse, Peter brings in the balm of grace as he says,“Brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” On the cross Jesus had prayed, “Father, forgive them,” and now Peter, following in his Master’s steps, is led to proclaim forgiveness. Here is the way of escape he opens, “Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Do you want your sins blotted out, my friend? Nothing but the blood of Jesus can blot them out. And how can you get this blessing? By repentance, and turning to God, having faith in the name of the Lord Jesus. What is repentance? Repentance is this: I judge myself. What is conversion? Conversion is this: I turn round to the Lord. This is all illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son. He was convicted when he said, “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger.” His conviction was of a double nature, there was goodness in his father’s heart, while there was badness in his own. This conviction altered his whole course, and turned him round. “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance,” we read (Rom. 2:44Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4)). It is His goodness that leads man to repentance, and not man’s repentance that leads God to goodness. This conviction ends in his conversion. He was converted when he arose and came to his father. He was confessing his sins when he said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee.” He was repentant when he said, “I am no more worthy to be called thy son.”
Repentance is the judgment which the soul passes upon itself in the presence of God, believing the testimony of God. Repentance is not the stepping-stone to conversion. Repentance is taking God’s part against myself, and judging that what God says of me is true, believing His testimony. Faith is the soul’s reception of a divine testimony: repentance is the result in the soul of that reception. Someone has well said, “Repentance is the tear drop in the eye of faith.” Very wisely and rightly then did Peter preach and press this wholesome moral process upon their souls, with this end in view, “that your sins may be blotted out.”
That “God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets that Christ should suffer” was no excuse for the nation’s guilt. God really sent Jesus to be a Saviour, Peter says, and you showed your guilt, and the evil state of your hearts by murdering Him; but God knew what was needed, and what He had foreordained. Christ must needs suffer, the Scriptures said, “it behooved Him to suffer.” It is all fulfilled now, therefore repent, and believe, and get your sins blotted out, and then God will send Jesus Christ back again. There is a splendid character about Peter’s exhortation at this point. “Repent ye, therefore, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, who was foreordained for you; whom heaven must receive until the times of the restitution of all things” (vss. 19-21). A lovely gospel for repentant sinners to listen to was this indeed, and the next chapter shows that two thousand souls at least turned round to the Saviour, and got forgiveness of their sins. The Word was mixed with faith in those who heard it that day.
We must bear in mind that the Jews were always looking for the kingdom, the millennial reign of the Messiah. Very well, says Peter, the millennium will come, but it will come in connection with that Jesus whom ye have crucified, and “whom heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, of which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” If you are going in for the kingdom, you must have God’s King — the Lord Jesus.
Then he presses on them some scriptures. Jesus was the One to whom all the prophets gave witness; Moses had said unto the fathers, “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you.” Even on the mount of transfiguration God had said concerning Jesus, “Hear ye Him,” but alas, they did not. Yet see how grave are the issues that hang upon hearing the voice of this Prophet, “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” Now, that Jesus was this indicated Prophet is plain, for Peter goes on to say, “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” Everything depends, he says, on how you hear Him. Nothing could be plainer. To hear Jesus is to secure salvation. To deafen the ear, and harden the heart against Him, is to seal the soul’s eternal doom.
Listen, my undecided readers, to this warning voice, for Peter’s sermon was not only for the people of Judea in that day, it is meant for you and me today. It is world-wide in its application. You know, my unsaved friend, that you have turned a deaf ear to the Lord’s voice up till now. Do you say, I have made up my mind not to be converted? Then, you may, at the same time, make up your mind to be eternally damned, for Peter warningly says, “It shall come to pass that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”
Then he goes back to quote the beautiful covenant word of God to Abraham, “And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed,” and with the most touching grace thus concludes his address, “Unto you first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” It was a charming peroration, and contained the most beautiful gospel that could possibly fall on their ears. Little wonder that many of the people believed. But not so the leaders, as the next chapter tells us.
In chapter 4 we find that the priests, and the captain of the temple, joined with the Sadducees in persecuting the apostles. Two very different companies were these, the priests, and the Sadducees.
The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection, angel, spirit, or in a future state, in fact, they believed nothing (see Acts 24:88Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. (Acts 24:8)). They were the Rationalists of that day, and if you are like these Sadducees, my friend, you have nothing to rest your soul upon. But the devil will put these two opposing sections together, in order to fight against the truth, and the servants of God. These men were preaching a risen Saviour, One who had gone into death, and annulled it, and come up out of it: and that One, I rejoice to say, is my Saviour. No wonder that the devil, and all his servants, were “grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from among the dead” (vs. 2), for the soul who knows a living, triumphant, and victorious Saviour, forever passes out of Satan’s clutches.
“Howbeit many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.” It says nothing about the women and children, and if we may judge of the companies who heard the Word in that day, by the companies who listen to the Word today, there must have been a grand lot of conversions, for there are usually far more women and children than men ready to hear, and, thank God, to believe the gospel too.
Men often think the gospel is only for women and children, but what fools such will look in eternity, who, having despised the gospel now, then find themselves, when too late, eternally damned. Oh, be a man for Christ now, come out boldly for Christ now!
The common people had the gospel presented to them in the third chapter, the leaders are going to get it now in the fourth. “On the morrow, their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 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.” The secret of Peter’s power here was, that he was full of the Holy Spirit.
But did you ever hear of such utter folly as putting a man in prison, and trying him for a good deed — healing a cripple? God brings the man in, as it were, to give witness to that council. I do not expect he was invited by the council, for he was an awkward witness. Look at him now, whole! Yesterday he was a poor cripple until three o’clock, now he is a hale man. And what had done it? The power of the Name of that Jesus “whom ye crucified,” that was their guilt, “whom God raised from the dead,” there was God’s righteousness.
And now for the application, “This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” And what was the stone? Christ, of course, but Christ in glory, as the Head Stone of the corner. Here Peter is in conflict with these poor, foolish builders, and there are plenty of them in our days, people who are building without Christ. The Lord had said, speaking of Himself as the Stone — (see Matt. 21:4444And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Matthew 21:44)) — “Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” The corner stone, about to fall, is the exalted Christ, coming by-and-by in glory, and destroying the godless Gentiles in the day of His wrath. Those who fell over it and were broken, were the Jews, stumbling over Jesus in His humiliation. Ah, take care that you, my friend, are right as regards that Stone, for Peter goes on to say, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name, under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved.”
You yield your heart to Jesus now, and you will find your sins blotted out, and that you are pardoned and forgiven; yea, built then on the Rock that can never be shaken, because you are built on Him who died and rose again, and you will find that His Name is everything to you now, and will be your joy forever, the Name of Jesus. The Lord give you to know, my reader, the power of that Name. God will have that Name to be honored, the Name of the glorified Saviour. The Lord give you grace to trust Him now, and know that you are saved by Him, and by Him alone, the Chief Corner Stone. The one only Name “given among men whereby we must be saved” will then be your delight, and you will learn to sing truly and joyfully:
“There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in mine ear,
The sweetest name on earth.
Jesus! the name I love so well,
The name I love to hear,
No saint on earth its worth can tell,
No heart conceive how dear.”
Peter’s statement, “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” evidently staggered the august council before whom he and his fellow-apostle stood. They pause in their opposition, and have a secret conference what to do. “The boldness of Peter and John” (vs. 18) impressed them, and “beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing” (vs. 14) — they were silenced. Faith and facts are two stubborn witnesses. Both attest God’s grace.
The outcome of the conference was — “That indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.” They admit defeat, and then, calling in the apostles, “commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus.” This command raised the most important question possible: Was God to be obeyed or man? The apostles permit of no ambiguity as to the course they judge right to adopt, for we read, “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.” The prohibitory injunction of man had no weight with them. God had commanded them to preach Christ — to preach the gospel, and “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” is their emphatic, and bold rejoinder. The religious leaders of Israel were not now the expositors of the will of God — they were opposed to His will. The path of Peter and his companions is plain. God must be obeyed rather than man.
It is to be noted here that the action of the apostles is in no sense opposed to the scripture that enjoins: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God” (Rom. 13:1-21Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (Romans 13:1‑2)). Again, Peter himself said at a later day, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well” (1 Peter 2:13-1413Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (1 Peter 2:13‑14)). In the case before us it was not a question of the king or of the civil power — which the saint ever recognizes as the sword of God, put into man’s hand — but of ecclesiastical and priestly arrogance, which has no claim on the conscience for allegiance. There is a principle of immense importance here, namely, that a child of God is never supposed to disobey God, in order to obey man. The civil power may make regulations which deprive the saint of privileges he would like to enjoy, but the latter must never disobey God, in order to conform to the will of the former. He may have to endure deprivation of a privilege, but never can disobey a divine command. This Peter’s action here makes abundantly clear.
“And being let go, they went to their own company.” This is a fine word. There was a separated people, who all knew each other, and to them the liberated apostles repair. When set free from earthly toil, or bonds, do we each know what it is to find out this company day by day? They did so in Peter’s day, and had a prayer meeting with great results.