is brother's
strong voice, Andrew could hardly believe that only that morning Peter
had tried to leave Jerusalem because everything reminded him that he had
denied his Lord.

Jesus looked around at the circle of his disciples and raised his hands
over them. "Just as the Father sent me into the world," he said, "I am
sending you. May the Holy Spirit fill you with power. Go into every part
of the world and tell all men that the Christ has suffered and risen
from the dead to give them eternal life. Those who repent and believe
this gospel shall be forgiven their sins. But if anyone does not believe
your words, the anger of God hangs over him!"

As mysteriously as he had come, Jesus left the men. They remained
silent. Each man saw in the face of the others a joy none could express.
At last Peter spoke: "We must let everyone know that Jesus has risen
from the dead!"

Day by day the disciples learned that Jesus was doing greater things
among them than he had ever done before. Faith which had been uncertain
was now sure. Every afternoon the disciples went to the Temple to pray
and tell the story of Jesus' power. Some people were surprised, for they
thought the work of Jesus would stop when he was crucified. But many
believed the word of the disciples and became followers with them.

It was not long before the success of Peter and the others came to the
attention of the high priest. One day, immediately after the hour of
prayer, he called his councilors together. "Did you see that fisherman
who used to follow the Galilean we killed?" he demanded. "He was
standing boldly in the Temple declaring that his Rabbi is alive!" Purple
veins stood out on the face and throat of the angry man. "Have you ever
heard such an insolent lie? They have invented the whole story from
beginning to end!"

"The other men were with him," added a councilor. "They succeeded in
getting the people very much stirred up."

"It must be stopped! If we can silence them with threats--all right. If
not...." He lapsed into silence. Then his anger boiled to the surface
again. "What man in his right mind could believe such a fairy tale? That
upstart from Galilee--risen from the dead!"

A young priest sighed and spoke. "What can we do? Those men seem to
believe very sincerely that it happened."

The high priest was instantly suspicious. "You sound as though you
agreed with them," he observed bitingly. "I'll tell you what we must do!
Keep a sharp watch on th