Christ has risen: he who created all things,
and has granted his mercy to men.
ACTS 5:27-32,40-41
My Soul's Beloved,
Peter responds boldly to the high priest, unafraid of his threats to him and the Apostles for preaching Your Name, the Gospel, and Your resurrection and ascension to heaven. Obedience to God, he said, precedes obedience to men, no matter how powerful they may be. The high priest was offended that the Apostles were placing blame squarely on them for the travesty of justice, the manipulation of Pilate, and his subsequent coerced judgment of death by crucifixion. Peter fixed the guilt of Your death on the Sanhedrin because it was true. Their envy stirred murderous hatred of You, and they did not rest until they carried out their plan to its final end.
They did their worst and believed they had won, but Truth, although suppressed for a while, will eventually shine forth in all its glory. The high priest knew it. The power of God was made gloriously manifest in the resurrection and brought many to accept You, O Lord, were the Messiah that the high priest and the Sanhedrin had rejected and condemned.
Every one of the Apostles, except John, and the early disciples were brutally killed for preaching the Gospel, and they gladly accepted their death. They rejoiced at being privileged to suffer for the Truth. Lord, grant us the same grace to live the faith we believe boldly by the witness of our lives, no matter the cost.
In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’ They warned the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name.
PSALM 29(30):2,4-6,11-13
In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’ They warned the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name.
PSALM 29(30):2,4-6,11-13
APOCALYPSE 5:11-14
JOHN 21:1-19
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