The story, I doubt not, you often have heard,
How once on a time a whole city was stirred
By a few Galileans, who lately had been
Sent forth by their Lord to be fishers of men.

They had seen Him on Calvary suffer and die;
At Olivet watched Him ascend up on high;
And waiting had prayed for the Pentecost shower,
Which came on their hearts, a baptism of power.

To them in large numbers the sick had been brought,
Miraculous healing for whom had been wrought;
And some were laid near them (they could not touch all),
That on them the shadow of Peter might fall.

In the temple the Council heard with dismay
How many believed, and were carried away
By the doctrines they taught, and things which they said
Of Him whom they claimed had been raised from the dead.

Before this great Council the twelve were then brought,
And questioned concerning the doctrines they taught;
They straitly commanded, as told to their shame,
To speak to the people no more in His name.

But Peter, and those who were with him, replied:
“This Jesus whom you in your hate crucified;
Whom ye wickedly slew and hanged on a tree,
Him God hath exalted at His right hand to be.

A Prince and a Savior, repentance to give,
And remission of sins to the soul that would live.
This doctrine we’ve preached and shall preach it again,
For we ought to obey God rather than men.

The Council enraged would have put them to death,
But fearing the people they stifled their wrath.
From their presence, unharmed, the Apostles withdrew,
The work of their Master again to renew.

O, may we as Christians be faithful as they,
And the word of the Lord as strictly obey;
For truth never changes, and now e’en as then,
We ought to obey God rather than men.

Warren Ro­dolph­us Fitch
Flowers from the Way­side, 1911