Dear Friends,
Greetings in Christ!
When we left off at Acts 5:18, the envious religious leaders who ran the Temple were beside themselves, as people flowed into the city to get saved and/ or healed of whatever was afflicting them. Instead of listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, the Sadducees tried to silence the apostles by arresting them.
One might think the apostles were in big trouble, but nothing is as it seems. Jesus said that persecution is a cause for celebration. (Matt 5:12) The apostles knew their arrest was not worthy to be compared with the tremendous move of the Spirit taking place in Jerusalem. (Acts 5:12; Rom 8:18)
Father, please fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Acts 5:19-33
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate [Sanhedrin] of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
So, the apostles are rescued by an angel. Did you know you have angels watching over you? If you are in Christ, you do. (Ps 91:11; Heb 1:14) Now that their cell is found empty, their persecutors are getting even more concerned about the spread of the gospel.
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
The Sadducees are indignant that the gospel has spread throughout Jerusalem, but I can almost see the apostles high-fiving each other. They have now completed the first phase of the Great Commission. (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8)
The actions of the Sadducees seem to be prompted not only by envy, but fear as well. They are afraid the apostles intend to bring Jesus’ blood upon them, but that is what they agreed to. (Matt 27:25) How quickly they seem to have forgotten. In the grand scheme of things, I am just as guilty as they were, but they refused to repent. David committed adultery and then murder to cover it up, but he repented. Saul, his predecessor, refused to repent of his sins. As a result, he grew more and more fearful and vindictive, like the Sadducees in our text.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 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.
There is a certain preacher with a high-profile ministry to Israel, Hagee, who tells them Jesus is not their Messiah, but he clearly missed something. (Does he know how to read?) Jesus is the only Messiah — the Messiah of Israel, the Messiah of the Gentiles.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Acts 5:19-33
Jesus taught us that as Christians, we are similar to the prophets. (Matt 5:12) Thus, Peter and the apostles responded to their persecutors in the same manner as the prophets that went before them. The result is always the same, ie, their persecutors took counsel to slay them. This is what happens not only to prophets, but to all believers from Abel all the way to Jesus. Satan would gladly kill us all if he could. Thankfully, we each have a hedge of protection which Satan cannot breach without Father’s permission. (Job 1:9-2:7)
Christianity is not a game and Jesus does not like cowardice. (Josh 1:9; II Tim 1:7; Rev 21:8) The good news is that even if you are not a brave person, the Holy Spirit will make you into one. (Matt 26:56; cf Acts 5:29-32)
I have been humbled at times to meet Christians who have been jailed and beaten for sharing their faith. Although I have been ‘hauled in’ a few times, I’ve never seen the inside of a jail cell. I’ve never been beaten. I can still remember the first time it ever occurred to me that I might be tortured or worse some day for being a Christian and it freaked me out. Now when I think about it, I always remember what Opa said to Corrie ten Boom when she asked him ‘What if I’m persecuted some day and I’m not strong enough to keep from denying Jesus?’ Opa said, ‘When we take the train to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?’ Corrie answered, ‘Before we get on the train’. Opa then explained to Corrie that Jesus would give her all the strength she needs when she needs it, should that time ever come. Many years later, persecution did come, and Corrie passed her test with flying colors.
As for the rest of us, Jesus commands us to share the truth in love. When the world calls it hate and tries to intimidate us, remember We ought to obey God rather than men.
Father, give us the boldness of the apostles, that we may always tell the truth, the way the prophets who went before us did. Should persecution come, give us the courage of David that we may obey You always, even unto death if need be, that we may receive a crown of life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
