Having brought them in,
they stood them in the Sanhedrin.
And the High Priest questioned them:
‘We firmly ordered you not to teach
in this name,
and look – you have filled Jerusalem
with your teaching
and you intend to lay upon
upon us
the blood of this man.’
Then Peter and the apostles answered:
‘It is necessary to obey God, rather than people.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
whom you yourselves murdered
by hanging on a tree.
This one God exalted to his right hand
to be Leader and Saviour
to give repentance to Israel
and forgiveness of sins.
and we ourselves are witnesses of these things
and (so is) the Holy Spirit,
whom God gives to those who obey him.’
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing –
a grateful heart.
George Herbert