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bold witness of Peter and John worried the priests, the authorities of the Temple and of
the Sadducees (Acts 4: 1), and they observed that they were "unlearned and ignorant
men" (13). They were amazed at their witness but they "took knowledge that they had
been with Jesus". The council had to admit that a wonderful miracle had taken place as
the lame man was healed, so they could only threaten Peter and John.
This is a special example of the power which came upon Peter and others as they
witnessed to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but in a lesser manner we in our turn may be
witnesses to our Lord and to the faith.
Peter exclaims, "What manner of persons ought we to be?". He had been writing
about the Day of the Lord, and then we read:
"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye
to be in all holy conversation and godliness" (II Pet. 3: 11).
Two other Scriptures are worthy of mention. Christ was with His disciples in a boat
when He fell asleep. A terrific storm arose and the boat began to sink, for it was
overwhelmed by the sea. The disciples woke up the Lord saying, "Lord, save us: we
perish". He rebuked the wind and the sea and there was great calm. The men marveled
and said, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!"
(Matthew 8: 27). The disciples still regarded Christ as a man and did not at that time
realize that He was God, manifest in the flesh.
Paul uses a similar phrase to show with what power the gospel was preached and its
effect. His own words speak for themselves:
"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy
Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of man we were among you for
your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in
much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: so that ye were ensamples to all that believe
in Macedonia and Achaia" (I Thess. 1: 5-7).
The word "ensample" is archaic and we do not use it today. We can replace it by the
common word "example". There are four Greek words, sometimes translated example
and sometimes ensample. One of these Greek words is tupos, which is interesting as it is
translated in the A.V. as example, ensample, pattern, figure, print, fashion, form and
manner. It is recorded that Thomas said of the risen Lord, "Except I shall see in His
hands the print of the nails ...", and here "print" is the Greek tupos (John 20: 25).
Another example of its use is in Titus 2: 7 where Paul exhorts Titus, "In all things
shewing thyself a pattern of good works".
Peter gave advice to servants to be subject to their masters, whether good or
overbearing. If a servant does wrong, and takes his punishment with patience, can he
claim any credit? But if the servant is caused to suffer for doing well, he will have God's
approval if he endures it patiently: