Dear Friends,
Greetings in Christ!
When we left off in Acts 5:33, the apostles were looking at possibly making the ultimate sacrifice. For Peter and John, this was their second warning from the council. Along with the other apostles now, they told the council the same thing they did the first time — they had to obey God rather than men.
Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Acts 5:34-42
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Paul boasted that he was a student of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Gamaliel (aka Gamaliel the Elder or Rabban Gamaliel I) is still revered by Jews for his wisdom. Gamaliel was president of the Great Sanhedrin and the first person to receive the title Rabban. He was able to persuade the Sadducees not to kill the apostles, but they still beat them, probably with thirty-nine stripes. Unfortunately, it will not be long before the Sanhedrin will disregard Gamaliel’s advice. Not only will they kill Steven, but according to Eusibius, James the Lord’s brother was sentenced to death by the Sanhedrin in AD 66.
One may wonder why a wise man such as Gamaliel never received Christ as his personal Saviour. I believe it was because of one of the greatest obstacles there is for anyone to overcome: the pride of life. The way Gamaliel defended the apostles, it almost looks like he understood they were right. As a Pharisee, Gamaliel had a much greater understanding than the Sadducees, who did not even accept Scripture, except for the five Books of Moses. But if Gamaliel did understand the truth of the gospel, he was more concerned with his position in the Temple, his title as ‘Rabban’, and his reputation among the people than he was with his position before God. (Pr 11:2; 16:18; 18:12; I John 2:16f; cf John 12:43)
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts 5:34-42
The reaction of the apostles serves as a stinging rebuke to the council — and an essential lesson for us to remember; not only were they happy about having their lives threatened and then being beaten (Phil 4:7; Jam 1:2), but they disregarded the threats from the council as nothing. (v 42)
More often than not throughout history, persecution has been the norm, just as it has been the norm for us here in America to be free of persecution for quite some time. Below are some random excerpts from Fox’s Book of Martyrs (E. Claxton & Company, 1881):
Pages 203, 204
In the reign of Edward III the church of England was extremely corrupted with errors and superstition; and the light of the gospel of Christ was greatly eclipsed and darkened with human inventions burthensome ceremonies, and gross idolatry.
The followers of Wickliffe, then called Lollards, were become extremely numerous, and the clergy were so vexed to see them increase [that they used] whatever power or influence they might have to molest them in an underhand manner, [but] they had no authority by law to put them to death.
However, the clergy embraced the favourable opportunity, and prevailed upon the king to suffer a bill to be brought into parliament, by which all Lollards who remained obstinate, should be delivered over to the secular power, and burnt as heretics. This act was the first in Britain for the burning of people for their religious sentiments; it passed in the year 1401, and was soon after put into execution.
The first person who suffered in consequence of this cruel act was William Santree, or Sawtree, a priest, who was burnt to death in Smithfield.
Soon after this, lord Cobham, in consequence of his attachment to the doctrines of Wickliffe, was accused of heresy, and being condemned to be hanged and burnt, was accordingly executed in Loncoln’s-Inn Fields, A. D. 1419.
The next man who suffered under this bloody statute was Thomas Bradley, a tailor, and a layman; and a letter having been tendered him, which he refused, he was declared an obstinate heretic, and tied to the stake in Smithfield; where he was burnt alive, rejoicing in the Lord his God.
The next person we read of who was tried upon this abominable statute, was William Thorpe, a man of some knowledge, who adhered to all the doctrines taught by Wickliffe. He was brought many times before archbishop Arundel, and at last committed a close prisoner, where he died, but in what manner cannot now be ascertained.
About this time 36 persons, denominated Lollards, suffered death in St. Giles’, for no other reason than professing their attachment to the doctrines of Wickliffe. They were hung on gibbets, and fagots [bundles of sticks] being placed under them, as soon as they were suspended, fire was set to them, so that they were burnt while hanging. Only one of their names has been transmitted to us, which is that of Sir Roger Archer whom they distinguished from the rest by stripping him stark naked, and executing him in that indecent manner.
Page 208
In the year 1533, John Frith, a noted martyr, died for the truth. When brought to the stake in Smithfield, he embraced the fagots [sticks], and exhorted a young man named Andrew Hewit, who suffered with him to trust his soul to that God who had redeemed it. Both these sufferers endured much torment, for the wind blew the flames away from them so that they were above two hours in agony before they expired.
At the latter end of this year, one Mr. Thomas Bennet, a school-master, was apprehended at Exeter, and being brought before the bishop, refused to recant his opinions, for which he was delivered over to the secular power, and burned alive near that city.
In the year 1538, one Collins, a madman, suffered death with his dog in Smithfield. The circumstances were as follow: Collins happened to be in church when the priest elevated the host; and Collins, in derision of the sacrifice of the mass, lifted up his dog above his head. For this crime Collins, who ought to have been sent to a mad-house, or whipped at the cart’s tail, was brought before the bishop of London; and although he was really mad, yet such was the force of popish power, such the corruption in church and state, that the poor madman, and his dog, were both carried to the stake in Smithfield, where they were burned to ashes, amidst a vast crowd of spectators.
Pages 209, 210
On July 28, 1540, or 1541, (for the chronology differs) Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex, was brought to a scaffold on Tower-hill, where he was executed with some striking instances of cruelty. He made a short speech to the people, and then meekly resigned himself to the axe.
It is, we think, with great propriety, that this nobleman is ranked among the martyrs; for although the accusations preferred against him did not relate to any thing in religion, yet had it not been for his zeal to demolish popery, he might have to the last retained the king’s favour. To this may be added, that the papists plotted his destruction, for he did more towards promoting the reformation, than any man in that age, except the good Dr. Cranmer.
Soon after the execution of Cromwell, Dr. Cuthbert Barnes, Thomas Garnet, and William Jerome, were brought before the ecclesiastical court of the bishop of London, and accused of heresy.
Being before the bishop of London, Dr. Barnes was asked whether the saints prayed for us? To this he answered, that he would leave that to God; but (said he) I will pray for you.
On the 13th of July, 1541, these men were brought from the Tower to Smithfield, where they were all chained to one stake; and there suffered death with a constancy that nothing less than a firm faith in Jesus Christ could inspire.
One Thomas Sommers, an honest merchant, with three others, was thrown into prison, for reading some of Luther’s books; and they were condemned to carry those books to a fire in Cheapside; there they were to throw them in the flames; but Sommers threw his over, for which he was sent back to the Tower, where he was stoned to death.
Dreadful persecutions were at this time carried on at Lincoln, under Dr. Longland, the bishop of that diocess. At Buckingham, Thomas Bainard, and James Moreton, the one for reading the Lord’s prayer in English, and the other for reading St. James’ epistles [sic] in English, were both condemned and burnt alive.
Anthony Parsons a priest, together with two others, were sent to Windsor, to be examined concerning heresy ; and several articles were tendered to them to subscribe, which they refused. This was carried on by the bishop of Salisbury, who was the most violent persecutor of any in that age, except Bonner. When they were brought to the stake, Parsons asked for some drink, which being brought him, he drank to his fellow-sufferers, saying, “Be merry, my brethren, and lift up your hearts to God; for after this sharp breakfast I trust we shall have a good dinner in the kingdom of Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. ” At these words Eastwood, one of the sufferers, lifted unhis eyes and hands to heaven, desiring the Lord above to receive his spirit.
Parsons pulled the straw near to him, and then said to the spectators. This is God’s armour, and now I am a christian soldier prepared for battle: I look for no mercy but through the merits of Christ; he is my only Saviour, in him do I trust for salvation; and soon after the fires were lighted, which burned their bodies, but could not hurt their precious and immortal souls. Their constancy triumphed over cruelty, and their sufferings will be held in everlasting remembrance.
In 1546, one Saitees, a priest, was, by order of bishop Gardiner hanged in Southwark, without a council process; and all that was alleged against him was, that of reading Tindal’s New Testament.
This year one Kirby was burned in Ipswich, for the testimony of the truth, for denying the real presence in the sacrament. When this martyr was brought to the stake, he said to one Mr. Wingfield, who attended him, “Ah! Mr. Wingfield, be at my death, and you shall say, there standeth a christian sufferer in the fire.”
Prophecy Update: As we can see from the excerpts above, the Reformation was about a lot more than Henry wanting a divorce. The Reformation was one of the most important developments in world history; by far, the most important in the modern era. Yet, over the past some 60 years — since around the time of Vatican II — we have been watching a slow reversal of the Reformation take place. Simultaneously, and this started long before Vatican II, we have been witnessing the creation of the one-world church prophesied in Revelation 13. Now, Buckingham Palace has announced that soon the king of England will meet and pray together with the pope, something that has not happened in 500 years. This will be a milestone event in the progression towards the one-world church. Geopolitical and economic news dovetails with this development, in terms of Bible prophecy and the way the planet is stumbling into the New World Order, but do your own research. Never forget what they did to us in 2020 and 2021 and how they called it a ‘test run’.
Father, thank You for our brave sisters and brothers who went before us and sacrificed everything so we could have the word of God in our own language. Fill us with your power, and give us the courage and wisdom to make good decisions, that we may make them proud when we meet them someday. Give us the faith to persevere come what may, that your Son may be pleased with us when we kneel before Him in his kingdom. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
