For thou canst shew thy great strength at all times when thou wilt; and who may withstand the power
of thine arm? For the whole world before thee is as a little grain of the balance, yea, as a drop of the
morning dew that falleth down upon the earth. But thou hast mercy upon all; for thou canst do all things,
and winkest at the sins of men, because they should amend. For thou lovest all the things that are, and
abhorrest nothing which thou hast made: for never wouldest thou have made any thing, if thou hadst
hated it. And how could any thing have endured, if it had not been thy will? or been preserved, if not
called by thee? But thou sparest all: for they are thine, O Lord, thou lover of souls. For thine
incorruptible Spirit is in all things. Therefore chastenest thou them by little and little that offend, and
warnest them by putting them in remembrance wherein they have offended, that leaving their wickedness
they may believe on thee, O Lord.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The
God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his
right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we
are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey
him. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there
up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the
people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel,
take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up
Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined
themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After
this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also
perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from
these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it
be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they
agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not
speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council,
rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in
every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful
people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by
the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore
to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus
our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the
same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
