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 to prove  to  the  world  that  they  were  sent  by  Him,  and  taught  the truth in  His  Name. Their miracles  were  intended  to  confirm  their doctrine, so  that  by  them  the  world  might  believe  this  doctrine. “They (the  apostles),  going  forth,  preached  everywhere:  the  Lord working withal,  and  confirming  the  word  with  signs  that  followed” (Mark 16,  20).

Jesus is  the  Author  of  life.  He  is  the  only  Saviour  of  the  world, and it  is  only  through  faith  in  Him  and  His  teaching  that  we  can obtain grace  and  salvation. He Himself  said: “I  am  the  Way,  the Truth, and  the  Life. No man  cometh  to  the  Father  but  by  Mel” (John 14,  6.)

The limit  of  obedience  to  temporal  authority. Jesus  Himself  submitted to  authority  and  by  His  example  taught  obedience  to  His  apostles. And yet,  when  summoned  before  the  Council,  both  apostles  declared that it  would  be  wrong  for  them  to  obey  the  command  given  them  to preach  no  more  in  the  Name  of  Jesus! How was  this? Why did  they refuse obedience  to  this  command? Because the  Council  required  obedience in  a matter  which  was  obviously  against  the  will  of  God. Jesus, to whom  was  given  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth,  before  His  Ascension, had  expressly  commanded  them  to  preach  faith  in  Him  to  Jews, Samaritans, and  Gentiles;  and  had,  by  the  wonderful  cure  of  the  man born lame,  testified  that  they  were  sent  by  Him  to  teach  with  His authority. The command  of  the  Council  was,  therefore,  in  direct  contradiction to  the  command  of  their  Divine  Lord,  and  on  that  account they refused  to  obey  it,  saying  that  they  must  obey  God  rather  than men; and they  continued  to  preach  and  teach  as  Jesus  had  commanded them to  do.

The following  Virtues  were  exercised  by  the  apostles  in  the  story we have  just  heard:

1. Firm faith.  Peter  did  not  doubt  for  an  instant  that  all  he  had to do  to  cure  the  lame  man  was  to  invoke  the  holy  Name  of  Jesus. He trusted  implicitly  in  the  truth  of  our  Lord’s  words:  “Amen,  amen, I say to  you,  if  you  ask  the  Father  anything  in  My  Name,  He  will  give it you”  (John  16,  23).

2. '' Courageous confession  of  their  faith  before  the  Sanhedrin. ''

3. Humility. The  apostles  declined  all  glory  for  themselves,  proclaiming loudly  that  it  was  not  they,  but  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  had  cured the lame  man. They therefore  gave  glory  to  God.

4.  Zeal for  God's  glory  and  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  This  zeal drove them  to  preach  faith  in  Christ  Jesus  before  the  assembled  multitude, to  declare  their  sins,  and  urge  them  to  do  penance. It was  no blind  or  harsh  zeal,  but  was  united  with