It is sad to hear of rulers who were only anxious to prevent the people from believing in the truth! How truly did they bring upon themselves the sentence pronounced by our Lord, when he said, "Woe unto you lawyers, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered." Having made up their minds what to do, the members of the Council sent again for the Apostles: "And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But 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. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." The Jews, who professed to obey the Law given to Moses by God, could not possibly say that it was right to obey man rather than God; and the sudden and complete cure of this man, who was above forty years old, had given such a proof that the Apostles acted under the immediate direction of the Almighty, that the Priests knew not what to say or do. "So 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. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the Chief Priests and elders had said unto them." And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God, and praised Him Who had done such great things, and had accomplished every word that David and the prophets had spoken concerning the Messiah, the holy child Jesus, against whom "both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." And then the disciples prayed the Lord to grant them grace to speak the truth boldly, undismayed by the fear of man; and to continue those signs and wonders, which proved them to be acting by his special direction. They were comforted and encouraged by an immediate answer to their prayers: for "when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." They had well and fearlessly used the grace already given to them, and therefore the Lord increased the gift, and strengthened them still further for their work.