Ananias and Sapphira, Two Hypocrites in the Early Church Acts 4:32 to Acts 5:11

Ananias and Sapphira, Two Hypocrites in the Early Church
Acts 4:32 to Acts 5:11

Peter Said, "You are not lying to men, but to God." When Ananias heard these words he fell backward and died.
THE PEOPLE WHO now worshiped with the apostles numbered about five thousand, many times more than those one hundred and twenty who were together praying on the morning when the Holy Spirit was given. This throng of believers met to worship God on the porch of the temple, called Solomon's porch, where Peter had preached after the lame man was healed.
    In all this great number of people the selfish spirit was not shown. Some had little wealth, and others had none. Still others had plenty and enough to spare. Those who had plenty share with those who had none, and every one's needs were supplied. Love in their hearts for their fellow men caused the rich to be kind to the poor, and to take care of them as if they were needy brothers.

    Many of the rich sold their houses and their farms. Then they brought the money to the apostles to divide among the poor people who worshiped with them, that none should need to be hungry or left without shelter.

    In the company of worshipers were a man and his wife whose names were Ananias and Sapphira. These people saw the others bringing their money to the apostles and they decided to sell their property also. But they did not want to give all the money to the apostles.

    Now, the tempter who came to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden whispered to this man and his wife. They listened, and he said: "Sell the property if you wish, but keep back some of the money, and say that you are giving it all. Peter and the other apostles will believe that you have given all just as the others are giving their all, and they need not know you have kept back a part of yourselves."

    Ananias and his wife thought the plan was a good one. They agreed together to tell the apostles they had brought all the money. And when the day came Ananias hurried to the apostles, carrying his bag of gold.

    Now it was wrong for them to keep back part of the money, and then pretend to give all. God saw the desire in their hearts to deceive the apostles and appear very self-sacrificing, and he was not pleased.

    Ananias brought his bag of gold to the apostles and laid it down before them, saying he had sold his property and had brought the money to them. A guilty feeling stirred in his heart, but he looked at the apostles, expecting them to praise him for his self-denial.

    Instead of praising him,, Peter looked squarely at him and said, "Ananias why as the tempter filled your heart with the thought to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back a part of the price? While the money was in your hands it belonged to you and why have you thought to deceive us by pretending to bring all when you have really brought only a part? You are not lying to men, but to God."

    When Ananias heard these words he fell backward and died. And the people who were present feared greatly, because they saw what a terrible thing it is to try to deceive God. Some young men who were sitting near by rose up and took the dead man's body away to bury it.

    Three hours passed by, and Sapphira, not knowing what had happened to her husband, came into the room where the apostles were staying. Peter saw her and knew she was Ananias' wife. He called her to him, and she came forward, possibly expecting him to praise her for the self-sacrifice she and her husband had made.

    But Peter did not look pleased. He asked, "Did you and your husband sell your property for this sum of money?"

    She saw the amount, and she answered, "Yes."

    Then Peter said, "How is it that you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also to your grave."

    Sapphira fell down before Peter when she heard these words, and died on the same spot her husband had died on. And the young men came in, picked up her body, and carried her out to bury her beside her husband.

    Great fear came upon all the other people of the early church, and upon those who were not believers in Jesus. And every one was afraid to pretend to be numbered among the believers unless he really knew his sins had been forgiven.

Peter Heals The Crippled Beggar

Peter Heals The Crippled Beggar Acts 3:1 to Acts 4:31

With a tone of command Peter said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk!" JUST OUTSIDE THE gate called Beautiful which led into the temple sat a poor cripple who had never walked a step. From his babyhood he had always been a cripple, unable to move himself about. Now he was a grown man, forty years old, and every morning his friends carried him to the place where he lay just outside the Beautiful gate. Because this poor man could not walk, he begged for a living. His friends carried him to the temple gate, where many people entered each day to pray. He believed that when these people saw him they would pity him and give him money. And they did. One afternoon Peter and John went up to the temple to pray. As they were about to enter the Beautiful gate, the crippled beggar saw them. He called them and asked for a gift of money, just as he had begged from every other passer-by. The two apostles stopped and turned to look for him. Seeing his pitiful condition, Peter said to the man, "Look on us!" And the cripple looked up, expecting to receive at least a small coin. But Peter said to him, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you." Then with a tone of command he said: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk!" With these words Peter took the surprised man by his right hand and lifted him up, and at once strength came into the feet and ankles that had always been helpless. Then the man sprang up and walked and leaped about, praising God. With Peter and John he went into the temple, and there he rejoiced aloud. The people who saw him walking and leaping for joy were amazed, because they knew he was the same beggar who had asked them for money when they entered the gate. The happy man, wishing to express his great joy, then seized Peter and John, and while the three stood on Solomon's porch the astonished people gathered round to look on them. Seeing the people gather, Peter spoke to them and said, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this what had happened to the lame man? And why do you look so earnestly upon us, as though we by our own power or holiness made this man to walk?" He told them that the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, whom they called their forefathers, had glorified his Son Jesus, whom they had refused to believe. "Even in the presence of Pilate, the Roman governor," said Peter, "you denied Jesus, when Pilate was determined to let him go. But you killed the Prince of life, this same Jesus whom God raised up from the dead, and of whom we are witnesses. And through faith in the name of Jesus this man who was always crippled now walks, and has perfect strength in the presence of you all." The listening people were made sad to think they had not believed in Jesus while he was with them. Peter, seeing their sorrow, said to them, "I know you did not realize what you were doing when you cried out in the mob to crucify the Lord of glory, neither did your rulers know; but God had showed by the prophets' writings how these very things would happen to his Son. And now, if you will repent of your sins, they will be blotted out. God will forgive them and you will be free from their guilt." These and more words Peter spoke earnestly to the listening crowd and many of the people believed in Jesus and were saved. Soon the rulers of the temple, the chief priests, and other religious leaders who had caused Jesus to be put to death, heard about the healing of the lame man. And they heard Peter preaching to the wondering people who stood in the porch. For a while they listened, too, then they went away angry because Peter taught that Jesus had risen from the dead. They had paid the Roman soldiers much money to keep this marvelous thing secret and they were displeased to hear Peter and John boldly declare that God had raised up the man whom they had crucified. "This teaching must be stopped!" they cried, and in a little while they returned to take Peter and John off to prison. On the next day these angered rulers brought their prisoners before the same wicked men who had tried Jesus, and these wicked men questioned Peter and John. First they asked, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this miracle?" No longer was Peter afraid of these men. Now he was filled with the courage that the Holy Spirit had given him, and he stood up boldly to speak. "If you are examining us by trial because of the miracle that has happened to this man who was born crippled, I declare to you that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand before you healed." The rulers looked on, amazed; for they saw the man who had been crippled standing with Peter and John, his face beaming with joy. Not knowing just what to do, they dismissed the prisoners for a few moments and talked about the matter. They could not deny that a great miracle had taken place, and they marveled at the boldness of the apostles, who were unlearned men. They knew these apostles had been with Jesus, and they knew the same works Jesus did were being done by them. Although they had killed Jesus, now they saw they had not stopped his great work. Still they hoped to stop it, so they called the prisoners back and commanded them to teach no more in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John would not promise to obey them. They answered, "Whether it will be right for us to obey you rather than God, judge for yourselves; for we can not keep from telling about the wonderful things that we have seen and heard." The rulers threatened to punish them severely if they should catch them any more teaching in Jesus' name, and with such threats they let the men go free. And Peter and John returned to the company of believers, who were called disciples, to tell of all that had befallen them. Instead of complaining about this persecution, the disciples knelt down to pray. They talked to God, and told him how the wicked rulers who had killed Jesus were threatening to punish them if they continued to preach about his resurrection from the dead. They did not ask God to protect them from the wrath of these wicked men, but they asked for more boldness, that they might continue to declare to all men the power of God in Christ Jesus, his Son. They asked God to help them work more miracles in the name of Jesus, even though this one had brought them into prison. God was pleased with such a prayer. He caused the place where they were assembled to be shaken by his great power. And again the Holy Spirit came upon them, giving them more courage and boldness to preach the gospel. Tomorrow: Ananias and Sapphira, Two Hypocrites in the Early Church

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

The Coming of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:15 to Acts 2:47

The Holy Spirit ascends on the apostles, giving them boldness. IN A LARGE upper room in Jerusalem one hundred and twenty men and women were meeting daily to pray. These were disciples and friends who had been with Jesus while he lived on earth. These were the ones he had commanded to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit from heaven. And they were obeying his command. Although Jesus had now gone up to heaven, where they could no longer see him or hear his voice, yet these people were happy. They remembered his words, that power from heaven would soon be given to them. And they were waiting to receive this wonderful power which would come with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ten days passed by after Jesus ascended to heaven, and another feast-day came for the Jews. This was called the Pentecost, and religious Jews from other lands had come to worship at the temple. The city was once more crowded with strangers from different parts of the world. In the large upper room the disciples and friends of Jesus were together praying at an early hour. Suddenly there came a sound as of a rushing mighty wind. They understood the meaning of the sound from heaven, for at that very time the Holy Spirit came upon them. And they saw resting upon each other's heads what seemed to be tongue-shaped flames of fire. Now they knew the promise of the Holy Spirit had been fulfilled, and they began to praise God. No longer were they afraid lest the enemies who had caused Jesus to be put to death should hear them, for the Holy Spirit gave them boldness and courage to tell others that Jesus was really the Christ. Soon the noise of their rejoicing was heard in the street below, and crowds gathered to learn what had happened in the upper room. In the crowds were the strangers who had come from different countries far away, where people spoke in other languages. When they came to the place they were surprised to hear these happy men and women praising God in the languages of their own countrymen. The strangers looked on each other with amazement, and asked, "What does this mean? For these who speak to us in our own language are people from Galilee. How have they learned the language of the faraway nations where we were born?" Others in the crowd were Jews who had lived in Jerusalem for a long time. They had been there when Jesus was crucified, and when he rose from he grave. They knew these Spirit-filled men and women were friends of Jesus. And they refused to believe in him. So they said to the strangers, "These men who speak in your languages are drunk; pay no heed to them." Then Peter stood up boldly where all the crowd might see him, and said in a loud voice, "Ye men of Judah, and you who are strangers in Jerusalem, these are not drunk as you suppose. But on them God has poured out his Holy Spirit, as he promised in the prophecy of Joel, which reads thus in your Sacred Book: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, say God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.'" When Peter began to speak the people grew quiet and listened to his words. And he preached to them a great sermon, showing them how God had sent his Son, Jesus, into the world to be their Redeemer. But they had refused to receive him and had given him over to the Roman soldiers to be killed as a wicked person. Yet God had raised him from the dead on the third day, and had received him back to heaven. Quietly the people listened, and Peter preached on, explaining to them why the Holy Spirit had fallen upon the friends of Jesus that day. And at the end of his sermon he proved to them that God had made the Jesus whom they crucified both Lord and Christ. Peter's words brought fear upon the people who stood listening. How guilty they felt! Now they cried out, "What shall we do?" And Peter replied, "Repent of the wrong you have done and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins and will give you the Holy Spirit as he has given us. For the promise of the Holy Spirit is given not only to us but to every one who shall believe on the Lord and be saved from sin." Because of Peter's great sermon many people believed that Jesus is the Son of God. And on that day three thousand believers were added to the one hundred and twenty who first met to worship God in the upper room. These believers were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and they too, rejoiced greatly because they knew their sins had been forgiven. By the power of the Holy Spirit the apostles now worked many signs and wonders in Jerusalem, and fear fell upon the people who saw and heard them. And every day more believers were added to their number, until their congregation became a great company of people. Those who believed on Jesus sold their possessions and divided their money with those who were poor. And they met every day to praise God and worship him in the temple, and others who saw and heard them also believed. This was the beginning of the early Christian church, which is called in the Scriptures the "church of God." Tomorrow: Peter Heals The Crippled Beggar

Jesus & His Disciples Last Meeting, the Great Commission, and Jesus' Accension

Jesus & His Disciples Last Meeting, the Great Commission, and Jesus' Accension Mark 16:15-19; Luke 24:50-53; John 21; Acts 1:1-14

Just before Jesus ascends into heaven, He tells His disciples, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." FAR UP IN Galilee, away from the reach of their enemies, a group of men and women met together on a mountain-side and waited for the appearance of their Lord. And Jesus came to them there, and talked in other days. And they rejoiced to see him once more and worshiped him; but some doubted that he was really the same Jesus who had been nailed to the cross. One day after this meeting some of the disciples who had been fishermen returned to the Sea of Galilee. The familiar sight of the water and fishing-boats floating about on the surface stirred within Peter's heart a desire to again go fishing. So he told his companions, and they said, "We will go with you." All that night the men stayed in their ship, toiling with their net; but not one fish did they catch. When morning came they drew near to the shore and saw a stranger standing there beside a fire of coals. He called to them and asked whether they had any fish. They replied that they had caught none, and he bade them cast their net into the water once more, this time on the right side of the ship. They obeyed, and now the net was filled. John, the disciple who often went with Peter and James, now whispered to his companions, "It is the Lord." And immediately Peter wrapped his fisher's coat about his body and jumped overboard to swim to shore, so eager was he to come to Jesus. The others remained in the ship and brought it to the landing. Then Jesus commanded them to bring some of the fish they had caught, and Peter drew the net from out of the water. In it they had taken one hundred and fifty-three large fishes, yet the net was not broken. Then Jesus asked the men to come and eat, for he had already prepared fish and bread on the burning colas. After they had eaten, Jesus talked with Simon Peter, the disciple who had denied him at the time of his trial. He asked Simon three times if he loved him, and each time Simon replied, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Simon believed that Jesus knew all things, and he felt sad because Jesus asked him this same question the third time. Then he remembered how only a short while ago he had denied three times that he ever knew Jesus. Now he declared three times that he loved him, and Jesus told him to feed his lambs and sheep. Simon Peter had heard Jesus speak a parable one day about the Good shepherd, who gave his life for his sheep. And he knew that Jesus had called himself the Good Shepherd. Now he understood that Jesus had died for the sins of the people, and he believed that men and women were the sheep whom Jesus meant that he should feed. Not their bodies, but their souls were hungry to be fed, and Jesus wanted Peter to leave his work as a fisherman and become a preacher of the gospel. In this way he could feed the people. Then Jesus told Peter words like these: "When you were a young man you went wherever you wished, but when you shall become an old man you shall stretch out your hands and another shall carry you where you do not wish to go." By these words he meant that when Peter should grow old he would be put to death because he loved Jesus. Then he said to Peter, "Follow me." Simon Peter turned about and saw John standing by. At once he asked, "Lord, what shall this man do?" But Jesus said, "Never mind about John's work; see that you follow me." Forty days passed by, and during these days Jesus often spoke with his disciples about the kingdom of God. Still they did not understand that it would not be an earthly kingdom, like the kingdom of David had been. At last the time came for their farewell-meeting. During this time Jesus appeared to his disciples and "when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." While they talked earnestly together, Jesus said, "John the Baptist baptized you with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days." And some of the disciples asked, "Will you at that time restore the kingdom of Israel?" But Jesus said, "It is not for you to know the plans of the heavenly Father; but you shall receive power from heaven when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and this power will cause you to witness boldly to me in Jerusalem, in all the country of Judah, in Samaria, and in the farthest parts of the world. But do not go away from Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit is given to you." While Jesus talked to them they were standing together on the Mount of Olives, and suddenly the disciples saw him being caught up into heaven. They watched until he disappeared from sight in bright clouds, after which they saw him no more. But still they stood gazing upward, hoping to catch one more glimpse of their departing Lord. Then two angels came and stood beside them, clothed in beautiful garments of white. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven will come again in the same manner as he went away." Then they left the place and went into Jerusalem, into a room up-stairs, where they met together with other friends of Jesus to wait and pray until the promised Comforter should be given to them. No longer were they sorrowing; for now great joy filled their hearts because they knew that Jesus was really the Christ. Tomorrow: The Coming of the Holy Spirit

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus; Doubting Thomas

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus; Doubting Thomas Luke 24:13-48; John 20:19-31

Jesus meets two men on the Road to Emmaus who do not recognize Him. They explain why they are so sad. THE PASSOVER FEAST had ended, and some of the visitors at Jerusalem were returning to their homes. Along the roadway leading from the city of Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus, seven miles distant, two men were walking slowly, with bowed heads. They were friends of Jesus, and they were troubled about the news that had come to the city just before they started on their journey. As these men talked together about the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, and about the women's message that early morning, suddenly a stranger joined them and asked, "Why is it that you are so sad? What are you talking about so earnestly?" The men replied, "Can it be possible that you have not heard about the sad things that have been happening during these few days past?" And the stranger asked, "What things?" The men began to tell this stranger about Jesus of Nazareth whom they had hoped would deliver their nation from the rule of the Romans and set up a kingdom. They told him how the chief priests and rulers had become jealous of him because he was such a mighty prophet, and how they captured him and caused him to be crucified. They told him that Jesus had died on the cross and that his body had been buried by loving friends in a nice, new tomb. "And this is the third day since these things happened," they said, "and this morning some women of our company astonished us by saying they had gone early to the tomb and had seen that his body had been taken away. But they said angels were there, and the angels said he had risen from the dead. Then some of our own number hurried to the grave and found that it was indeed empty, but they did not see the angels nor did they see our risen Lord." The stranger listened patiently, and when they had finished he began to talk to them about the teachings of Moses' law and of the prophets concerning the promised Redeemer of Israel. He showed them by the word of God's book that Jesus, the prophet of Galilee, should suffer these very things and rise again the third day if he would really be the Redeemer for whom they were longing. And the men listened silently, wondering who this stranger could be. Presently they came near to the village of Emmaus, and the two men asked the stranger to stop with them until the next morning, as the day had nearly ended. So he stopped with them. And when they sat down to eat their evening meal he took bread, blessed it, and gave it to them, and they knew at once that he was Jesus, their risen Lord. But he disappeared from their sight. Now the two men understood why the women who had seen the angels seemed so full of joy. They, too, believed in the risen Lord, and their hearts were filled with gladness. They rose up from the table and hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples that they had seen the Lord. The deep shades of night had fallen over Jerusalem when the men at last came to the house where the disciples and some of their friends were gathered together. When they entered the room they saw that a change had come over these people who had been so sad. Now every one seemed happy, and excited about something. "Jesus is indeed risen,"they cried joyously, "for Peter has seen him!" Then the women told how he had appeared to them on their way to Emmaus, and how they had not known him until he had blessed and broken bread at their evening meal. While they talked together suddenly Jesus himself appeared in their midst. And they were frightened, for the doors were closed when he entered and they supposed he was a spirit. But he spoke to them and said, "Why are you fearful? See my hands and my feet; touch me, and see that I am not a spirit, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as I have." Then he asked for something to eat, and they gave him a piece of fish and some honey, which he ate before them. Great was their joy on beholding him once more in their midst, after they had seen him so cruelly tortured and killed. But Thomas, one of the disciples, was not present when Jesus appeared. And he would not believe when the others told him that they had seen the Lord. He said, "Except I see in his hands the print of the nails and put my fingers into the nail-prints, and except I thrust my hand into the place where the spear cut his side, I will not believe." A week passed by, and again the disciples were together in a room, the doors being closed, and this time Thomas was with them. Then Jesus appeared as suddenly as he had come before, and he said to them all, "Peace be to you!" While they were wondering at his strange coming he called Thomas and said, "Behold my hands, and put your finger into the print of the nails; and put your hand into the place where the spear cut my side. And do not doubt, but believe." Now Thomas worshiped Jesus, saying, "My Lord, and my God!" To him Jesus said, "You believe because you have seen, but blessed are those who will believe though they do not see me." Tomorrow: Jesus & His Disciples Last Meeting, the Great Commission, and Jesus' Accension

Jesus' Resurrection, the Crucified Savior, Arose from the Dead

Jesus' Resurrection, the Crucified Savior, Arose from the Dead Matt. 28:2-16; Mark 16:5-14; Luke 24:4-12; John 20:2-18

The angel says, "Do not be afraid. Why are you seeking the living among the dead? Jesus is not here; he is risen." THE HOURS OF watching dragged slowly by to the Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb where the body of Jesus lay. No one had come even to visit the grave; and perhaps the soldiers laughed at the fears of the Jews. The eastern sky was beginning to light up with the promise of a new day when suddenly the ground beneath the watcher's feet began to tremble. Another earthquake had come. Then the fearful watchers saw a mighty angel come down from the sky and roll the stone away from the door of the tomb and sit upon it. The face of this angel had the appearance of lightning, and the garments he wore were as white as snow. At sight of him the soldiers fell to the ground, trembling and helpless, and lay there as if they were dead. All this happened because Jesus had, in the grave, come back to life. He was risen from the dead. When the women came to the garden they found the tomb empty, and the angel had not yet gone back to heaven. At first the women did not see the angel, and they wondered who had come and stolen the body of their Lord. Mary Magdalene left the others and ran quickly to tell Peter and John that the body of Jesus had been taken away from the tomb and hidden they knew not where. After Mary had gone from them, the other women saw in the empty tomb the beautiful angel, and they were afraid and bowed themselves to the ground. But the angel said, "Do not be afraid. Why are you seeking the living among the dead? Jesus is not here; he is risen as he said. Go quickly and tell his disciples and Peter that he is alive and will meet them in Galilee." The women ran from the place, filled with joy yet trembling with excitement and fear. The good news which the angel told seemed too wonderful to be true, still they believed and hurried to tell the disciples and other friends who were sorrowing. But the disciples refused to believe the glad message. Peter and John ran to see the empty tomb for themselves, and when they came to the place they found no one, for the soldiers had risen and fled into the city to tell their strange experience to the enemies of Jesus who had stationed them to watch by the grave. John outran Peter, and coming first to the grave he looked and saw it was empty. Then Peter came, and he went into the dark room where the body of Jesus had lain. He saw there the grave-clothes that Joseph had wrapped round the body of Jesus, and he believed that surely Jesus was alive once more. John, too, entered the grave and saw the clothes lying where Jesus had left them, and he also believed. Mary Magdalene had not stayed in the garden long enough to hear the message of the angel, and now she returned from the city, longing to find the place where her crucified Lord had been taken. She did not yet know of the new hopes that were gladdening the hearts of her friends. Entering the garden again, she stood by the empty grave and wept. Then she stooped down and looked into the grave and saw two angels sitting, one at the head and another at the foot of where the body of Jesus had lain. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She replied, "Because they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him." Then turning about she saw Jesus himself standing near. But tears blinded her eyes, and she did not know him. He, too, asked her why she wept, and supposing him to be the man who cared for the garden, she said, "Sir, if you have carried away my Lord, tell me where you have laid him that I may take him." Then Jesus said, "Mary!" and she knew his voice. What glad joy filled Mary's heart when she knew that Jesus was speaking to her again. She fell at his feet and cried, "Master!" Then he told her to go at once and tell her sorrowing friends that she had seen him and that he had told her to tell them he was going to ascend to their heavenly Father's home. While these things were happening, the soldiers came into the city and told the chief priest what had taken place in the garden tomb. And the chief priests were alarmed. They quickly called the other enemies of Jesus; and they all wondered what to do. They had no thoughts of accepting Jesus even though he had truly risen from the dead. They still hoped to persuade the people that Jesus had been a false prophet, so they decided on a plan and they asked the soldiers to help them carry it out. They offered them much money if only they would promise to tell no one else that Jesus had risen and an angel had opened the tomb. They urged the soldiers to tell the people that the disciples came and stole Jesus' body away while they were lying asleep. The Roman soldiers cared nothing about the Jews and their religion, and they gladly took the money and went away. And when they were questioned about the disappearance of Jesus' body from the grave they said the disciples had stolen it while they slept. Tomorrow: The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus; Doubting Thomas

Jesus' Burial, and the Watchers at the Tomb

Jesus' Burial, and the Watchers at the Tomb Matt. 27:55 to 28:1; Mark 15:42 to 16:5; Luke 23:50 to 24:1; John 19:31 to 20:1

A rich man named Joseph had asked permission to take the body of Jesus and bury it, and they gently remove Jesus' body from the cross. THE JEWS WHO had been so gleeful when Jesus was taken prisoner and crucified still felt troubled about him. They could not put the thoughts of him out of their minds. The next day would be their Sabbath, and they did not wish to have him hanging on the cross, with the words, "This is the King of the Jews," written above his head. However, a rich man named Joseph, who was also a ruler among the Jews, now came boldly into Pilate's judgment-hall and asked permission to take the body of Jesus and bury it. This man, although a ruler, had loved Jesus and he had taken no part in the wicked plots of his fellow rulers. He with Nicodemus, the Pharisee, had long believed in Jesus, but for fear of the other Jews these two men had not made known their belief. Now with Pilate's permission they went to Calvary. They took Jesus' body and wrapped it in rich linen clothes with the sweet spices and perfumes that Nicodemus the Pharisee had brought. Then they laid it in a new grave, or tomb, which had been cut out of a large rock. This grave opened into a garden, and Joseph had intended it for his own burial-place when he should die. Some of the women who had often been with Jesus when he taught the multitudes, stood by watching when Joseph and Nicodemus laid the body of their beloved friend in the dark tomb, and they saw the men roll a heavy stone before the door. Evening had now come and the Jews' Sabbath had commenced; for their Sabbath began at sunset on Friday evening and ended at sunset on Saturday evening. The sorrowing friends of Jesus therefore hastily returned to their homes to keep the Sabbath in the quiet manner that the Jews had been taught to keep it. But the enemies of Jesus began to fear that Jesus' grave might be disturbed by his friends. They remembered that Jesus had said he would rise on the third day, and they said to each other, "His disciples may come to steal him away and then declare that he has risen. Then perhaps more people will believe in him and we shall be despised by them." So they hurried to Pilate and told him about their fears, and asked permission to place his Roman seal upon the stone in front of Jesus' grave. They also wanted Pilate to command soldiers to guard the tomb, so that no one should come by night and break the seal and take away the body. And Pilate allowed them to place his seal upon the great stone and to station soldiers to guard the grave by day and by night. The women who had watched Joseph and Nicodemus lay the body of Jesus away longed ot show their love for Jesus, and after sunset on the next day they hurriedly prepared some sweet perfumes. Then they planned to go early the next morning to anoint the body of their dear friend, even though he had been buried. But the eleven disciples, stricken with sorrow, hid themselves from the scornful glances of passers-by. They had forgotten the words of Jesus, that he would rise again on the third day. The cruel act of Judas, one of their own number, and the defenseless attitude of their master when in the hands of his enemies had so disappointed them that they bowed their heads in anguish and grief. Nothing seemed left for them now, when their glorious hopes of the kingdom of heaven had disappeared like a broken bubble. And they mourned and wept tears of disappointment, while a fear of the Jews' further displeasure only added to their weight of grief. Early on the morning of the third day, before the sun had risen, a group of sorrowing women crept out of the city and sped along the highway toward the garden-tomb. As they went they wondered who would roll away the stone from the door of the grave, that they might go inside and pour their sweet perfumes upon the body of Jesus. But when they came near they saw the stone was rolled away and that the tomb was empty. Other visitors had come to the tomb even earlier than they. And the body of Jesus was not there.