For some 2000 years, followers of Jesus have continued to proclaim His resurrection and that He is Lord of all and Saviour of the world. During that time, with various reasons and excuses, efforts have continually been made to suppress and silence the witness and religous practices of Jesus' followers. It's no different today, where we still see and experience discrimination and prejudiced attitudes, anti-Christian actions of individuals, social groups, governments and states. Disaffected 'lapsed' Christians sometimes add their voices too. Among ourselves, sometimes we feel discouraged by all this opposition, perhaps even shaken in our faith by former Christians who seem to have lost the faith we shared. Have they, and maybe also ourselves sometimes, forgotten or discounted Jesus' words that He would always be with us? Have we forgotten the wise words of a respected community leader and teacher of the law in Jerusalem? The religious leaders were embrassed, irritated and angered by what Peter and the other apostles were publicly saying and doing, the 'disturbance' they were causing. They wanted to silence or get rid of them. (So, what is new?) One of the leaders, Gamaliel, advised caution and at the same time quoted recent similar occurrences. If this new movement is just a human invention, he said, it will die out by itself. But if it's really God's work, it will survive no matter what action is taken against it.